Taking the reins of Nova Southeastern University’s men’s soccer program in 1999, Giuseppe DePalo proved he was going to be leaving a significant mark on the program. In just four years, he became NSU’s all-time winningest coach. In 15 seasons, DePalo has reached 150 victories and taken the program to success in the Sunshine State Conference, widely regarded as the toughest league in NCAA DII.
DePalo led NSU to seven SSC Tournament appearances in 10 seasons, leaving behind a mark of consistency unmatched in the brutal Sunshine State Conference. His current win total places him 32nd among active NCAA coaches in all time wins, and in the top four amongst his peers in the SSC.
This past 2014 campaign saw the Sharks return to glory, finishing in the SSC semifinals and only falling to Lynn, the eventual NCAA National Champions. NSU advanced to the final four in the SSC despite what Bennett Ranking deemed the most difficult schedule in all of NCAA Division II. DePalo's squad was led by two All-Sunshine State Conference Second Team honorees in Nicola Brivio and Andrea Giombetti.
On top of the team's success on the field, DePalo's team once again entered the academic year with a team grade point average above a 3.0. DePalo's Sharks have consistently overachieved academically and have been recognized as elite scholars numerous times by the NSCAA.
With a 1-0 shutout of Flagler on Nov. 9, 2002, DePalo picked up his 51st career win and surpassed previous all-time winningest coach Thomas Rongen. Nearly five years later, DePalo surpassed another milestone - win number 100. NSU posted a 3-2 overtime win over Saint Leo on Sept. 15, 2007 to push DePalo over the century mark.
DePalo guided the Sharks to an 8-6-2 overall record in 2010, while finishing 4-4-0 in the Sunshine State Conference. The Sharks were also invited to the Sunshine State Conference Championship tournament. The Sharks were led by senior forward Aly Hasson who collected 25 points (11 goals, three assists) with five game-winning goals. Two NSU men’s soccer players were tabbed with All Sunshine-State Conference team honors as Hassan voted to the First-Team and Craig Heenighan was chosen as a honorable mention.
In 2009, DePalo coached the Sharks to a semifinals appearance in the Sunshine State Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament. Junior midfielder Heenighan received NSCAA All-Region First-Team, Daktronics Inc. All-Region Second-Team, and All-SSC Second Team Honors with six goals and six assists. DePalo’s Sharks were honored in 2009 for being one of 97 teams across all divisions of the NCAA whose men’s and women’s soccer programs had a 3.0 GPA or higher.
In 2008, junior Romain Onteniente had yet another stellar season, earning Daktronics Inc. Second-Team All-South Region and All-SSC First-Team honors. Onteniente finished the season leading NSU with 11 assists, which is second in NSU’s single-season records. Junior transfer David Wahlberg proved to be a key figure in NSU’s offense, leading the team in points (35), goals (13) and game-winning goals (3) in his first year at NSU.
In 2007, NSU raised many eyebrows around the SSC with a team that featured 17 newcomers and 15 freshmen and was 12-5-2 overall. NSU achieved its highest ever national ranking when it was ranked second in the NSCAA/adidas national poll in early October. NSU also hit the top spot in the regional rankings for the first time in program history and also amassed a nine-match unbeaten streak. To close out the year, sophomore Onteniente earned SSC Player of the Year and All-SSC First-Team honors. Freshman Aly Hassan was also named All-SSC First-Team.
The 2006 Sharks finished nearly perfect at home in the NSU Soccer Complex (6-1-1), keeping it one of the toughest places to play in South Florida. DePalo’s squad also proved its toughness in overtime contests, finishing the season 4-0-3.
In 2005, NSU senior Matthew Parry received All-SSC Second-Team honors and was a NSCAA/adidas Honorable Mention All-American.
In 2004, NSU’s team posted a 15-4-1 record, matching the program record for most victories in a season. NSU was also ranked as high as ninth in the NSCAA/adidas national poll, marking the second consecutive season that NSU ranked as high as ninth in the national poll. Among the highlights of the 2004 season was a 3-2 win over defending NCAA National Champion Lynn University, as well as an SSC tournament final appearance in NSU’s first year of conference competition. Individually, junior forward Adam Ludden was named the 2004 SSC Player of the Year, while NSU led all SSC schools with a total of eight All-Conference team selections. Meanwhile, junior Parry was named an NSCAA/adidas Second-Team All-American, becoming the first player in program history to earn All-American status in NCAA competition.
During the 2000 and 2001 seasons, the Sharks finished nationally ranked in the final NSCAA poll. For his efforts, DePalo was named Florida Sun Conference Coach of the Year in 2001. Meanwhile, DePalo collected Region XVI Coach of the Year honors in 2000 after the leading the Sharks to a second-straight NAIA National Tournament appearance.
DePalo came to NSU after serving as an assistant coach at Embry-Riddle, helping the team capture the 1998 Florida Sun Conference Championship and a NAIA Southeast Regional Final appearance.
A native of Milan, Italy, DePalo attended perennial soccer power Franklin Pierce in N. H. He helped the Ravens to back-to-back NCAA Division II Tournament appearances in 1993 and 1994.
Upon graduating from Franklin Pierce in 1995 with a degree in International Business, he signed with the Connecticut Wolves of the USL. After two years with the Wolves, DePalo spent time with the Canton Invaders and Tampa Bay Terror of the NPSL, as well as the Albany Alleycats and New Hampshire Phantoms of the USL.
DePalo currently holds a USSF “A” License, as well as a UEFA B license. He earned his master’s in sports management from NSU in Sept. 2005. He resides in Weston, Fla. and has two children, Bianca and Matteo.
