Legendary New Jersey-Area Coach to Add Academy Leadership to
New Jersey Copa FC USL League Two Head Coach Role
For Immediate Release - Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Media Contact:
Jef Thiffault, Director of Club Development and Communications
jef.thiffault@fccopa.com / 732.662.5202 x205
METUCHEN, NJ - FC Copa Academy announced the hiring of Fernando Barboto as Boys Director effective immediately. Barboto will assume this additional role with FC Copa Academy having previously been announced as the Head Coach of New Jersey Copa FC’s USL League Two team in January of 2021.
As FC Copa Academy’s Boys Director, Barboto will lead the day to day management of FC Copa Boys teams with responsibilities including roster management, recruitment, coaching assignments and the implementation of curriculum. Barboto will report directly to FC Copa Academy Executive Director of Coaching and President Roberto Aguas and work closely with Vice President Lori Berman and Girls Director Massimo Cedrashi to ensure the consistent implementation of FC Copa’s culture, operating structure and coaching philosophy throughout all locations.
“Fernando has brought an extraordinary amount of professionalism, dedication and experience to our organization, and we are thrilled with the expansion of his role as part of our senior management team to positively impact all of our FC Copa Academy Boys age groups,” said FC Copa Academy President and Founder Roberto Aguas. “Fernando is unquestionably one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in the region, and his contributions will have a tremendous impact on our players for years to come.”
“I am so pleased to expand my role with FC Copa Academy into such an impactful position in the development of our players,” said Barboto. “Through my time as New Jersey Copa FC USL League Two Head Coach, I have been exposed to the intricacies that have led to FC Copa’s success, and I look forward to building upon the outstanding 18 years of player development and college placement.”
Barboto has served as the Head Coach of the NCAA Division I program at New Jersey Institute of Technology for the past six seasons. He has produced many players who have moved to the next level including Mamadou Guirassy who led the nation in goals (16) and was selected ASUN Conference Player of the Year in 2017. Guirassy was drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 Major Soccer League (MLS) SuperDraft by the Portland Timbers. Current players Rene White and Regsan Watkins have been ranked the top two in goals and points among NCAA Division I active career leaders for 2021.
Barboto was named 2019 ASUN Conference Coach of the Year, and, along with his coaching staff, was named United Soccer Coaches Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year, having led the Highlanders to the first NCAA appearance at the Division I level.
Throughout his career, Barboto has brought success to major college programs across the Tri-state area while producing numerous players who advanced to the professional ranks. He has served as the head coach of the New York Cosmos B Team in the NPSL, winning the 2016 North Atlantic Conference and advancing to the Regional Semifinal. Prior to joining NJIT, Barboto oversaw the revival of Iona College’s program. Over thirteen seasons at Iona, Barboto had numerous conference award winners, All-MAAC honorees, NSCAA All-Region selections, and over 75 MAAC All-Academic picks. Several of his players went on to professional soccer, including three in Major League Soccer: Franklin Castellanos (New York Red Bulls II); Ignacio Maganto (LA Galaxy); and, Victor Munoz (Sporting Kansas City). A Division I head coach since 2000, Barboto has had stints at Saint Francis University and Lafayette College. He began his coaching career as head coach of the women’s soccer team at Montclair State University.
A 1994 graduate of New Jersey’s Montclair State University, Barboto was a four-year letter winner and a National Soccer Coaches Association All-American. He went on to play six professional seasons with the North Jersey Imperials of the United Soccer League.
About FC Copa Academy and New Jersey Copa FC
FC Copa Academy is a professional soccer organization founded in 2004, which has appeared in 31 state, 19 regional and 7 national finals & championships. FC Copa has one of the highest college placement rates in the country, both soccer and academic, having placed over 365 students into over 185 collegiate programs and developed 25 professional and national/international team players. FC Copa is a year-round soccer development program assisting players in reaching their greatest potential with three locations; FC Copa Rutgers (Middlesex County, New Jersey), FC Copa Millstone (Monmouth County, New Jersey) and FC Copa Brooklyn (Aviator Sports in Brooklyn, New York). The focus is on educating the complete player with a knowledgeable and caring staff. FC Copa Academy teams compete in premier level leagues, tournaments, showcases, and competitions locally, regionally and nationally. FC Copa Academy fields both boys and girls teams in each age group from U7 through U19 and beyond. FC Copa is a founding member of the USL Academy. In addition to the youth academy, FC Copa Academy provides a pathway into the college, semi-pro and professional levels via its New Jersey Copa FC teams competing in its collegiate programs (U20 and U23), USL League Two, New Jersey Copa FC Reserves, UWS and UWS2 teams.