Tuesday, Jan. 21 the FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia announced that former East Tennessee State University Men’s Soccer Head Coach Scott Calabrese has accepted the same position left vacant by Ken Arena. Arena left to be an assistant on the staff of the L.A. Galaxy in the MLS.
“I am extremely grateful to Pete Garcia, Julie Berg, Bobby Staub and the entire search committee for presenting me with the opportunity to be the next head men’s soccer coach at FIU,” said Calabrese in a statement to FIU Athletics. “This is an incredibly exciting opportunity. FIU is a program with a rich history of success, with national championships in ‘82 and ‘84 as well as incredible run to the final four in 1996. It is clear this is a program capable of success at the highest levels of college soccer. Though the history is impressive, I am even more excited for the future. I was very impressed with the overall vision for both the men’s soccer program and the athletic department.”
Calabrese is used to quick results as he took a program at ETSU that started in 2008 and won Atlantic Sun Conference championships in 2010 and 2013 which were included in his four consecutive seasons of 10 wins or more. That streak went from 2010 to 2013. He also had two NCAA tournament appearances.
The Newton, Conn. native brings some professional time to FIU. He served as an assistant coach for the Carolina Courage of the WUSA, and helped lead them to the WUSA title in 2002. He also played professionally for both the Rhode Island Stingrays and the South Carolina Shamrocks between the years of 1995 to 1998.
Calabrese was a member of the 2006 Olympic Development Program Region III coaching staff as well as the goalkeepers coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team. Calabrese has an “A” coaching license, and is a Level I and II certified goalkeeping instructor with the NSCAA.
This will not be Calabrese’s first stint in this state as he was an assistant at Stetson University from 1998-1999.
“Scott Calabrese brings a championship pedigree to FIU,” Garcia said in a statement to FIU Athletics. “The success he has had at East Tennessee State both on the field (NCAA Tournament in 2010 and 2013) and in the classroom (Three-straight NSCAA Team Academic Award winner – 2011, 2012, 2013), along with the coaching experience he possesses are what will guide our men’s program to new heights. We are thrilled to have him as our head coach and expect great things for the future of FIU men’s soccer.”
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