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Entering 29th year as TCNJ head coach in 2023

Seton Hall University ’91

Hometown: Union, NJ

Education: BA, Communications

 1996 NCAA National Champion

 1997 NCAA National Runner-up

Nazario enters his 29th season as the head coach of The College of New Jersey men’s soccer program in 2023. He has compiled an overall record of 259-195-56 and posted 14 winning seasons during his tenure. Nazario led TCNJ to an NCAA Division III Championship in his second season at the helm of the program, the first NCAA Division III Championship for TCNJ in program history.

Nazario has led the Lions to nine NJAC Tournament appearances, including a conference title in 2005, and four NCAA Tournament berths. In 2021, TCNJ made its first conference tournament appearance since 2015.

In 2019, Nazario's Lions posted a record of 10-4-4, which marked the second-straight season with double-digit wins. He coach four of his student-athletes to All-New Jersey Athletic Conference honors. Michael Malteste and Daniel Mecadon earned Second Team All-NJAC recognition, while Sam Monaco and Dante Bettino took home All-NJAC Honorable Mentions.

In 2016, the Lions finished with a record of 9-9-2, qualifying for the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs and reaching the semifinal round. Four players were named to the all-conference team, including All-NJAC first team honors for seniors Nick Costelloe and Dominic Polidoro. Following the season, Nazario was inducted into the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame.

Nazario opened the 2015 season by capturing his 200th career coaching victory, a resounding 5-0 win over York College (NY). The  Lions posted a 10-5-2 overall mark, defeating three teams ranked in the top 25.

TCNJ has competed in four NCAA Division III Championship tournaments during Nazario’s reign, including a national championship title in 1996. The Lions boasted a record of 14-3 in the NCAA tournament during those four trips and were national runner-up in 1997.

In October of 2011, the 1996 men’s soccer team that captured the NCAA national championship title was inducted into TCNJ's Athletic Alumni Hall of Fame. Jason Cairns '97, a member of that championship squad, was inducted as an individual in the spring of 2017.

Nazario has twice been named NCSCAA Metro Regional Coach of the Year, making him a candidate for the NSCAA National Division III Coach of the Year. The first was in 1996 when Nazario guided his troops to capturing the school’s first-ever men’s soccer NCAA national championship. He won the award a second time in 2005 when the Lions went 16-3 and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinal match. TCNJ also captured the NJAC Championship in the 2005 season.

Nazario had an exceptional playing career, earning All-American honors at Union High School and winning a national championship with the Union Lancers Under-19 Team in 1987. In college, he led Seton Hall University to three Big East Conference championships and four NCAA Division I Championship tournament appearances in 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1990. He was twice named Big East Player of the Year in 1987 and 1990 and served as the Pirates team captain in 1990. Following his collegiate career, Nazario was a member of the Puerto Rican National Soccer Team from 1992 to 1998.

Prior to taking over TCNJ’s men’s soccer program, Nazario served as an assistant men’s soccer coach for Seton Hall University for three seasons. He was the athletic director of the Union Lancers Youth Club from 1995 until 1997 and also served as head coach of the Union Lancers Under-16 Youth Team.

Nazario is currently head coach of the Under-18 PDA Larsson Team affiliated with the Players Development Academy (PDA).

In January of 2007, Nazario was married to Carol Pierce. The couple resides in Hightstown, N.J.

Overall

NJAC

Postseason

Year

Wins

Losses

Ties

Wins

Losses

Ties

1995

15

4

3

5

3

1

NCAA Quarterfinals

1996

17

5

1

6

3

1

NCAA Champions

1997

17

6

0

7

2

0

NCAA Runner-Up

1998

8

8

3

3

4

2

1999

9

7

2

7

2

0

2000

14

7

0

5

4

0

2001

8

7

2

4

5

0

2002

10

7

3

5

3

1

NJAC Runner-up

2003

5

11

2

3

4

2

2004

7

9

2

1

5

2

2005

16

3

1

7

2

0

NCAA Quarterfinals/ NJAC Champions

2006

7

8

1

4

5

0

2007

10

6

3

5

2

2

NJAC Tournament

2008

9

9

2

5

4

0

NJAC Tournament

2009

7

6

4

5

2

2

NJAC Semifinals

2010

9

5

4

5

1

1

NJAC Runner-up

2011

5

8

4

0

6

2

2012

7

11

0

3

6

0

2013

12

6

2

6

2

1

NJAC Semifinals

2014

7

9

2

3

6

0

2015

10

5

2

4

5

0

2016   

9

9

2

4

4

1

NJAC Semifinals

2017   

6

9

3

1

5

3

2018   

10

6

2

3

4

2

2019   

10

4

4

2

3

4

2021

8

10

1

4

4

1

NJAC Quarterfinals

2022

7

10

1

2

7

0

2023

4

12

2

2

6

1

Total

263

207

58

111

109

29