Tony DiCicco

Anthony D. DiCicco Jr. (August 5, 1948 – June 19, 2017) was an American soccer player, coach, administrator, and TV 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. He was also coach of the U.S. team that won the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Tony DiCicco
DiCicco in October 2010
Personal information
Full name Anthony D. DiCicco Jr.[1]
Date of birth (1948-08-05)August 5, 1948[1]
Place of birth Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.[1]
Date of death June 19, 2017(2017-06-19) (aged 68)[1]
Place of death Wethersfield, Connecticut, U.S.[1]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1969 Springfield Pride
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Connecticut Wildcats
Rhode Island Oceaneers
International career
1973 United States 1 (0)
Managerial career
1991–1994 United States (women; GK coach)
1993 United States U20 (GK coach)
1993 United States (women; stand-in)
1994–1999 United States (women)
2008 United States U20 (women)
2009–2011 Boston Breakers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

Born in Hartford, Connecticut,[1] DiCicco was 1966 graduate of Wethersfield High School in Wethersfield, Connecticut, where he lettered in soccer, baseball and basketball.[3]

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.[3]

Coaching career

International

In 1991, DiCicco became the goalkeeper coach for the United States women's national team; he was also the goalkeeping coach for the 1993 U.S. men's under-20 team. He served as the stand-in head coach for the U.S. women's team during their 3–0 win against Canada on June 21, 1993, in Pontiac, Michigan, due to a previous commitment of head coach Anson Dorrance.[4] He took over as head coach of the women's team in 1994, and compiled a record of 105–8–8, culminating with the team's dramatic win over China in the 1999 World Cup final.[5][6]

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.

Club

DiCicco served as head coach of the Boston Breakers of the Women's Professional Soccer from 2009 to 2011.[7]

Sports administration

DiCicco was the founding commissioner of the Women's United Soccer Association from 2000 to 2003.[8][9] DiCicco has also served on a Technical Advisory board for U.S. Soccer.

Broadcasting

DiCicco worked as a commentator and analyst for ESPN's and Fox Sports' broadcasts of women's soccer, including the main broadcast booth for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[10][11]

Writing

DiCicco was co-author of "Catch Them Being Good: Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Coach Girls" with Colleen Hacker and Charles Salzberg.

Personal life

DiCicco and his wife, Diane, have four sons: Anthony, Andrew, Alex, and Nicholas.[12][11] DiCicco died on June 19, 2017, from cancer at his home in Wethersfield, Connecticut.[1] He was 68 years old.[11]

Honors and awards

Individual

DiCicco was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2012.[13][11]

Coach

References
  1. Longman, Jeré (June 20, 2017). "Tony DiCicco, Popular Coach of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team, Dies at 68". The New York Times.com. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  2. "Rhode Island Oceaneers / New England Oceaneers". Fun While It Lasted. November 24, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  3. "Tony DiCicco bio". Soccer Times. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  4. Harris, Tom (June 18, 1993). "Soccer: National Women". Sports. The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. p. 3C. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  5. "Tony DiCicco Resigns as Head Coach of U.S. Women's National Team; Olympic and Women's World Cup Champion Finishes at 103–8–8". US Soccer. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  6. "2020 U.S. Women's National Team Media Guide" (PDF). United States Soccer Federation. 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  7. Smartschan (September 15, 2011). "Boston Breakers: Moving on after Tony DiCicco". metro.us. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  8. "PLUS: SOCCER – WOMEN'S UNITED SOCCER ASSOCIATION; DiCicco Is Named As Commissioner". New York Times. April 27, 2000. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  9. "Tony DiCicco profile". US Soccer. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  10. "Women's Soccer Analyst profile". ESPN. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  11. "Tony DiCicco, coach of '99 WWC champs, passes away". The Equalizer. June 20, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  12. "Tony DiCicco bio". Women's Soccer World. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  13. "Tony DiCicco Elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2012". National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
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