Hofstra University Men's Soccer

Stephen Roche became the head coach of the Hofstra men's soccer program on January 1, 2026. He is the 10th head coach in program history. Roche, who has been on staff for 10 seasons, came to Hofstra in June 2016 and was promoted to associate head coach on April 30, 2021. In September 2024 he was named the program's head coach in waiting and took over the reigns from Richard Nuttall, who transitioned to a role in athletic development at Hofstra.  In his 10 seasons on the staff, Roche has helped the Pride to CAA Championship appearances each year, with Hofstra winning the title in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The Pride advanced to the finals in 2018 and 2020-21, and the semifinals in 2016, 2019 and 2025. The Pride claimed the CAA regular season title in Roche’s first season (2016), posting a 7-1 conference record, its best CAA winning percentage since joining the league. The Pride matched that mark in 2025, winning the CAA North Division. In 2021, Hofstra won a program record 18 games en route to the NCAA Third Round and finished the season with a national ranking of 13 and a No. 8 showing in the NCAA RPI. In 2023 Hofstra earned a national seed (#13) for the first time in program history and advanced to the NCAA Third Round once again. The 2024 season saw the Pride earn a No. 7 national seed and a final ranking of No. 23. Hofstra earned its first NCAA at-large bid in 2025 and advanced to the third round, finishing with a No. 20 national ranking.    During his tenure with the Pride, Roche has been responsible for tactical approach and implementation, recruiting, scheduling and scouting. The team has posted a 114-47-31 record over the last 10 seasons, and has a 49-14-14 mark in league play during that time. He has assisted in the development of some of the top players in program history with Joseph Holland, Sean Nealis, Matthew Vowinkel, Ryan Carmichael, Eliot Goldthorp, and Jacob Woznicki each drafted by Major League Soccer teams, while Hendrik Hebbeker was an All-American in 2021, Eliot Goldthorp in 2022, Carmichael, Goldthorp, and Pierce Infuso in 2023, and Laurie Goddard in 2025.  A native of Dublin, Ireland, Roche has also served as head coach of the Long Island Rough Riders in USL2 and is the organizations sporting director. As a player, Roche competed professionally with the University College Dublin Football Club in the League of Ireland Premier division from January 2009 through November 2010. He joined FC New York of the United Soccer League in 2011.  Roche holds a bachelor’s degree in retail and services management from Dublin Institute of Technology. He also owns a National Diploma and an Advanced National Diploma from the United Soccer Coaches and a USSF 'D' license.  Roche and his wife, Jess, have two sons, Jack and Leo.     

Shaun Foster, who was promoted to associate head coach in January 2026, completed his eighth season as an assistant coach on the Hofstra men's soccer staff in 2025. In his eight seasons, he has helped coach the Pride to the 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 CAA titles, as well as appearances in the semifinals in 2019 and 2025, and the finals in 2018 and 2020. He has been part of five NCAA Tournament teams, including third round appearances in 2021 and 2025. One of the program's most decorated alumni, Foster is one of just nine coaches association All-Americans in program history, earning third-team honors in 2012 after three all-region selections, including a pair of first-team nods in 2011 and 2012. A three-time Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year and a CAA Rookie of the Year, Foster was also named a finalist for the MAC Hermann Award, which honors the national player of the year. He was also invited to the MLS Combine.   After his playing career, Foster served as an undergraduate assistant coach with the program. He then joined the men's soccer staff at Molloy as an assistant coach in June 2016, planning and running team practices as well as helping recruit. He has also worked as a coach in the Massapequa Soccer Club since August 2010, where he has coached his U16, U17 and U18 teams to multiple New York State Championships.   A native of Southport, England, Foster graduated from Hofstra in December 2014 with a degree in rhetoric.  

Dennis Mejia joined the Hofstra staff as a volunteer assistant coach trainee in March 2024 and serves as the goalkeepers coach for the men's soccer team. In addition to his work with the Hofstra keepers, Mejia is an assistant coach with Brooklyn FC of the USL. A former goalkeeper at Molloy University in Rockville Centre, New York, Mejia appeared in 38 games during his career, recording 151 saves and a 1.53 goals against average. In addition to his playing experience, he also has served as a head coach for the Mineola Athletic Association, the Long Island Goalkeeper Academy, and Barca Academy Pro New York.  A native of Oyster Bay, New York, Mejia graduated from Molloy in May 2023 with a degree in communications with a concentration in new media. 

Nuttall, a former professional soccer player in England and a former member of the Long Island Rough Riders, is entering his 28th season as Hofstra University Head Mens Soccer Coach in 2016. Nuttall has guided the Pride to a 250-217-57 record in transforming the program into one of the most competitive in the Northeast. Nuttall, who is the winningest coach in program history, has led his team to a Colonial Athletic Association Tournament appearance in five of the last six seasons. He has led Hofstra to double-digit win totals in six of the past 12 seasons and has posted a winning season in six of the last seven years, including four straight winning campaigns.   In 2015, Nuttall was named CAA Coach of the Year after leading the Pride to a conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the programs first Tournament appearance since 2006. Hofstra hosted Lehigh in the first round, toppling the Mountain Hawks, 2-1, in overtime to advance to the second round, where the Pride fell to Georgetown. Hofstra finished the season 14-8, tying for the most wins in Division I program history. Under Nuttalls tutelage, Joseph Holland had a stellar 2015 season, bringing in a long list of accolades. After being named CAA Player of the Year, Holland was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America First-Team Regional All-American before earning second-team All-America honors and becoming the fourth player in program historyand third under Nuttall (Shaun Foster, Michael Todd)to be recognized.  Holland was also a second-team Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Star and the Big Apple Soccer Player of the Year. Harri Hawkins joined Holland as a second-team ECAC All-Star in 2015 and on the All-CAA First Team. In 2014, three Hofstra players were first-team All-CAA selections, including forward Maid Memic, who finished his career one of just five players in program history to score 30 goals. Chris Griebsch earned 2013 CAA Player of the Year honors while also setting Hofstras career assist record. Griebsch was the second player to win the leagues Player of the Year award under Nuttall, joining Michael Todd, who accomplished the feat in 2006. Nuttall picked up his 200th career win in dramatic fashion, as Hofstra defeated VCU 2-1 in the 2010 Colonial Athletic Association semifinals on a penalty kick with five seconds left in regulation. That victory enabled Hofstra to reach the CAA title game for the fourth time in the last seven years. Hofstra would make its fifth appearance in the CAA championship game in 2012 before falling to Northeastern in double overtime. Prior to Nuttalls arrival in Hempstead, the soccer program had posted five losing seasons in nine years, including a 3-9-6 season in 1988. Nuttall's teams have finished .500 or better in 18 of his seasons at the helm, including a streak of seven straight at one point a remarkable feat considering that Hofstra has been in three conferences (East Coast, America East, CAA) during that time, each more competitive than the last. In addition, Hofstra soccer players have flourished under Nuttalls guidance, as several are either playing professionally or are members of their respective national teams. In 2006, Nuttall led Hofstra to its third consecutive CAA championship and NCAA Division I Tournament berth, making Hofstra one of only three schools in the nation with three straight conference titles from 2004-06 (joining Western Illinois and New Mexico). The Pride finished the 2006 campaign with a 12-6-3 record, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 2-0 home win over Providence in front of 1,450 fans at Hofstra Soccer Stadium. The Pride finished the 2005 season with a 14-5-3 record, tying for the most wins in school history at the Division I level, while also earning its highest ranking in school history at No. 13 in the final NSCAA poll. Hofstra earned its CAA championship with a 1-0 win over No. 7 Old Dominion in the championship game, the highest ranked team that the Pride has ever defeated. Nuttall was one of eight coaches to earn Regional Coach of the Year honors from the NSCAA. During the 2004 campaign, Nuttall guided the Pride to one of their most memorable seasons in school history. After an up-and-down regular season, Hofstra rallied to win the Colonial Athletic Association championship with a dramatic postseason run, outscoring their three opponents (all of which were nationally ranked) by a combined 4-0. Hofstra then went on to receive its first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament berth and defeated nationally-ranked Seton Hall 2-1 in the opening round, before finally seeing its run finally end with a loss at third-seeded Maryland. That loss snapped a six-game win streak, with five of those six wins coming against teams that were nationally ranked. The 1997 campaign saw Nuttall lead the Flying Dutchmen to a 14-4-3 record, including a 9-0 mark in America East play. The team was the top seed in the postseason tournament, but lost a close game to defending champion Boston University in the finals. Despite that loss, Hofstra was still considered for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Nuttall was named Division I Coach of the Year in Region II by the NSCAA. In 1999, Nuttall led Hofstra to an early season national ranking, before finishing with a 9-9 record. 2000 saw Nuttall lead the Pride back to the America East Championship game, a 2-1 overtime loss to Vermont, and an 11-6-3 overall record. In 2001, Hofstra's last season in the America East Conference, Nuttall led his team to a 9-9-1 record and a berth in the America East Tournament for the fourth time in five years. Nuttall, a native of South Yorkshire, England, played with Leeds United and Stoke City of the English Football League. He graduated from the Carnegie School (College) of Physical Education in West Yorkshire in 1984.  It was during this time that Nuttall received his Football Association coaching certificates. Nuttall, who moved to Long Island permanently in 1988 after spending summers in the United States since 1983, taught physical education at North Shore High School. He is also a partner in the highly successful Pro Excel summer soccer camp on Long Island and is active in working with many Long Island communities.   Nuttall and his wife, Christine, reside in New Hyde Park, New York, with their three children, Jack, Caroline, and Grace.     Richard Nuttall Head Coach Richard Nuttall, a former professional soccer player in England and a former member of the Long Island Rough Riders, is entering his 28th season as Hofstra University Head Mens Soccer Coach in 2016. Nuttall has guided the Pride to a 250-217-57 record in transforming the program into one of the most competitive in the Northeast. Nuttall, who is the winningest coach in program history, has led his team to a Colonial Athletic Association Tournament appearance in five of the last six seasons. He has led Hofstra to double-digit win totals in six of the past 12 seasons and has posted a winning season in six of the last seven years, including four straight winning campaigns.   In 2015, Nuttall was named CAA Coach of the Year after leading the Pride to a conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the programs first Tournament appearance since 2006. Hofstra hosted Lehigh in the first round, toppling the Mountain Hawks, 2-1, in overtime to advance to the second round, where the Pride fell to Georgetown. Hofstra finished the season 14-8, tying for the most wins in Division I program history. Under Nuttalls tutelage, Joseph Holland had a stellar 2015 season, bringing in a long list of accolades. After being named CAA Player of the Year, Holland was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America First-Team Regional All-American before earning second-team All-America honors and becoming the fourth player in program historyand third under Nuttall (Shaun Foster, Michael Todd)to be recognized.  Holland was also a second-team Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Star and the Big Apple Soccer Player of the Year. Harri Hawkins joined Holland as a second-team ECAC All-Star in 2015 and on the All-CAA First Team. In 2014, three Hofstra players were first-team All-CAA selections, including forward Maid Memic, who finished his career one of just five players in program history to score 30 goals. Chris Griebsch earned 2013 CAA Player of the Year honors while also setting Hofstras career assist record. Griebsch was the second player to win the leagues Player of the Year award under Nuttall, joining Michael Todd, who accomplished the feat in 2006. Nuttall picked up his 200th career win in dramatic fashion, as Hofstra defeated VCU 2-1 in the 2010 Colonial Athletic Association semifinals on a penalty kick with five seconds left in regulation. That victory enabled Hofstra to reach the CAA title game for the fourth time in the last seven years. Hofstra would make its fifth appearance in the CAA championship game in 2012 before falling to Northeastern in double overtime. Prior to Nuttalls arrival in Hempstead, the soccer program had posted five losing seasons in nine years, including a 3-9-6 season in 1988. Nuttall's teams have finished .500 or better in 18 of his seasons at the helm, including a streak of seven straight at one point a remarkable feat considering that Hofstra has been in three conferences (East Coast, America East, CAA) during that time, each more competitive than the last. In addition, Hofstra soccer players have flourished under Nuttalls guidance, as several are either playing professionally or are members of their respective national teams. In 2006, Nuttall led Hofstra to its third consecutive CAA championship and NCAA Division I Tournament berth, making Hofstra one of only three schools in the nation with three straight conference titles from 2004-06 (joining Western Illinois and New Mexico). The Pride finished the 2006 campaign with a 12-6-3 record, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 2-0 home win over Providence in front of 1,450 fans at Hofstra Soccer Stadium. The Pride finished the 2005 season with a 14-5-3 record, tying for the most wins in school history at the Division I level, while also earning its highest ranking in school history at No. 13 in the final NSCAA poll. Hofstra earned its CAA championship with a 1-0 win over No. 7 Old Dominion in the championship game, the highest ranked team that the Pride has ever defeated. Nuttall was one of eight coaches to earn Regional Coach of the Year honors from the NSCAA. During the 2004 campaign, Nuttall guided the Pride to one of their most memorable seasons in school history. After an up-and-down regular season, Hofstra rallied to win the Colonial Athletic Association championship with a dramatic postseason run, outscoring their three opponents (all of which were nationally ranked) by a combined 4-0. Hofstra then went on to receive its first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament berth and defeated nationally-ranked Seton Hall 2-1 in the opening round, before finally seeing its run finally end with a loss at third-seeded Maryland. That loss snapped a six-game win streak, with five of those six wins coming against teams that were nationally ranked. The 1997 campaign saw Nuttall lead the Flying Dutchmen to a 14-4-3 record, including a 9-0 mark in America East play. The team was the top seed in the postseason tournament, but lost a close game to defending champion Boston University in the finals. Despite that loss, Hofstra was still considered for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Nuttall was named Division I Coach of the Year in Region II by the NSCAA. In 1999, Nuttall led Hofstra to an early season national ranking, before finishing with a 9-9 record. 2000 saw Nuttall lead the Pride back to the America East Championship game, a 2-1 overtime loss to Vermont, and an 11-6-3 overall record. In 2001, Hofstra's last season in the America East Conference, Nuttall led his team to a 9-9-1 record and a berth in the America East Tournament for the fourth time in five years. Nuttall, a native of South Yorkshire, England, played with Leeds United and Stoke City of the English Football League. He graduated from the Carnegie School (College) of Physical Education in West Yorkshire in 1984.  It was during this time that Nuttall received his Football Association coaching certificates. Nuttall, who moved to Long Island permanently in 1988 after spending summers in the United States since 1983, taught physical education at North Shore High School. He is also a partner in the highly successful Pro Excel summer soccer camp on Long Island and is active in working with many Long Island communities.   Nuttall and his wife, Christine, reside in New Hyde Park, New York, with their three children, Jack, Caroline, and Grace.