Matt Tantalo, a collegiate coach for more than two decades, is back for his eighth season with the Golden Flyers in 2023. During his tenure, he has spearheaded a dramatic program renaissance that has culminated in Empire 8 Conference titles in 2019 and 2021.

The Golden Flyers have improved steadily since Tantalo's arrival -- from six wins in 2016 to records of 14-3-3 in 2019 and 13-2-3 in 2021. By winning the conference championships in those seasons, Nazareth gained its third and fourth NCAA Tournament berths. In addition, Tantalo has been recognized three times in the last five seasons with the E8 Coach of the Year Award that is named for his mentor Doug May, who coached at Nazareth from 1996 through 2003. Tantalo played for May at RIT.

The 2023 team featured six All-Empire 8 selections including Cuneyt Varder who earned first team honors. Vardar and Andrew Vogler were Academic All-District honorees and Vardar capped the awards season with an Academic All-American selection as well as an All-Region selection.

In 2021, Nazareth went 7-0-1 in conference play and eliminated St. John Fisher and Houghton respectively to gain the conference title and automatic NCAA berth. The season included a school-record 14-game unbeaten streak (12-0-2) and nine shutouts.

The Golden Flyers were rewarded with five first-team E8 all-stars, including Goalkeeper of the Year Logan Menna, and four all-region selections. The 2019 season featured a 5-0-1 E8 Conference record, a 13-game unbeaten streak (10-0-3) and the E8 Player of the Year in Jake Adams..

The 2018 team had a 12-7-1 overall record, including a 5-2-1 conference mark and advanced to the Empire 8 championship game with a 1-0 victory over Alfred in the semifinals. In 2017, Tantalo helped lead the Golden Flyers to a second-place finish in the regular-season standings and a semifinal appearance in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament. They finished 10-6-1 overall, reaching double digits in victories for the first time since 2011.

His overall head coaching record stands at 185-127-34 (.584) including a mark of 65-34-15 (.636) at Nazareth. 

A native of Rochester, Tantalo played soccer scholastically at Gates-Chili High School and then at RIT for the legendary Doug May, whom he later assisted at Nazareth.

Before taking the head coaching position at Nazareth, Tantalo served as head coach for 11 seasons at Keuka College, where he produced a record of 104-62-16 (.615) with an NCAA Tournament berth in 2007, the college’s first-ever NCAA bid for a men’s sport. His teams were also honored with the NSCAA Team Academic Award on an annual basis.

Highlights of Tantalo’s tenure at Keuka included 60 players being named to the all-conference team, including 21 first-teamers and two players of the year. He also had five players named to the Mid-Atlantic Region all-star team by the United Soccer Coaches and the NCAA statistical scoring champion in 2014.

Tantalo spent the 2004 season as an assistant coach at Division I Syracuse University and served as head coach at Elmira College for three seasons, which included an Empire 8 Conference Tournament appearance in 2002. 

Tantalo’s coaching career began as an assistant to May at Nazareth in 1998. He spent three seasons at Nazareth and helped the 1999 and 2000 teams reach the ECAC Upstate Tournament.

Tantalo excelled as a player for May at RIT, where he earned a degree in Business Administration and Management. On the soccer field, he started every game of his four-year career (64 overall) and helped the Tigers to a record of 39-19-7. He was a regional All-American in 1995 and served as team captain in 1997.

Other playing highlights included an NCAA “Elite 8” Tournament appearance in 1994, an ECAC Upstate championship in 1995 and a bronze medal in the Empire State Games in 1997. Tantalo also played professional soccer for two seasons – for the Albany Alleycats of the USL Pro League in 1998 and for the New York Capital District Shockers of the USL Premier Development League in 1999.

He played scholastically at Gates Chili and helped the Spartans to Section Five titles and national rankings in 1992 and 1993.

Tantalo is a member of the United Soccer Coaches (formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America) and holder of an NSCAA National Diploma, USSF National “B” License, and a Master’s Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University in Irvine, Calif.

Along with collegiate coaching Tantalo has coached at the premier club level, Olympic Development Program and has extensive experience running camps and clinics throughout the northeast.

In addition, Tantalo has spent four years coaching in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). In 2016 he led the first-year Rochester River DogZ (now Lancers) of the NPSL as head coach. In 2017 and 2018 he led Syracuse FC, serving as head coach and general manager.

At Nazareth, Tantalo is the fourth men’s soccer coach in the program’s history. Tantalo resides in Rochester with his wife, Lauren. They are parents of two daughters.