Gwynedd-Mercy College Men's Soccer

Dave Bontempo has overseen the Gwynedd Mercy University men's soccer program for over two decades and led the Griffins to ten postseasons, including Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Championship Tournament appearances in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2025. Since 2003, Coach Bontempo mentored countless all-league and all-state student-athletes, including six All-Americans and a Philadelphia Soccer 7 College Player of the Year. Six former players have played professionally, and many others have gone on to coach at the high school and collegiate level. Between 1991 and 2002 he was the Head Coach at Father Judge High School where he led the Crusaders to five consecutive postseason appearances and was voted the Philadelphia High School Coach of the Year. In 2024, Coach Bontempo was one of 11, 2024 inductees to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame. In his first season at Gwynedd Mercy University, Coach Bontempo improved the Griffins' record from 2-16 to 7-10-1. In his third year, the Griffins set the school record for most wins in a season as they finished the year with a 10-6-2 record. That year, Gwynedd Mercy University also set records for most conference wins (5-4), most goals scored (29) and fewest goals allowed (28). Over the last eight years, the program has strengthened their schedule and has traveled far and wide to play the top National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III teams from New York to Virginia. Coach Bontempo led Gwynedd Mercy University to their first postseason appearance in program history with a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship Tournament berth in 2009. He directed Gwynedd Mercy University returned to the playoffs in 2010 and 2011, where the Griffins enjoyed a quarterfinal upset of Cabrini University (W, 3-0), before pushing eventual conference champion, Neumann University to a 2-1 double-overtime decision.  In 2014, the Griffins secured their first-ever home playoff game and took the defending league champion, Centenary College to an 3-2 overtime decision. Gwynedd Mercy University also qualified for the playoffs in 2016 for the inaugural AEC Championship Tournament. The 2023 Gwynedd Mercy University men's soccer season was one of new beginnings as the experiment of blending 15 newcomers with 12 experienced student-athletes resulted in a welcomed 4-8-6 overall record and a 2-3-1 AEC standing. As the sixth seed in the 2023 AEC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament, the Red and Gold traveled to #3 Marywood University (Oct. 28) for an AEC First Round contest; unfortunately, the Pacers advanced to the league's semifinals with a 3-0 victory. The Griffins earned a final playoff spot in 2025 and defeated St. Elizabeth's in the quarter finals before falling to conference champion Neumann University in the conference semifinals.  The 2025 Gwynedd Mercy University men's soccer season under head coach Dave Bomtempo reflected continued growth and resilience as the Griffins balanced roster development with competitive progress in the Atlantic East Conference. Building on a foundation of returning contributors while integrating new talent, Bomtempo guided the Red and Gold through a challenging conference slate that ultimately resulted in a postseason berth. With an 8-11 overall record and a 3-4 conference record, the Griffins secured a final playoff spot in the 2025 AEC Championship Tournament, Gwynedd Mercy delivered a strong performance in the quarterfinal round with a victory over St. Elizabeth’s, (W, 2-1 on Nov. 1) advancing to the conference semifinals. The postseason run came to an end against eventual conference champion Neumann University (L, 3-0 on Nov. 4), but the campaign marked another step forward in Bomtempo’s effort to establish consistent playoff contention.  Coach Bontempo's teams garnered AEC Team Academic Awards in 2019, 2020, and 2022, while earning United Soccer Coaches Association (USCA) academic honors in 2019, 2020, 2021,  2022, 2023,2024 and 2025.  Dave holds a National Coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation and comes from the highly regarded Philadelphia Catholic League having coached at two high schools for a total of 27 years. He is very proud of the fact that nine former players became college head coaches and 14 have become college assistants including five at Gwynedd Mercy. One of his former players is currently coaching in Major League Soccer (MLS) and was a member of the 2006 United States World Cup squad. Additionally, Coach Bontempo served as a staff coach for the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA) for 10 years and was an instructor for the State-level Coaching License. He has twice served as the head coach of the Philadelphia Region for the Keystone State Games and his teams have won two Gold medals.  Bontempo was an all-league forward for one of the top programs in Pennsylvania at Archbishop Ryan High School; he was elected to the Ryan Soccer Hall of Fame in 2009. After an injury cut short his playing career at LaSalle University, he turned to coaching. In 1976 he began coaching at Ryan as an assistant coach. As the defensive coordinator, Coach Bontempo helped the Raiders to a National High School record of 119 consecutive games without a loss (6 seasons) and a #4 National ranking. During his 15 years at Ryan, the Raiders won the Catholic League Championship eight times, and six consecutively. a loss (6 seasons) and a #4 National ranking. During his 15 years at Ryan, the Raiders won the Catholic League Championship eight times, and six consecutively.   Overall Conference Year W L T W L T Notes 2003 2 16 0 2 6 0 - 2004 7 10 1 1 6 1 - 2005 10 6 2 5 4 0 Most wins in school history 2006 8 9 1 3 6 0 - 2007 5 9 5 2 3 3 - 2008 4 11 1 3 5 0 - 2009 8 10 3 4 2 3 CSAC Semifinalists 2010 4 16 0 3 6 0 CSAC Tournament 2011 7 14 0 4 5 0 CSAC Semifinalists 2012 6 12 2 2 5 2 - 2013 6 13 1 2 7 0 - 2014 7 12 0 5 4 0 CSAC Tournament 2015 6 13 1 3 5 1 - 2016 9 11 0 5 4 0 CSAC Tournament 2017 2 15 1 1 8 0 2018 1 15 1 0 5 1 2019 5 15 1 1 5 0 AEC Tournament (#6) 2020 0 2 0 0 0 0 AEC Tournament (#7) 2021 1 18 0 0 6 0 AEC Tournament (#7) 2022 1 16 1 0 6 0 2023 4 8 6 2 3 1 AEC Tournament (#6) 2024    2     16 2 0 5 1 2025 8 11 3 4 AEC Tournament (#5) Total 113 278 27 (.302) 48 101 12 (.340)  

Wambold brings a fresh perspective to the coaching staff and is an excellent bridge between the experienced coaches and the players.  He is currently employed by the Montgomery County Sheriffs Department.  Mike Wambold

Mike Wambold graduated from Montgomery County Community College where he was a two-year player and then an assistant coach. He transferred to Gwynedd Mercy and graduated in 2014 with a degree in Criminal Justice. Mike played for two seasons for Gwynedd under coach Bontempo. A former captain, Wambold was honored by the conference and named to the All-Sportsmanship Team as a senior. In his off-field duties, he also was an excellent student and an officer on the Student Athlete Advisory Council. Mike brings a fresh perspective to the coaching staff and is an excellent bridge between the experienced coaches and the players. Wambold works in the Criminal Justice field and is a member of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department.