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April 19, 2010
PHILADELPHIA - Don D'Ambra was officially introduced today as Saint Joseph's new men's soccer coach, at a press conference on campus. The 1994 SJU graduate becomes the fourth coach in the program's history. D'Ambra is arguably one of the most decorated SJU student-athletes to be named a head coach on Hawk Hill. He returns to Saint Joseph's after a successful coaching and playing career with the Philadelphia Kixx of the MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League). He played 16 seasons in the MISL, the last 14 with the Kixx. In 2002, he assumed duties as the head coach of the Kixx, and has served as vice president of soccer operations/head coach since then, while also continuing his playing career. "Being in the Atlantic 10 and having all of the improvements on campus, gives Saint Joseph's tremendous potential in soccer. My goal, starting from the ground up, is to attract the top players in the region to come here. Saint Joseph's is known for its academics and my goal is to build the program so that students will also want to come here for soccer as well," said D'Ambra. "When people ask me why I wanted to make the move from the pros, it's because I'm at the point in my career where I really want to make an impact in peoples' lives. I think I'm suited to coach at the college level and am looking forward to helping young athletes and to making improvements to the soccer program here at Saint Joseph's." D'Ambra helped the Kixx to two MISL championships, as a player in 2002 and as the player/coach in 2007. He was a four-time All-Star and is the Kixx' all-time leading scorer, amassing 388 goals and 905 points. In eight seasons as head coach, he totaled 119 wins, which is the most in the team's history. While at Saint Joseph's from 1990-94, he was a Regional All-America First Team selection and remains the only player in Hawk history to earn the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year award, winning it in 1993. D'Ambra holds the SJU career records for goals (41) and points (102), as well as the marks for goals (15) and points (38) in a season (1993).
"I've met the players and we had a training session already and it was very enjoyable. They worked hard and they were very receptive of having a new coach," said D'Ambra, a native of Philadelphia. "It's now the start of a new era for the soccer program, and I'm looking forward to it." |
