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Fairleigh Dickinson at Florham

Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Devils Athletics
285 Madison Ave Madison, NJ 07940
Division 3 New Jersey Northeast
Private Medium Developing team

Coaches

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Kristin Giotta

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)

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Katy Fissel

Katy Fissel enters her 11th season at FDU-Florham after a stellar career at Wilkes University. A Madison, New Jersey native, she attended Madison High School where she played varsity soccer, basketball and softball.


She also holds the titles as the Head Women's Golf Coach, as she enters her fourth season as head coach in the 2023-24 season.


During her soccer career, she played for multiple club teams, including Cranford, Millburn and PDA. Fissel also played three summer seasons (2009-2012) with the WPSL Millburn Magic.


At Wilkes, Fissel was a five-season starter – playing the additional season after redshirting in 2010 with an injury. She was a three-year Captain earning All-Conference Team Honors for four years. An All-Region team member, Fissel was voted second team once and first team twice. Katy was voted to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Atlantic second team in 2011, the ECAC All-Star team and NSCAA Scholar All-Region team in 2012. Fissel wrapped up her career at Wilkes with 17 goals and 15 assists equating to 49 points.


Fissel has her E license in coaching and she brings to the Devils a broad-spectrum knowledge of the game and a passion for the sport.


Graduating Cum Laude with a major in Integrative Media and a minor in Art, Fissel freelances in Graphic Design and is heavily involved in Club Soccer including a club coaching role with Morris Elite.


Fissel currently resides in Bedminster, NJ and enjoys doing charity work in her spare time.

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