Tufts University Men's Soccer

Kyle Dezotell, who has 16 years of successful experience as a head coach at the NCAA Division III level, has been hired as the next leader of the Tufts University men's soccer program. Coach Dezotell has compiled 185 victories and a 62.2 winning percentage during four previous coaching stints, including the last three years at Ithaca College. At Tufts he will replace Josh Shapiro, who left after 10 seasons as head coach of the Jumbos to take the job at Harvard University. "I am incredibly grateful and proud to have been chosen as the new Head Men's Soccer Coach at Tufts University," Dezotell said. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics John Morris, Senior Associate Director of Athletics Alexis Mastronardi, as well as the entire coaching staff, students, and administrative staff who served as part of the search committee." During the 2018 and 2019 seasons at Ithaca College, Dezotell led the Bombers to a combined 27-8-6 mark that included a NCAA Tournament berth in 2019 and a school-record 14 wins in 2018. This past fall's team was ranked in the national top 25 all year including a high of #8. In 2018 the Bombers were Liberty League finalists. "It is a bittersweet moment to announce that I will be leaving Ithaca College," Dezotell said. "I am forever grateful to Director of Athletics Susan Bassett and Associate Athletic Director Will Rothermel for the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful athletic department. I am sad to leave the wonderful players, staff, support staff, and administrators, but I know that the program is poised for success next year and beyond as they continue their ascent toward being one of the top teams in the country." Dezotell was also previously the head coach at Manhattanville College (2016), Norwich University (2006-15) and at Johnson State College (2004-05). At Norwich he was a four-time GNAC Coach of the Year and his teams qualified for the NCAA or ECAC postseason tournament nine times. His 2005 Johnson State team was the NAC regular-season champion and he was voted the conference's coach of the year. A 2003 Middlebury College graduate, Dezotell's first coaching job was an assistant at Saint Michael's College for the 2003 season. He moved into the head coaching ranks the next year. "We are thrilled that Kyle will be leading our men's soccer program in its annual pursuit of academic excellence and championships," said Director of Athletics John Morris. "Kyle's experience, track record of success and reputation within the coaching community really stood out, but in the end, it was his vision for our men's soccer program, his commitment to academic achievement, mentoring and developing student-athletes, and his alignment with our core values that made Kyle the obvious choice for us. We are very excited to welcome Kyle, his wife Taylor and their young son Griffin into the Jumbo family." At Middlebury Dezotell earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film & English Studies. He is the Panthers' all-time leading goal scorer career and is second in career assists and points. An All-NESCAC and All-New England selection in soccer, he was also a member of the Middlebury Nordic Ski team. In high school, Dezotell was the NSCAA Gatorade Vermont Player of the Year in soccer as well as a state and New England champion in Nordic skiing. Dezotell takes over a Tufts program that has won four of the last six NCAA Division III championships, including two in a row. The Jumbos are also defending NESCAC champions and have won that conference crown in two of the last three seasons. "I am well aware that I am taking over the preeminent program in NCAA DIII Men's Soccer over the last decade," Dezotell said. "The success achieved by the men's soccer student-athletes, head coach Josh Shapiro, and his amazing coaching staff and support staff is remarkable. The level of respect I have for what Coach Shapiro and the program have achieved couldn't be higher. I am humbled, prideful, eager, and ready to continue to build upon the last decade as we head into 2020 and beyond. "Moving forward at Tufts, we have no plans whatsoever of taking steps backward," he continued. "Our goals, standards, and expectations will remain exactly the same as they have been for the last decade. The program has become synonymous with excellence and competing for championships and this is why I eagerly accepted this opportunity. I can't wait to get started." What They Are Saying About Kyle Dezotell   "I have known Kyle for a long time and I feel he is a terrific fit for Tufts and the Men's soccer program.  I think he is an ambitious and progressive thinking coach. I think he will relate to and understand the NESCAC student-athlete.  He has great experience as a Division III coach and will be able to draw on that experience to quickly make the adjustment to the conference and help lead the program going forward.  I am really excited to see what Tufts will do under Kyle's leadership, I have every confidence the program will continue its success. Josh Shapiro, Head Coach Harvard University Men's Soccer and Former Head Coach Tufts University Men's Soccer 2010-19    "Congratulations to Kyle on his new head coaching position at Tufts. Over the last decade Josh Shapiro built an incredible program on a foundation of genuine interpersonal relationships and high expectations.  Kyle is the perfect choice to carry that legacy forward to the next generation of Tufts soccer student-athletes. Kyle is a hard-working and magnetic recruiter, an astute and adaptable tactician, and an all-around great guy.  Tufts soccer will continue to be a dominant force on the landscape of college soccer under his leadership." Scott Wiercinski, Head Coach Bowdoin College Men's Soccer   "I have known Kyle him for a very long time - close to 30 years - as he not only played for four very successful years at Middlebury, but from a young age, was an annual attendee at our summer soccer camp up in Vermont. As a young player he always had a deep affection for the game of soccer. From this he has developed a lifelong desire to give back as a coach, to the next generation of soccer players, which over his career, he has done very effectively. Kyle is an educator and has always been a student of the game of soccer. One of Kyle's great strengths is his open-minded approach to the craft of coaching. As a player he was a risk taker, a quality that all great goal scorers require. He has taken that quality into the coaching arena and has the strength of character and belief to take the necessary risks and decisions that all effective coaches have to be willing to do." David Saward, Former Head Coach Middlebury College Men's Soccer 1985-2017