In early July the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) announced 15 men and 15 women that would be involved with this year’s NSCAA 30 Under 30 program. Even though it didn’t make headlines, this was a really big moment in a busy summer of soccer.
The NSCAA 30 Under 30 program is designed to give participants exposure to the Association’s membership and the opportunity to take advantage of educational offerings, such as diplomas and the NSCAA Convention. Launched in 2013, the NSCAA 30 Under 30 program is a year-long education and mentorship opportunity for a select few up-and-comers who have made soccer coaching their career of choice. This program was created to support fledgling coaches and foster their growth at a crucial point in their vocation.
Simply put, the 30 Under 30 program is the “Top Gun” of the soccer coaching profession, an incredible honor reserved for only the best of the best, thirty coaches selected from literally thousands of coaches across the U.S. Dominic Casciato, the Director of Coaching for Brooklyn Italians SC, was one of the select few that made the cut for the 30 for 30 program.
“Obviously I’m proud and very thankful to have received this recognition from the NSCAA,” Casciato commented. “I’m really excited to meet the other members who were nominated, as I’m sure they will have some great ideas and experiences to share. I’m also looking forward to working alongside the mentor they will partner me with, as I think that will help me develop further as a coach.”
It’s really no surprise that he was selected, considering his impressive credentials.
It all started at Limestone College in South Carolina, where Casciato enjoyed a stellar playing career. The honors and awards flowed as he was named an Adidas All-American, Academic All-American, and Strength and Conditioning All-American over four seasons. His hopes of a professional playing career were cut short after suffering a serious injury shortly after graduating, which led to him turning his attention to coaching at a much younger age than he had ever expected.
His first step into coaching was a big one, working under the legendary Dr. David Masur at St. John’s University. During his two years with the men’s soccer program at St. John’s, the Red Storm claimed a Big East Conference Tournament title and saw several players graduate into the professional ranks. The best known of this group is defender Conor Lade, who still plays with the New York Red Bulls.
After leaving St. John’s, Casciato worked on the youth side of the game in the New York area, guiding the Dix Hills Elite to a national championship final (2013) and a semifinal appearance (2014) during his two years at the helm.
He was also an assistant with the Jersey Express PDL program for two years, helping them to become division champions, conference champions, and national championship semi-finalists. Eight of his players went on to play professionally with the most notable being Tommy McNamara, who currently plays for MLS side New York City FC.
Casciato joined the Brooklyn Italians in September of 2014, bringing with him a wealth of experience well beyond his years. He already has a UEFA “B” license and is still looking to grow and develop as a coach. He is, after all, responsible for the overall technical management of the entire club, guiding the technical staff and developing an age-appropriate curriculum for the youth teams.
The Italians happen to be a club that truly understands the concept of a development pyramid and they offer numerous programs to a wide range of players.
Over 300 players are involved in competitive teams from ages U7 to U18. That program works its way up to the NPSL squad, which usually consists of another 25-30 players. Many of the NPSL players have come up through the Italians youth system and are now playing in college.
Their Scuola Calcio (or “Soccer School” in Italian) brings in another 200 players at the recreational level. Many start in this program and go on to play at the competitive level. The club is also starting a girls program along with an afterschool program, the latter geared to give back to the local community and spread awareness of the good work the club is doing.
Casciato has impressed many along the way, including Brooklyn Italians Vice President Joe Barone.
“Dom is very innovative for a young coach,” Barone commented. “He is always looking at the technical side of the game. He is great with technique-based training and is a true student of the game.”
Casciato’s commitment has taken him around the world to learn more about his craft, a journey that recently took him to the soccer-rich nations of Argentina and Brazil. He learned a lot about talented players from favelas and how clubs interact with these communities. It’s given him some perspective about the sport here in the U.S.
“The game has become a business at the youngest ages in this country, which is not good if we’re serious about producing top players and a truly world-class national team,” Casciato added. “We need to make sure that a player’s economic status doesn’t limit them from reaching the highest level, as some kids are priced out of playing at the moment due to how expensive it can be. The great thing about America is there is such a diverse population across the country – now we just need to make sure the best kids from all of these different backgrounds are able to play.”
Despite the challenges, Casciato still believes in the American game and where we are heading as a soccer nation.
“I think American soccer is definitely growing. More kids are playing the game and the coaches are getting better, although there is a long way to go before the U.S. becomes a soccer superpower. I also think we need to be patient and build a solid soccer identity based around American culture. We have to remember the game is still relatively young here. Too often I feel we try to adopt another culture that doesn’t work, simply because that’s what’s in vogue at the moment. I’ve seen that happen with my own country back in England, and it hasn’t worked there based off of what we saw at the Euros, although we do have a really exciting crop of young players at the moment. We should not be changing our beliefs or style every time someone else wins the World Cup.”
Casciato’s words show an impressive insight into the beautiful game and we are certain that you’ll be hearing his name for years to come. Dominic Casciato is a rising star in the coaching ranks, someone that will do great things. No wonder he was chosen as the NSCAA as one of the top young coaches in the entire country.
