Legendary New Jersey-area coach brings immense experience to USL League Two side
For Immediate Release - Tuesday, January 11, 2021
Media Contact:
Jef Thiffault, Director of Club Development and Communications
jef.thiffault@fccopa.com / 732.662.5202 x205
New Jersey Copa FC entered a new era today by announcing the hiring of Fernando Barboto as Head Coach of its USL League Two team. With the announcement, the current NJIT Head Men’s Coach becomes New Jersey Copa FC’s first Head Coach. Barboto will lead his team into its first season in the USL League Two in 2021. The former New York Cosmos “B” coach has signed a multi-year agreement. In addition to serving as Head Coach of the USL League Two side, Barboto will take a leading role in the technical direction of New Jersey Copa FC’s USL Two Reserve and USL Academy teams.
Barboto joins New Jersey Copa FC with an extraordinary amount of experience, and he is the current men’s Head Coach of the NCAA Division I program at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Barboto is the fourth NJIT head men’s soccer coach in the program’s Division I era. 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. In his most recent season, he 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 (first round; at Providence on November 21, 2019).
“Our focus from year one is for New Jersey Copa FC to compete deep into the playoffs every season,” said New Jersey Copa FC President and Founder Roberto Aguas. “With the hiring of Fernando, one of the most experienced and talented coaches New Jersey has ever produced, we are off to a successful first step in launching this project. Simply put, Fernando was our first choice, and we are thrilled to have someone of his character bringing his talents and leadership to our organization”
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 who 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.
“I am so pleased to join the FC Copa organization and integrate the values and culture of this great club into New Jersey Copa FC,” said Barboto, who oversaw the first round of USL tryouts this past weekend. “I am in lockstep with the vision laid out by NJ Copa FC President Roberto Aguas to compete on the field every season while creating a premier pre-professional side in USL League Two.”
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.
USL Tryouts continue this weekend, visit www.fccopa.com/usltryouts to register.
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