Garden City, N.Y. - Carlo Acquista will step down as Adelphi University head men's soccer coach effective Monday, Feb. 26, as announced by Director of Athletics Danny McCabe.
Acquista has resigned his position to accept an assistant scout role on the staff of Major League Soccer's (MLS) New York Red Bulls.
"We thank Carlo for his 11 years of service to Adelphi University and our student-athletes," said McCabe. "He has built the Adelphi men's soccer program into a national power on the DII stage and we are grateful for his commitment and dedication to the team's and the student-athletes' success. We wish him all the best in the next step of his journey with NY Red Bulls."
Acquista was appointed the seventh head coach in program history, entering his first season in 2007. He was integral in the reclassification of the program from Division I to Division II and finishes his career with the Panthers with a 120-69-19 overall record.
Since joining the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2013 after reclassifying to follow the rest of the Panthers into a league the department joined in 2009, the men's soccer program never missed the tournament and won the program's first conference championship in 2016. That season, the Panthers continued a historic ride in which they went on to win the NCAA Division II East Region en route to a berth in the national quarterfinals, and set a program record for both for wins (19) and shutouts (13) with a final record of 19-1-2. He was twice named the NE10 and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2017.
In Acquista's first six years at the helm, he oversaw the final Division I seasons for the team in the now-defunct Atlantic Soccer Conference (ASC) and as an independent. In this time, the squad claimed two ASC Tournament titles in 2009 and 2010 while reaching the playoffs in all five years. Acquista was honored as the ASC Coach of the Year three times, in 2008, 2009 and 2011, while coaching over two dozen All-Conference players.
"I would like to thank everyone I have had the pleasure of working with during my time at Adelphi. I am extremely grateful to the late Bob Hartwell, and Danny McCabe who have both been instrumental in my growth as a head coach and administrator," said Acquista. "I will cherish the wonderful memories that have been created over 10-plus years."
"I would also like to thank all of my players who I have had the pleasure to coach. They are the reason I was able to grow and prosper in this wonderful game. Last but not least, I would like to thank my staff now and in the past. Your tireless work and belief in the Adelphi soccer program has allowed the program to reach and achieve national attention."
Acquista joins the Red Bulls staff as an assistant scout, and will see familiar faces in former Adelphi women's soccer head coach and alum Chris Armas, currently an assistant coach for the Red Bulls, and former men's soccer coach Robert Montgomery, who oversees the Red Bulls' player development system. Montgomery led the Panthers for 29 seasons that included seven NCAA Tournament appearances and a 258-223-39 record.
In his new role, Acquista will assist in scouting and identifying potential players for the Red Bulls roster under Head of Scouting Ben Ehresmann.
Acquista came to Adelphi from St. Francis College (N.Y.), where he held the position of head coach for five seasons. During that time, Acquista had his strongest season in 2004, guiding the Terriers to an 8-9-1 record and a fifth-place finish in the Northeast Conference, including wins over Vermont, Stony Brook and Monmouth.
A graduate of St. John's University in 2000, Acquista was a four-year member of the Red Storm men's soccer team. He helped St. John's capture an NCAA Division I national title in 1996 and also had a hand in two Big East Championship teams.
A national search will commence for Acquista's replacement beginning immediately.
About Adelphi Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009, and in the past eight seasons, has collected 25 regular season conference titles, 26 tournament championships, 33 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), while winning six NCAA Division II National Championships.
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