Carmine Isacco
Carmine Isacco (born September 20, 1970) is a Canadian soccer coach and retired player. He is currently the head coach for the York Lions varsity men's soccer team of the OUA.
![]() Isacco in 2016 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Carmine Isacco | ||
Date of birth | September 20, 1970 | ||
Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario | ||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
Playing position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1989–1992 | Maryland Terrapins | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1992–1994 | Toronto Italia | ||
1996–1999 | Milwaukee Rampage | 75 | (0) |
1996–1997 | Toronto Shooting Stars (indoor) | 26 | (0) |
1996–1999 | Milwaukee Wave (indoor) | 30 | (0) |
1999 | Rochester Rhinos | 0 | (0) |
1999–2000 | Edmonton Drillers (NPSL) (indoor) | 14 | (0) |
2000 | Toronto Lynx | 3 | (0) |
2000–2001 | Buffalo Blizzard (indoor) | 3 | (0) |
2002 | Toronto Supra | 2 | (0) |
Teams managed | |||
2002 | Toronto Supra | ||
2005–2006 | Vaughan Shooters | ||
2005–2006 | Varsity Blues | ||
2007 | Toronto FC (goalkeeper coach) | ||
2007–present | York Lions | ||
2008 | Italia Shooters | ||
2010–2012 | SC Toronto | ||
2014–2018 | Vaughan Azzurri | ||
2019 | York9 (first assistant coach) | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Playing career
College years
In 1989, Isacco entered the University of Maryland, College Park where he was a Soccer America Magazine freshman All-American goalkeeper. Over his four seasons with the Terrapins, he was named to the All-ACC first team three times and was the Terrapins team captain as a senior in 1992. He then spent time with the Canadian Olympic Team and competed at the 1993 World University Games.[1]
Professional career
Isaaco turned professional in 1992 with the Toronto Italia in the National Soccer League.[2][3] In his first season with the club he was named Goalkeeper of the Year, and was also named a Canadian all-star three times. In 1996, he moved to the Milwaukee Rampage of the USISL, and won the league title in 1997.[4][5] He was selected to the All USISL Select First Team.[6] In the fall of 1996, he played indoor soccer with the Toronto Shooting Stars in the National Professional Soccer League.[7]
On October 16, 1997, he signed a two-year contract with the Milwaukee Wave, where he primarily served as a backup to Victor Nogueira.[8][9][10][11] After having been released by the Rampage halfway through the 1999 outdoor season he signed with the Rochester Rhinos in August, 1999.[12][13] He then moved to the Edmonton Drillers for the 1999-2000 NPSL season.[14] On June 20, 2000, the Toronto Lynx signed Isacco.[15][16][17]
In the fall of 2000, he signed with the Buffalo Blizzard where he served as a backup for Bryan Finnerty.[18] The Blizzard folded at the end of the season and the Kansas City Comets selected Isacco in the dispersal draft, but chose not to sign with the team. In 2002, he signed with Toronto Supra in the Canadian Professional Soccer League, where he primarily served as a backup goalkeeper for the club, and finishing off the season as the team's head coach.[19]
Managerial career
CPSL/CSL
In 2002, he made the transition into managing as a player-coach for Toronto Supra in the Canadian Professional Soccer League.[19] In 2005, he was appointed the head coach for Vaughan Shooters.[20] In his debut season with Vaughan he secured the Eastern Conference title, and reached the CPSL Championship final, where they were defeated 2-1 by Oakville Blue Devils.[21] In 2006, he resigned as head coach for Vaughan in order to fully devote to his coaching responsibilities with the Toronto Varsity Blues.[22] He returned to the CSL to manage the Italia Shooters for the 2008 season.[23] The season concluded with the Shooters winning their second division title, and reached the semifinals in postseason.[24][25][26]
In 2010, Isacco returned to the Supra organization under the name Portugal FC.[27] After the merger with feeder club the Toronto Eagles the club became known as SC Toronto, and he resumed his coaching duties for the 2011 season.[28] Throughout the season he achieved the organization's second regular season title since 2004, and finished with the league's best offensive record. In 2012, SC Toronto promoted him to the position of technical director. While serving as head coach for SC Toronto he was selected as the assistant coach for the Canada under-20 soccer team under Valerio Gazzola for the 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[29]
U-Sports
In June 2005, Isacco was hired to coach the University of Toronto men's soccer team, the Varsity Blues.[1] With the Varsity Blues, he led the team to OUA silver medals in both 2005 and 2006, also capturing a CIS silver in 2005.
On March 26, 2007, Isacco was appointed as the head coach for the York University men's soccer team, the York Lions.[30] Under Isacco's tenure as head coach, the York Lions' have amassed 7 OUA conference championships (2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) and 4 U Sports national championships (2008, 2010, 2014, 2015). The Lions' 2008 U Sports championship was York's first national championship in any sport in 18 years, and their first soccer championship since 1977.[31]
Major League Soccer
On January 10, 2007 Isacco resigned as the men's soccer head coach for the Varsity Blues and accepted a position as an assistant goalkeeping coach with Toronto FC, serving under head coach Mo Johnston.[32]
Before the start of the 2008 TFC season, with Johnston moving upstairs to fill the role of Director of Football, Isacco's contract was not renewed by Toronto FC.
League1 Ontario
On May 29, 2014 he was appointed the head coach for Vaughan Azzuri of the League1 Ontario.[33] Throughout his tenure with Vaughan he won the double in 2016, and 2018. He was also named League1 Ontario Head Coach of the Year in 2015, and 2016.[34][35]
Canadian Premier League
On July 27, 2018, York 9 FC of the Canadian Premier League announced their coaching staff for the 2019 Canadian Premier League season, naming Isacco as the first assistant coach of the team behind head coach Jim Brennan.[36] On February 4, 2020, it was announced that Isacco was replaced by Paul Stalteri as York 9 FC's first assistant coach.[37]
References
- "CARMINE ISACCO STEPS DOWN AS U OF T SOCCER COACH - Ontario University Athletics (OUA)". oua.ca. January 11, 2007. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- "Canada Soccer". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- Hall, Dave (July 17, 1993). "Wheels roll over Toronto Italia". Newspapers.com. The Windsor Star. p. 17. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
- Isacco is quick learner Rampage goalie thrown into shootout line of fire Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Saturday, May 11, 1996
- "Carmine Isacco | SoccerStats.us". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- "The Year in American Soccer, 1996". homepages.sover.net. Archived from the original on 2013-07-13. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- "howesportsdata.com - This website is for sale! - howesportsdata Resources and Information". 2016-03-08. Archived from the original on 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- Unhappy Isacco demands trade from Wave - Backup goalie, Rampage starter wants to play more Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Friday, October 2, 1998
- NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1997-1998 Archived 2016-01-28 at the Wayback Machine
- NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1998-1999 Archived 2016-01-28 at the Wayback Machine
- Wave signs Isacco- Goalkeeper led Rampage to A-League title this summer Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Saturday, October 18, 1997
- "34 - Carmine Isacco". web.archive.org. 1999-10-13. Archived from the original on October 13, 1999. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- Gardner, Charles F. (July 16, 1999). "Igel provides the spark that energizes Rampage". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- "howesportsdata.com - This website is for sale! - howesportsdata Resources and Information". 2016-03-09. Archived from the original on 2016-03-09. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- Transactions Seattle Times, The (WA) - Tuesday, June 20, 2000
- "2000 Team Roster". 2000-08-16. Archived from the original on 2000-08-16. Retrieved 2017-10-28.
- "JIM LARKIN TRANSFERRED TO IMPACT, ISACCO SIGNED". web.archive.org. 2000-08-19. Archived from the original on August 19, 2000. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- National Professional Soccer League Final Official Statistics -- 2000-2001 Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
- Niedermair, Hans (July 17, 2002). "Supra Aim to Regain Stride". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Etobicoke Mirror-Guardian. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- Glover, Robin (May 29, 2005). "CPSL Vaughan Shooters vs Toronto Croatia". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- "CPSL Award Winners". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. CPSL media release. October 10, 2005. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- Glover, Robin (August 17, 2006). "CSL Italia Shooters vs Oakville Blue Devils". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- "Canadian Soccer League Powered by Goalline Sports Administration Software". web.archive.org. 2008-05-18. Archived from the original on May 18, 2008. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- Wiredo hat-trick drives Italia Shooters to International Division title Archived 2009-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
- erbian Eagles defeated Italia Shooters 3-0 in the first semi-final on Friday to earn a berth in the final for the third year in succession Archived 2009-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
- THE SCORERS ON FRIDAY... Archived 2008-10-24 at the Wayback Machine
- "Canadian Soccer League". web.archive.org. 2011-02-28. Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- "Canadian Soccer League". web.archive.org. 2011-10-02. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- "Canada Soccer". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- http://www.yorku.ca/sprtyork/MediaReleases/Archive/Release.asp?Release=1806
- http://www.yorku.ca/sprtyork/MediaReleases/Archive/Release.asp?Release=2622
- CARMINE ISACCO STEPS DOWN AS U OF T SOCCER COACH Archived May 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- "Introducing Vaughan Azzurri". www.league1ontario.com. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
- "League 1 Ontario--2015 Coaches of the Year". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. November 23, 2015. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- Glover, Robin (November 27, 2016). "League 1 Ontario 2016 Awards". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- https://canpl.ca/article/jimmy-brennan-announced-as-head-coach-of-york-9-fc Canadian Premier League press release, July 27, 2018
- https://northerntribune.ca/york9-fc-paul-stalteri/