Tony DiCicco
Encyclopedia
Tony DiCicco is an American soccer player, coach, and commentator. He is best known as the coach of the United States women's national soccer team
from 1994 to 1999, during which time the team won an Olympic
gold medal in 1996
and the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.
In 1970, DiCicco graduated from Springfield College
in Massachusetts, where he was an All-American goalkeeper his senior year. He played with the Connecticut Wildcats and Rhode Island Oceaneers
of the American Soccer League
for five years, and made a single appearance for the United States men's national soccer team
in 1973. During this time, he also taught Physical Education at Bellows Falls Middle School in Bellows Falls, Vt. for at least the 1972–1973 school year.
In 1991, DiCicco became the goalkeeper coach for the U.S. women's team; he was also the goalkeeping coach for the 1993 U.S. men's under-20 team. He took over as head coach of the women's team in 1994, and compiled a record of 103–8–8, culminating with the team's dramatic win over China
in the 1999 World Cup final.
DiCicco was interim commissioner of the Women's United Soccer Association
in 2000. He currently works as a commentator for ESPN
's broadcasts of U.S. women's soccer matches.
On September 21, 2007, DiCicco was named coach of the Boston Breakers in the new league Women's Professional Soccer
. In 2008, DiCicco coached the U.S. U-20 Women's national team to victory in the FIFA Women's U-20 World Cup in Chile
.
DiCicco also works with the FSA Soccer Plus premier program based in Farmington, Connecticut.
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
from 1994 to 1999, during which time the team won an Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medal in 1996
Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The association football competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics was held in Birmingham, Alabama; Washington, D.C; Orlando, Florida; Miami, Florida; and Athens, Georgia....
and the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup.
In 1970, DiCicco graduated from Springfield College
Springfield College
Springfield College is a private, coeducational university located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College is most famous as the site where the sport of basketball was invented...
in Massachusetts, where he was an All-American goalkeeper his senior year. He played with the Connecticut Wildcats and Rhode Island Oceaneers
Rhode Island Oceaneers
The Rhode Island Oceaneers was an American soccer club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island that was a member of the American Soccer League.-History:...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
for five years, and made a single appearance for the United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1973. During this time, he also taught Physical Education at Bellows Falls Middle School in Bellows Falls, Vt. for at least the 1972–1973 school year.
In 1991, DiCicco became the goalkeeper coach for the U.S. women's team; he was also the goalkeeping coach for the 1993 U.S. men's under-20 team. He took over as head coach of the women's team in 1994, and compiled a record of 103–8–8, culminating with the team's dramatic win over China
China women's national football team
The China women's national football team represents the People's Republic of China in international women's football.- Records :China had held the record of going for 442 minutes without conceding a World Cup goal, until it was broken by Germany on September 26, 2007, when Germany beat Norway 3-0...
in the 1999 World Cup final.
DiCicco was interim commissioner of the Women's United Soccer Association
Women's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
in 2000. He currently works as a commentator for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's broadcasts of U.S. women's soccer matches.
On September 21, 2007, DiCicco was named coach of the Boston Breakers in the new league Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
. In 2008, DiCicco coached the U.S. U-20 Women's national team to victory in the FIFA Women's U-20 World Cup in Chile
2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
The 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup was held in Chile between November 19 and December 7, 2008. Sixteen teams, comprising representatives from all six confederations, took part in the final competition, in which Chile had a guaranteed place as the host nation....
.
DiCicco also works with the FSA Soccer Plus premier program based in Farmington, Connecticut.