COACHING EXPERIENCE

Head Coach, Fairleigh Dickinson University (2006-Present) - 17th season

Head Coach, New Jersey City University (2005)

Assistant Coach, Monmouth University (2002-2004)

HONORS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2022 ECAC Coach of the Year 

Winningest coach in program history (156 wins)

Eight seasons with 10 or more wins

2010 MAC Freedom Coach of the Year

Two MAC Freedom Regular Season Championships (2006 & 2010)

Eight MAC Freedom Postseason Tournament appearances

Eight ECAC Postseason Tournament appearances

31 MAC All-Conference selections

Four NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region/United Soccer Coaches All-Region IV Selections

2010 MAC Freedom Co-Player of the Year

Three FDU Hall of Famers, Brittany Kanickij (2016), Lora Fink (2018) and Michelle Hickey (2019)

CAREER WRITE-UP

Kristin Giotta begins her 18th season as the Head Women’s Soccer Coach in 2023 and is the longest tenured head coach in the program’s history. In August 2018, Giotta was named the Associate Athletics Director for Compliance and assumed the role of Senior Woman’s Administrator in the summer of 2019. In the Summer of 2022, Giotta was promoted to Co-Interim Athletic Director and later in the summer of 2023, was named the Director of Athletics for FDU-Florham Athletics. 

The Devils have reached postseason play eleven times during Giotta’s tenure as head coach, including each of the last seven years and twelve of the last thirteen. 

In 2019, FDU again finished with a 10+ win season, going 13-8-1 and reaching the ECAC Second Round. Junior Midfielder Tatiana Nieto finished another all-conference season, earning MAC Freedom All-Conference Honorable mention, the third time in her career earning an all-conference nod. After a year pause due to CoVID-19, Giotta led the Devils back to both the MAC Freedom Tournament and the ECAC Tournament in 2021 with a record of 12-8-2. In 2021, Amanda Croce became the first student-athlete to earn United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region accolades. Additionally, three were tabbed to the All-MAC Freedom Team, whle Croce was named to the Academic All-MAC Team and was honored as a finalist for the NJAIAW Woman of the Year award.

The 2018 season was a banner year for the Devils, qualifying for another MAC Freedom Tournament and reaching the semi-final round before falling to nationally ranked #8, Misericordia, 2-1. The Devils earned a #1 seed in pod three for the ECAC Tournament and defeated Wesley College and Widener University in the first and second rounds to advance to the ECAC Championships. FDU fell to eventual 2018 ECAC Champion, McDaniel College in the semi-final round. The 2018 campaign saw the Devils end with a 14-7-2 mark. The 14 wins tied for second most in program history, with sophomore goalkeeper, Ashley Paulino, setting the program record for wins in a season. The Devils also posted an 8-1-1 mark at home in 2018.

In 2017, Giotta mentored a young Devils squad to 13 wins, which was the third most in program history. The Devils qualified for another ECAC Championship, falling to eventual runner-up NYU in the second round. The 2017 season also saw the Devils defeat their first nationally ranked opponent in program history, upsetting #18 Misericordia, 1-0.

In 2014, Giotta became the winningest head coach in program history, surpassing previous head coach Renee Montana’s win record with 82 victories. In November of 2015, Giotta garnered her 100th career victory as a collegiate coach, defeating Geneva College, 4-1.  

In 2010, FDU had one of their best seasons in program history, winning a school record 15 games and earning the Freedom Conference Regular Season Championship with a 6-0-1 record. The Devils advanced to the Freedom Tournament Finals and the Semifinals of the ECAC Metro Region Tournament.  For her efforts, Giotta was named Freedom Conference Coach of the Year.  Additionally, FDU garnered their first ever NCAA Mid-Atlantic regional ranking. 

In 2006, her first season with the Devils, Giotta guided the team to their first ever Freedom Conference Regular Season Championship, finishing with an undefeated record (6-0-1) in conference play. The Devils also reached the Freedom Conference Finals and the ECAC South Region Championship Game. Giotta led the Devils to a then, school record 14-win season.

Outside of FDU, Giotta is the Girls Director of Goalkeeping for Match Fit Academy, a high-level club competing in the ECNL. She holds a USSF License and a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. Giotta is also a longstanding goalkeeper coach for the NJ Girls Olympic Development Program, holding the position since 2001. She also owns and operates Upper Ninety Training, LLC which is a soccer training company that employs an all-female staff of collegiate coaches and players.

She currently resides in Roxbury, N.J. with her husband, Dave, their daughter Lyda and son, Kalvin.

PLAYING CAREER

Two-time First Team All-Conference Selection at goalkeeper

1999 & 2000 NEC Regular Season Champion

Finished Junior year ranked 14th in the nation with 90 saves and a 0.72 goals against average

Spent one season with the NJ Lady Stallions of the Women’s Professional League

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree in Special and Elementary Education, Monmouth University (2001)

Master’s degree in Educational Counseling, Monmouth University (2005)

Year

Overall

Conference

Postseason

2022

17-5-1

4-3-1

MAC Freedeom 4/5 Play-in, ECAC Champions

2021

12-8-2

3-3-2

MAC Freedom Play In, ECAC Semifinals

2020

0-0

0-0

Season Canceled Due to Covid-19

2019

13-8-1

2-5

ECAC Second Round

2018

14-7-2

3-3-1

MAC Freedom Semifinals, ECAC Semifinals

2017

13-7

4-3

ECAC Second Round

2016

9-9-4

3-3-1

MAC Freedom Tournament ECAC Tournament

2015

10-10-2

2-3-2

ECAC South Tournament Semifinals

2014

7-9-2

3-4

2013

10-11

4-3

MAC Freedom Tournament

2012

7-13

4-3

MAC Freedom Tournament

2011

8-12-1

4-2-1

MAC Freedom Tournament

2010

15-7-2

6-0-1

MAC Freedom Regular Season Champs, MAC Freedom Finals, ECAC Second Round

2009

8-9-2

3-3-1

2008

9-10

4-4

2007

7-11

2-4

2006

14-7-2

6-0-1

MAC Freedom Regular Season Champs,MAC Freedom Finals, ECAC Tournament

Career

173-143-18

57-46-11

2022 Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom

Ashley Dietrich

2022 First Team All-MAC Freedom

Mia Lopez

2022 First Team All-MAC Freedom

Erica Blackburn

2021 First Team All-MAC Freedom

Erica Blackburn

2021 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Amanda Croce

2021 Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom

Tatiana Nieto

2019 Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom

Tatiana Nieto

2018 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Amanda Croce

2018 Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom

Tatiana Nieto

2017 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Tatiana Nieto

2017 Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom

Melissa Quinn

2017 Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom

Erica Martins

2016 First Team All-MAC Freedom

Brittni Calleo

2016 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Annie George

2016 Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom

Missy Quinn

2015 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Brittni Calleo

2014 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Brittni Calleo

2013 First Team All-MAC Freedom

Michelle Hickey

2013 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Claire Donohue

2012 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Claire Donohue

2012 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Michelle Hickey

2011 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Claire Donohue

2011 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Melanie Pierson

2010 MAC Freedom Co-Player of the Year

Brittany Kanickij

2010 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Lora Fink

2010 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Ally Janiga

2009 First Team All-MAC Freedom

Brittany Kanickij

2008 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Melissa Kahse

2007 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Lora Fink

2007 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Brittany Kanickij

2006 First Team All-MAC Freedom

Kathleen Rivera

2006 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Kate Daly

2006 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Megan Sweeney

2006 Second Team All-MAC Freedom

Laura Verzi