Scott Calabrese enters his second season in 2015 as head coach of the FIU men’s soccer program. Calabrese came to FIU after a successful six-year stint as head coach at East Tennessee State.
During his first year at the helm of the FIU program, Calabrese led a young team to six victories, which included two wins over ranked foes in Michigan and San Diego State. Calabrese and his staff oversaw four players who garnered Conference USA All-Conference recognition. Highlighted by Quentin Albrecht representing FIU on the C-USA First Team, Marvin Hezel and Daniel Gonzalez captured spots on the C-USA Third Team squad, while Donald Tomlinson rounded out the group with All-Freshman team honors. Albrecht was also named an NSCAA All-Southeast Region selection.
Before coaching a game at FIU, Calabrese had already become active in the South Florida community. During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Calabrese was a continuous guest analyst on WPLG Channel 10’s "Quest for the Cup." Calabrese joined Sports Director Will Manso, along with longtime professional soccer coach Thomas Rongen on a weekly basis, as they previewed upcoming World Cup contests for the week. Deeper into the tournament, Calabrese made multiple appearances each week, serving as a postgame analyst.
“Scott Calabrese brings a championship pedigree to FIU,” FIU Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia said at the time of the hire. “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.”
A program that began play in 2008, Calabrese led ETSU to two Atlantic Sun Tournament Championships (2010 and 2013), a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, and four consecutive seasons of 10 or more wins (2010-13). This past season, the Buccaneers were crowned 2013 Atlantic Sun Champions after earning a 3-1 victory over North Florida in the A-Sun Tournament Championship.
Under Calabrese’s tutelage, ETSU recorded an A-Sun record 10 shutouts en route to advancing to the 2013 NCAA Tournament. Overall, the Buccaneers have earned four victories over Top 25 opponents, including a 1-0 road win over No. 8 UAB, the nation's top scoring offense, Sept. 15, 2013. ETSU has not lost to a Top 25 opponent dating back to Sept. 11, 2011, as the Buccaneers have carried a 3-0-3 record over that time span.
Calabrese and the Buccaneers earned the program’s first ever national ranking in 2011, soaring to No. 19 in the Soccer America Poll and No. 24 in the NSCAA rankings. ETSU entered the 2011 A-Sun Tournament as a No. 6 seed, blew by Jacksonville in the quarterfinals and edged Stetson in the semis to become the first such seed to advance to the final.
He led the Bucs to their most successful season in program history in 2010. Improving upon a six-win season in 2009, the Bucs won a program-record 15 games en route to winning the Atlantic Sun Championship and advancing to the program's first ever NCAA Tournament. Calabrese was awarded the A-Sun Coach of the Year for the team’s vast improvement, along with earning NSCAA South Region Coach of the Year honors. ETSU rose to No. 38 in the RPI rankings that year, which marked the largest single-season improvement of any Division I program.
Prior to his time at ETSU, Calabrese spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Clemson. During his time with the Tigers, Clemson made a trip to the College Cup in 2005 and No. 1 national ranking midway through that season. Calabrese was also responsible for directing the Clemson Soccer Academy, which plays host to over 1,800 children each year.
Calabrese previously was an assistant coach at North Carolina from 2000-01, as he helped lead the Tar Heels to a National Championship in 2001 and an ACC championship and Elite Eight appearance in 2000. He also was an assistant coach in the A-Sun Conference with the Stetson Haters from 1998-99.
A native of Newton, Conn., Calabrese brings some professional experience to FIU as well. He served as an assistant coach for the Carolina Courage of the WUSA, as he helped lead them to the 2002 WUSA title. He also played professionally for the Rhode Island Sting Rays from 1995-97, as well as the South Carolina Shamrocks in 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.
Calabrese is a 1995 graduate of Bryant College where he earned a B.S. in business administration.
Coaching Career
2014 FIU, Head Coach2007-13 East Tennessee State, Head Coach • Program Began Play in 2008
• 2010 Atlantic Sun and NSCAA South Region Coach of the Year
• Two NCAA Tournament Appearances (2010, 2013)
• Two Atlantic Sun Tournament Championships (2010, 2013)
• Atlantic Sun Record 10 Shutouts in 2013
• Four Consecutive Seasons of 10 or More Wins (2010-13)
2003-06 Clemson, Assistant Coach • Three NCAA Tournament Appearances
• 2005 College Cup Appearance
• Directed the Clemson Soccer Academy
2002-03 Carolina Courage (WUSA), Assistant Coach • Squad Won the regular season and playoff 2002 WUSA Title
• Team went from worst to first in one year
2000-01 North Carolina, Assistant Coach • 2001 National Champions
• 2000 Elite Eight Appearance and ACC Champions
1998-99 Stetson, Assistant Coach • Three All-Conference selections in two seasons
Calabrese Year-by-Year at ETSU
Year Record Pct. Conf. Pct. Notes2008 6-10-1 .382 1-7-1 .167 Inaugural Season for ETSU Soccer
2009 6-9-3 .417 4-4-1 .500 Reached the A-Sun Semifinals
2010 15-6-0 .714 7-2-0 .778 A-Sun Champs; NCAA First Round
2011 10-7-4 .571 3-4-1 .438 Reached the A-Sun Finals
2012 10-6-4 .600 5-2-1 .688 Reached the A-Sun Semifinals
2013 10-6-4 .600 5-2-1 .688 A-Sun Champs; NCAA First Round
Totals 57-44-16 .546 25-21-5 .539
