Carmine Isacco
Encyclopedia
Carmine Isacco is a Canadian soccer coach and retired player. He is currently the head coach of SC Toronto of the Canadian Soccer League
.
where he was a Soccer America Magazine
freshman All-American goalkeeper. Over his four seasons with the Terrapins, he was named to the All-ACC first team three times and was the Terrapins team captain as a senior in 1992. He then spent time with the Canadian Olympic Team and competed at the 1993 World University Games. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Maryland
Isaaco turned professional in 1993 with the Toronto Italia in the National Soccer League
. In his first season with the club, he was Goalkeeper of the Year, and was also named a Canadian all-star three times. In 1996, he moved to the Milwaukee Rampage
of the USISL. He was selected to the All USISL Select First Team. In the fall of 1996, he signed with the Toronto Shooting Stars
of the National Professional Soccer League. He returned to the Rampage for the 1997 USISL A-League season as the Rampage won the league title. He would continue to play the summer outdoor season with the Rampage until released by the team on July 13, 1999. On October 16, 1997, he signed a two year contract with the Milwaukee Wave
of the NPSL. However, he spent most of the season as backup to Victor Nogueira
. After having been released by the Rampage half way through the 1999 outdoor season, Isaaco signed with the Rochester Rhinos in August. He then moved to the Edmonton Drillers
for the 1999-2000 NPSL season. On June 20, 2000, the Toronto Lynx
signed Isacco. He also served as an assistant coach with the Lynx. In the fall of 2000, he signed with the Buffalo Blizzard
where he again served as a backup, this time to Bryan Finnerty. The Blizzard folded at the end of the season and in August 2001, the Kansas City Comets
selected Isacco in the dispersal draft, but he chose not to sign with the team.
in 2002. In 2005 he was appointed the head coach of Vaughan Shooters where he led the Shooters to playoffs, eventually reaching the finals, but losing out to the Oakville Blue Devils 2-1. In June 2005, he was also hired to coach the University of Toronto
men's soccer team, the Varsity Blues
. Isacco resigned as head coach of the Vaughn Shooters following the 2006 season in order to concentrate his duties with the University of Toronto. With the Varsity Blues, he led the team to OUA
silver medals in both 2005 and 2006, also capturing a CIS
silver in 2005. On January 10, 2007 Isacco resigned as the men’s soccer head coach and accepted a position as an assistant goalkeeping coach with Toronto FC
, serving under head coach Mo Johnston
.
Before the start of the 2008 TFC season, with Johnston moving upstairs to fill the role of Director of Football
and Isacco's contract not being renewed, he was appointed the head coach of York University
on March 26, 2007. At the same time, he was also appointed the new head coach of the Italia Shooters
for the CSL 2008 season. The season concluded with the Shooters winning their second International Division title. He led Italia to the playoffs, with a victory over the Brampton Lions
in the quarterfinals, but losing to eventual champions Serbian White Eagles
in the semi-finals. Isacco resigned from his position as head coach of Italia in order to focus with his duties with York University.
In 2011, Isacco returned to the Canadian Soccer League
as head coach of his former club, Portugal FC/Toronto Supra, now SC Toronto.
Canadian Soccer League
The Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...
.
Playing career
In 1989, Isacco entered the University of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
where he was a Soccer America Magazine
Soccer America Magazine
Soccer America Magazine is a national American magazine devoted to soccer founded in the early 1970s and is still being published. Its primary focus is soccer in the United States, but it also covers the international game extensively. It was begun by publisher Clay Berling during a period of...
freshman All-American goalkeeper. Over his four seasons with the Terrapins, he was named to the All-ACC first team three times and was the Terrapins team captain as a senior in 1992. He then spent time with the Canadian Olympic Team and competed at the 1993 World University Games. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Maryland
Isaaco turned professional in 1993 with the Toronto Italia in the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
. In his first season with the club, he was Goalkeeper of the Year, and was also named a Canadian all-star three times. In 1996, he moved to the Milwaukee Rampage
Milwaukee Rampage
The Milwaukee Rampage is a defunct American soccer franchise, which played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the A-League. The Rampage folded in 2002 because of financial problems, despite winning the A-league championship that year, as well as in 1997. The Rampage was founded in 1994 as a member of the...
of the USISL. He was selected to the All USISL Select First Team. In the fall of 1996, he signed with the Toronto Shooting Stars
Toronto Shooting Stars
Toronto Shooting Stars were an indoor soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario that competed in the defunct NPSL. The team began play in the 1996-1997 season, with home games taking place at Maple Leaf Gardens. However, the ownership of the franchise collapsed just 3 games into its first season,...
of the National Professional Soccer League. He returned to the Rampage for the 1997 USISL A-League season as the Rampage won the league title. He would continue to play the summer outdoor season with the Rampage until released by the team on July 13, 1999. On October 16, 1997, he signed a two year contract with the Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
of the NPSL. However, he spent most of the season as backup to Victor Nogueira
Victor Nogueira
Victor Nogueira is a retired American soccer goalkeeper. Nogueira spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League, but gained his greatest recognition in over twenty seasons in three indoor leagues, the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and the second Major...
. After having been released by the Rampage half way through the 1999 outdoor season, Isaaco signed with the Rochester Rhinos in August. He then moved to the Edmonton Drillers
Edmonton Drillers (NPSL)
-Resurrection:On August 23, 1996, at a hastily arranged press conference at Telus Field it was announced that Peter Pocklington has purchased the Chicago Power of the National Professional Soccer League and was moving them to Edmonton for the rapidly approaching 96/97 season...
for the 1999-2000 NPSL season. On June 20, 2000, the Toronto Lynx
Toronto Lynx
Toronto Lynx is a Canadian soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference....
signed Isacco. He also served as an assistant coach with the Lynx. In the fall of 2000, he signed with the Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
where he again served as a backup, this time to Bryan Finnerty. The Blizzard folded at the end of the season and in August 2001, the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
selected Isacco in the dispersal draft, but he chose not to sign with the team.
Managerial career
After retiring from soccer Isacco became the head coach of the Toronto SupraPortugal FC
SC Toronto is a Canadian soccer team, founded in 2001. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League, the third tier of the Canadian soccer pyramid and the largest domestic professional soccer league in Canada...
in 2002. In 2005 he was appointed the head coach of Vaughan Shooters where he led the Shooters to playoffs, eventually reaching the finals, but losing out to the Oakville Blue Devils 2-1. In June 2005, he was also hired to coach the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
men's soccer team, the Varsity Blues
Varsity Blues
The Varsity Blues is the name for the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto. Its 26 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The Varsity Blues traces its founding to 1877, with the formation...
. Isacco resigned as head coach of the Vaughn Shooters following the 2006 season in order to concentrate his duties with the University of Toronto. With the Varsity Blues, he led the team to OUA
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
silver medals in both 2005 and 2006, also capturing a CIS
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
silver in 2005. On January 10, 2007 Isacco resigned as the men’s soccer head coach and accepted a position as an assistant goalkeeping coach with Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
, serving under head coach Mo Johnston
Mo Johnston
Maurice John Giblin "Mo" Johnston is a former football striker.Johnston began his football career with Partick Thistle in 1981 before moving to Watford in 1983. With Watford Johnston scored 23 league goals, made his international debut, and helped the team reach the 1984 FA Cup Final...
.
Before the start of the 2008 TFC season, with Johnston moving upstairs to fill the role of Director of Football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
and Isacco's contract not being renewed, he was appointed the head coach of York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
on March 26, 2007. At the same time, he was also appointed the new head coach of the Italia Shooters
Italia Shooters
York Region Shooters are a Canadian soccer team, founded in 1998. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League, the third tier of soccer in the Canadian soccer pyramid and the largest domestic pro league in Canada....
for the CSL 2008 season. The season concluded with the Shooters winning their second International Division title. He led Italia to the playoffs, with a victory over the Brampton Lions
Brampton Lions
Brampton City United FC are a Canadian soccer team, founded in 2002. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League, the third tier of competition in the Canadian soccer pyramid and the largest domestic pro league in Canada...
in the quarterfinals, but losing to eventual champions Serbian White Eagles
Serbian White Eagles
Serbian White Eagles Football Club is a Canadian soccer team. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League....
in the semi-finals. Isacco resigned from his position as head coach of Italia in order to focus with his duties with York University.
In 2011, Isacco returned to the Canadian Soccer League
Canadian Soccer League
The Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...
as head coach of his former club, Portugal FC/Toronto Supra, now SC Toronto.