Queens College Men's Soccer

Frank Vertullo, a former National Coach of the Year and an NJCAA National Champion head coach, has been the head coach of the Queens College men's soccer team since 2017. The 2018 season was the Knights' best season in nearly a full decade, as Vertullo and his staff guided Queens to a 10-4-3 overall record which included a 6-2-1 mark in East Coast Conference play as the Knights returned to the postseason as the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. The Knights finished the year 5-0-3 in their final eight games, falling in penalty kicks to second-seeded LIU Post in the conference semifinals. András Breuer was named an All-American by the Jewish Sports Review as well as earning All-ECC First Team accolades while three other players---Romario Hulea, Kevin Quituizaca and David Ramirez---picked up Third-Team All-ECC honors. Michael Bolvin was named ECC Goalkeeper of the Year and the Knights spent much of the latter part of the season inside the top-ten of the East Region rankings, showcasing significant strides for the program since Vertullo took over. In Vertullos first season at Queens College in 2017, he led the Knights to an 8-6-2 overall record, winning four of their last five, giving them their second highest win total in eight years. The Knights mounted some notable victories throughout the season, including a 2-1 victory on Senior Day over District of Columbia and a 1-0 shutout of NYIT. Midfielder András Breuer and forward Emgi Gousse were both awarded All-ECC Second Team honors under Vertullo in the 2017 season. Vertullo joined Queens after spending the last 10 seasons as head coach at Suffolk Community College, where he led the Sharks to their first two NJCAA National Championships in school history. Over Vertullos 10 seasons at the helm, Suffolk owned one of the best records for junior colleges in the country at 161-24-13 overall. Vertullo, who took over the Suffolk program in 2007, guided the Sharks to national titles in 2010 and 2014. Suffolk also reached the national quarterfinals in 2008, the national semifinals in 2012 and the national finals in 2013.  Vertullo was named NSCAA Coach of the Year in 2010 after the Sharks first national title. He also earned Coach of the Tournament accolades twice (2010 and 2014) and NJCAA Region XV Coach of the Year five times (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016). Under Vertullos watch, Suffolk won five regional championships (2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014), and the Sharks were regional finalists four times (2007, 2009, 2015, 2016). Two of Vertullos players at Suffolk earned NSCAA National Player of the Year honors (Zacchious Ogoo, 2010; Joseph Lopez, 2014). He mentored 13 NJCAA All-Americans and nine NSCAA All-Americans. Additionally, Vertullo coached two NJCAA Region XV Player of the Year honorees, one Academic All-American (Eddie Hackett, 2010) and 60 NJCAA All-Region players. Prior to Suffolk, Vertullo served as assistant coach at his alma mater, Dowling College, from 2001-2006. In those six seasons, Dowling went 93-12-20 overall, reached the NCAA Division II National Semifinals four times (2001, 2003, 2004, 2006) and won the schools first mens soccer DII National Championship in 2006. East Coast Conference (ECC) Hall of Famer Morten Jensen was named NSCAA National Player of the Year in 2006, and forward Guy Kpene was drafted by DC United of Major League Soccer (MLS). A three-year captain and four-year starter as a student-athlete at Dowling, Vertullo started in all 73 contests and helped the Golden Lions go 52-18-3 during his four seasons. He was a three-time all-conference selection and was NYCAC Newcomer of the Year in 1997. Dowling made three NCAA Tournament appearances (1997, 1998, 2000) and captured two conference championships (1997, 1998). After his playing days at Dowling, Vertullo played professionally for the New York Freedoms, where he was a two-year starter at center back. The Freedoms reached the third round of the US Open Cup in 2004 and played a friendly versus Juventus of the Italian Serie A. The Freedoms also made two USL playoff appearances. Vertullo graduated from Dowling College in 2001 with a degree in business. He completed his masters degree in education at Dowling in 2004. Vertullo is a teacher of 14 years and resides in Blue Point, N.Y., with his wife Maxine, son Michael and step-son Dylan.