Frank D'Amelio
Encyclopedia
Frank D’Amelio is a former U.S. soccer defender
who played one season in the North American Soccer League
, one in the American Soccer League
and the 1980-1981 indoor NASL season. He later coached for over two decades on the collegiate, high school and youth club levels.
. He began college at Adelphi University
in 1976. He took a year off to play for the U.S. U-21 national team in 1977 then returned to college at the University of Evansville
. He spent the 1978 and 1979 seasons with the Purple Aces. He was inducted into the Evansville Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992. In 1980, the Philadelphia Fury
selected D'Amelio in the first round of the North American Soccer League
's college draft. He played eight games for the Fury. In the fall of 1981, he moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and played the 1980-1981 NASL season before being released. He then moved to New York United for the 1981 American Soccer League
season. United went to the championship game where it fell to the Carolina Lightnin'
. He retired from playing professionally at the end of the season.
soccer team to the semifinals of the Indiana State championship. However, it was an unpaid position and D'Amelio was making a living as a construction worker with Traylor Brothers Construction Company. In March 1983, his brother and sister were able to get him a position as a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas
at a considerable increase in salary compared to his construction work. He lived in Nevada for only a year or two before moving to East Rockaway, New York
where he worked for KLM. He also played at the amateur level and was an assistant coach with Baldwin High School
. In 1993, he returned to Las Vegas. In 1998, he became an assistant coach at UNLV, a position he held for eight seasons. In 2003, he became the head coach of the Las Vegas Strikers
in the National Premier Soccer League
. The Strikers folded following the 2006 season. He also coached at Valley High School
. In 2006, he coached the Las Vegas Toros in the National Alliance Soccer League.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who played one season in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, one in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
and the 1980-1981 indoor NASL season. He later coached for over two decades on the collegiate, high school and youth club levels.
Player
D'Amelio was born in Italy, but moved to the United States at some point during his early youth. He grew up on Long Island, New York and attended Baldwin High SchoolBaldwin Senior High School (Baldwin, New York)
Baldwin High School is a public secondary school located in Baldwin, Nassau County, New York. The school serves about 1700 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Baldwin Union Free School District. It is the eighth largest in Nassau County.- External links :**...
. He began college at Adelphi University
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
in 1976. He took a year off to play for the U.S. U-21 national team in 1977 then returned to college at the University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
. He spent the 1978 and 1979 seasons with the Purple Aces. He was inducted into the Evansville Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992. In 1980, the Philadelphia Fury
Philadelphia Fury
The Philadelphia Fury was a soccer team based in Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Among the club's investors were rock musicians Rick Wakeman, Peter Frampton and Paul Simon. The team played at Veterans Stadium....
selected D'Amelio in the first round of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
's college draft. He played eight games for the Fury. In the fall of 1981, he moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and played the 1980-1981 NASL season before being released. He then moved to New York United for the 1981 American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
season. United went to the championship game where it fell to the Carolina Lightnin'
Carolina Lightnin'
The Carolina Lightnin was an American soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina that was a member of the American Soccer League. The Lightnin' played home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Attendance at home games averaged 6,000 spectators...
. He retired from playing professionally at the end of the season.
Coaching
D'Amelio began his coaching career as an assistant coach with Evansville in the fall of 1980 as he finished his bachelors degree in languages. In 1982, he coached the Reitz Memorial High SchoolReitz Memorial High School
Reitz Memorial High School or Evansville Memorial High School outside of Evansville or simply Memorial High School inside Evansville, is a diocesan interparochial Catholic High school in Evansville, Indiana. It sits on a tract of land off Lincoln Avenue that was donated by Francis Joseph Reitz in...
soccer team to the semifinals of the Indiana State championship. However, it was an unpaid position and D'Amelio was making a living as a construction worker with Traylor Brothers Construction Company. In March 1983, his brother and sister were able to get him a position as a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
at a considerable increase in salary compared to his construction work. He lived in Nevada for only a year or two before moving to East Rockaway, New York
East Rockaway, New York
East Rockaway is a village in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. The population was 9,818 at the 2010 census.The Incorporated Village of East Rockaway is in the town Hempstead, adjacent to Lynbrook, Hewlett and Oceanside. The primary ethnicities are mainly Italian and Irish...
where he worked for KLM. He also played at the amateur level and was an assistant coach with Baldwin High School
Baldwin Senior High School (Baldwin, New York)
Baldwin High School is a public secondary school located in Baldwin, Nassau County, New York. The school serves about 1700 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Baldwin Union Free School District. It is the eighth largest in Nassau County.- External links :**...
. In 1993, he returned to Las Vegas. In 1998, he became an assistant coach at UNLV, a position he held for eight seasons. In 2003, he became the head coach of the Las Vegas Strikers
Las Vegas Strikers
Las Vegas Strikers were an American soccer team, founded in 2003. The team were a member of the National Premier Soccer League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, and play in the Southwest Conference....
in the National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
. The Strikers folded following the 2006 season. He also coached at Valley High School
Valley High School (Nevada)
For schools of the same name, see Valley High SchoolValley High School is a public school that also offers two widely recognized magnet programs: the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and Middle Years Programme; and the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A,...
. In 2006, he coached the Las Vegas Toros in the National Alliance Soccer League.