Nazareth College Men's Soccer

Matt Tantalo, a collegiate coach for more than two decades, was named Nazareth Men's Soccer Head Coach in February 2016. During his tenure,Tantalo has spearheaded a dramatic program renaissance that has culminated in Empire 8 Conference titles in 2019 and 2021. By winning the conference championships in those seasons, Nazareth gained its third and fourth NCAA Tournament berths. The Golden Flyers have improved steadily since Tantalo's arrival, from six wins in 2016 to nine-straight Empire 8 tournament appearances. Nazareth collected 10 wins in both the 2023 and 2023 seasons. Tantalo has been recognized three times with the E8 Coach of the Year Award that is named for his mentor Doug May, who coached at Nazareth from 1996 through 2003. Tantalo played for May at RIT. The Western New York native led Nazareth to its ninth consecutive Empire 8 Championship appearance in 2025. Tantalo's Golden Flyers earned five E8 All-Conference selections, including Rookie of the Year honoree Samuel Burton.  In 2024, Tantalo produced three United Soccer Coaches All-Region All-Stars in Drew Decker, Ryan Fitzgerald and Jake Pawlika. Under Tantalo, Decker became the all-time leader in the Empire 8 with 38 assists, while Pawlika is second all-time at Nazareth in scoring with 98 points (39 G, 20 A). The 2022 team featured six All-Empire 8 selections including Cuneyt Varder who earned first team honors and was an Academic All-American selection as well as an All-Region selection. In 2021, Nazareth went 7-0-1 in conference play and eliminated St. John Fisher and Houghton respectively to gain the conference title and automatic NCAA berth. The season included a school-record 14-game unbeaten streak (12-0-2) and nine shutouts. The Golden Flyers were rewarded with five first-team E8 all-stars, including Goalkeeper of the Year Logan Menna, and four all-region selections. The 2019 season featured a 5-0-1 E8 Conference record, a 13-game unbeaten streak (10-0-3) and the E8 Player of the Year in Jake Adams.. The 2018 team had a 12-7-1 overall record, including a 5-2-1 conference mark and advanced to the Empire 8 championship game with a 1-0 victory over Alfred in the semifinals. In 2017, Tantalo helped lead the Golden Flyers to a second-place finish in the regular-season standings and a semifinal appearance in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament. They finished 10-6-1 overall, reaching double digits in victories for the first time since 2011. His overall head coaching record stands at 205-135-40 (.592) including a mark of 85-42-21 (.645) at Nazareth.  A native of Rochester, Tantalo played soccer scholastically at Gates-Chili High School and then at RIT for the legendary Doug May, whom he later assisted at Nazareth. Before taking the head coaching position at Nazareth, Tantalo served as head coach for 11 seasons at Keuka College, where he produced a record of 104-62-16 (.615) with an NCAA Tournament berth in 2007, the college’s first-ever NCAA bid for a men’s sport. His teams were also honored with the NSCAA Team Academic Award on an annual basis. Highlights of Tantalo’s tenure at Keuka included 60 players being named to the all-conference team, including 21 first-teamers and two players of the year. He also had five players named to the Mid-Atlantic Region all-star team by the United Soccer Coaches and the NCAA statistical scoring champion in 2014. Tantalo spent the 2004 season as an assistant coach at Division I Syracuse University and served as head coach at Elmira College for three seasons, which included an Empire 8 Conference Tournament appearance in 2002.  Tantalo’s coaching career began as an assistant to May at Nazareth in 1998. He spent three seasons at Nazareth and helped the 1999 and 2000 teams reach the ECAC Upstate Tournament. Tantalo excelled as a player for May at RIT, where he earned a degree in Business Administration and Management. On the soccer field, he started every game of his four-year career (64 overall) and helped the Tigers to a record of 39-19-7. He was a regional All-American in 1995 and served as team captain in 1997. Other playing highlights included an NCAA “Elite 8” Tournament appearance in 1994, an ECAC Upstate championship in 1995 and a bronze medal in the Empire State Games in 1997. Tantalo also played professional soccer for two seasons – for the Albany Alleycats of the USL Pro League in 1998 and for the New York Capital District Shockers of the USL Premier Development League in 1999. He played scholastically at Gates Chili and helped the Spartans to Section Five titles and national rankings in 1992 and 1993. Tantalo is a member of the United Soccer Coaches (formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America) and holder of an NSCAA National Diploma, USSF National “B” License, and a Master’s Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University in Irvine, Calif. Along with collegiate coaching Tantalo has coached at the premier club level, Olympic Development Program and has extensive experience running camps and clinics throughout the northeast. In addition, Tantalo has spent four years coaching in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). In 2016 he led the first-year Rochester River DogZ (now Lancers) of the NPSL as head coach. In 2017 and 2018 he led Syracuse FC, serving as head coach and general manager. At Nazareth, Tantalo is the fourth men’s soccer coach in the program’s history. Tantalo resides in Rochester with his wife, Lauren. They are parents of two daughters.

Scott Miller joined the Nazareth coaching staff as an assistant coach in August of 2025. Miller brings an array of coaching experience with over 40 years, in addition to playing at the highest professional level in the United States. Most recently, for six seasons, Miller was the Director of Residential Soccer Academics for Black Rock FC. He directed all aspects of a Premier Level Year Long Residential Soccer Academy for boys and girls high school student-athletes.The program included around 40 total males and females from over 20 different countries. He assisted the director of recruitment, maintaining strong relationships with college coaches, parents and agents of players. He was an integral piece, contributing to academic and personal growth monitoring of all players in the program. He was the head men's soccer coach at Sarah Lawrence Colllege in Bronxville, NY for five seasons and in 2017-18 helped the team break school records for goals, wins, assists, points, shots and shutouts. No stranger to the Empire 8, he was the head coach Alfred University from 2004-2013, producing 29 all-conference players. He had assistant coaching stints at George Mason and Norwich. Miller earned B.S. in Business Administration from Alfred University. He also received a Masters in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University in Irvine, CA and received a USSF National "A" License.  He played professionally for the Arizona Sahuaros, the Vermont Voltage, and the Rochester Raging Rhinos. 

Marcelo Moreira, former pro soccer player from Brazil and a former goalkeeper for the Rochester Lancers indoor team, joined the Nazareth soccer staff in 2016 as a part-time assistant coach. In addition to the Lancers, Moreira has played for the Silver Knights and the St. Louis Ambush in the Major Arena Soccer League. He has extensive experience as a goalkeeper coach. Along with individual training, he has served as goalkeeper coach for the Flower City Union, Western New York Flash, the Rochester River Dogz FC and the Rochester Futbol Club. Moreira enjoyed a decorated playing career in Brazil as he competed for teams such as S.E. Palmeiras, Londrina E.C, C.A. Juventus and A.D. Sao Caetano. He also played in the 2013 Jewish Olympic Games for the Jewish-Brazilian National Team.