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Johnson & Wales Univ at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC 28202
North Carolina Southeast
Private Small Developing team
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Coaches

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Matt Hisler

Matt Hisler begins his seventh season at the helm of the JWU Charlotte women’s soccer program. Hired to start the team, he has compiled a 41-52-5 record in his first 6 seasons with the Wildcats. JWU has earned consecutive post-season USCAA national tournament berths in 2016 and 2017, ,and again in 20119. Following a year hiatus due to COVID, the Wildcats again qualified for the USCAA national tournament in 2021. Under Hisler’s leadership, the Wildcats have garnered 13 All-American selections, 41 Academic All-American honorees, and a National Student-Athlete of the Year.


Hisler came to Johnson & Wales from the University of Mount Olive where he served as the Head Women’s Soccer coach from 2007-2014. While at Mount Olive, Hisler led the team to a Conference Carolinas Division Title during the 2011 season and earned berths in the Conference Tournament seven out of eigh tseasons. Hisler’s teams earned six consecutive NSCAA All-Academic Awards and achieved several firsts during his tenure:


First win over a regionally-ranked opponent


First win over a nationally-ranked opponent


First Conference Carolinas regular season title


First regional top-10 ranking (#6 in the southeastregion)


First Academic All-American


School’s first Freshman All-American


Prior to arriving at Mount Olive, Hisler was the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at the College of Mount St. Vincent in Riverdale, NY. While at CMSV, he led the team to the 2006 Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship and the Conference Tournament Final.


Hisler began his college coaching career as the Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach at Methodist University. He spent four years under the tutelage of Justin Terranova, working for one of the most successful athletic departments in the NCAA. Over the last seventeen years, Hisler has had the opportunity to work with teams at the high school, club, ODP and international levels.


Hisler currently serves on the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association ODP Staff as the Head Coach for the 2002 Girls East Team.


A graduate of Virginia Wesleyan College, Hisler helped lead Virginia Wesleyan College to a national ranking in each of his four years, including a #2 ranking in 1994. The team advanced to the NCAA Division III Round of 16 three times.


Hisler has earned his USSF B License and NSCAA Advanced National Diploma.


Hisler’s wife Amy, a former soccer player herself, still holds the New Bern High School (N.C.) and Guilford College all-time goal scoring records and was inducted into the Guilford College Hall of Fame in 2014. The couple lives in Charlotte, and has one child, daughter Katherine, who was born in 2010.

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Sarah McHugh

McHugh starts her first season with the Wildcats in the Fall of 2023.


Sarah holds a US Soccer National Coaching D License and currently coaches with the North Carolina Olympic Development Program. She has been involved with competitive girls' teams across age groups, most recently with Charlotte Soccer Academy and previously with Savannah United.


She was a four-year starter at the University of Northern Iowa from 2012-2015. She earned Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman team accolades in 2012 and the President's Academic Excellence Award in 2016. She scored 3 goals and had 4 assists during her career as a defender for the Panthers.


She earned her bachelor's degree at UNI and graduated from the University Honors Program with distinction. She went on to earn her Master of Public Health from Indiana University.

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Dara Goldstein

Dara Goldstein grew up in Binghamton, NY, Pittsburgh, PA, and Atlanta, GA. During that time she played for local club teams, and through the Atlanta Silverbacks Player Development Program, was selected to be on the Southeast USL team. She played high school soccer at Carl Harrison High School in Kennesaw, GA where she received All-Conference accolades as a defender for the Hoyas.


Dara started all four years at the NCAA Division 1 Gardner-Webb University in the midfield and forward positions. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics with a minor in Secondary Education. After college, she taught high school math for 9 years in Cleveland County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, and Cabarrus County. She was also a High School Athletic Director for two of those years. Her coaching experience has been through various clubs, summer camps, high schools, and her passion drove her to be the owner/operator of Dynamic Game Soccer Training, an individual and small session soccer training program.


She continued to gain experience on the field by playing for the Carolina Rapids WPSL, PeacePassers, Charlotte Women's Soccer League, Coed Adult Leagues, and a new sport she was introduced to, Charlotte Gaelic Football.


Outside of coaching, she works in technology at Bank of America, spends time traveling and exploring with her wife, pampers her three dogs and parrot, and plays trombone in local groups.

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Nick Fusco

Nick Fusco was named interim men's soccer head coach on August 1st, 2023.


Fusco joined the men's soccer coaching staff as a Volunteer Assistant Coach during the Fall 2021 season, and was then promoted to Assistant Coach in January 2022.


Fusco was a key member of the coaching staff of the 2022 USCAA Division II national champions, serving as the top aide to head coach Phil Kroft.


Fusco serves as the North Meck Boys Soccer Director for Charlotte Independence, a role he's held since May of 2021. He also helps the Independence manage content for their website.


Prior to moving to Charlotte, Fusco was the Varsity Boys Soccer Coach and Director of Soccer at St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School in Columbus, GA from 2014-2019. He also served as a coach for Columbus Football Club, and was a volunteer assistant coach at Georgia Southwestern University during that time.


He hold USSF B & C coaching licenses, as well as a Premier License from the United Soccer Coaches Association.


He graduated from Point University in 2014, where he was a two year member of the Skyhawks varsity soccer team.

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Connor Savageau

Savageau appeared in 64 matches during his JWU career, 40 of those starts. He was a dependable part of the back line for Wildcat teams that won 48 matches and made two trips to the USCAA Division II National Championship game. He scored one goal (on Senior Night, no less) and registered five assists during his career.

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Andrew Sanchez

Sanchez appeared in 12 matches during his JWU career, 4 of those starts. He made three saves, while only giving up one goal, and posted a 4-0 record in net.

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