Saint Mary's University of MN

Winona, MN 55987

Minnesota Northwest

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Coaches

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Nick Rizzo

Nick Rizzo is the head women’s soccer coach at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, a position he has held since the 2020-21 season.

In his first full season in 2021, Rizzo guided the Cardinals to a 13-5-2 overall record, including a 7-3-1 mark in conference play, earning Saint Mary's its first-ever MIAC Tournament berth, and its first post-season appearance since 1994. The Cardinals' 13 wins were the most since the 2005 SMU team finished 13-5-0, and the seven MIAC wins were the most since going 7-2-1 in 1995.

Saint Mary's returned to the MIAC Playoffs in 2022, after compiling a 6-3-2 MIAC mark and an 11-7-2 overall record.

Prior to accepting the position at Saint Mary's, Rizzo spent the last four as the head women's soccer coach at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Ill. During his four years with the Fighting Scots, Rizzo compiled a 41-30-5 record — including a Midwest Conference Tournament title and an NCAA national tournament appearance in 2019.

After going 7-9-2 in his inaugural season at the helm at Monmouth in 2016, the Fighting Scots recorded an 11-8-1 mark in 2017, earning Rizzo the first of two Midwest Conference Coach of the Year honors.

Monmouth compiled a 9-8-0 record in Rizzo's third season, before setting a school-record with 14 wins in going 14-5-2 during their national-tournament run in 2019 — a march that earned Rizzo his second NWC Coach of the Year honor.

Under his tutelage, the Fighting Scots have boasted nine all-MWC selections, three all-region picks, two MWC Newcomers of the Year and one MWC Offensive MVP, while also garnering four United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards and boasting a cumulative team GPA of 3.38.

Prior to his tenure at Monmouth, Rizzo spent three years as the assistant soccer coach for both the men's and women's programs at Saint Mary's. Rizzo has also spent time as an assistant coach at both Aurora and Loras.

As a student-athlete, Rizzo was a four-year starter and three-time all-conference selection at Loras College, helping the Duhawks to four NCAA tournaments. Rizzo earned an undergraduate degree in education and mathematics from Loras and completed his master's degree in business administration at Aurora.

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John Pucci

John Pucci is the head men's soccer coach at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, a position he has held since the 2023 season.

Pucci comes to Saint Mary's after spending the past four seasons as the head boys' soccer coach at Humboldt High School in St. Paul, Minn.

During his time at St. Paul Humboldt, Pucci led the team to the 2021 Minnesota High School League State Tournament, finishing runner-up. In 2020, Pucci was voted St. Paul Coach of the Year.

While serving as the head boys' high school head coach, Pucci also worked as an assistant coach for Minneapolis City SC — a USL2 team based in Minneapolis, Minn. While with Minneapolis City SC, Pucci worked with collegiate athletes from a number of Division I, II, and Ill institutions, directly overseeing all goalkeepers in the program. Pucci also has been the head coach and director for the U23 Karen Men's National Team since 2019.

Pucci is no stranger to Saint Mary's and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He played collegiately at Hamline University and served as a volunteer coach for both Hamline's men's program and Macalester's women's program. Pucci also holds a USSF "C" license and is pursuing UEFA licensure through the Scottish FA.

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Leo Barbosa

Leo Barbosa is an assistant men’s soccer coach at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, a position he has held since the start of the 2023-24 academic school year.

A native of Brazil, where he played for multiple clubs equivalent to the American "MLS Next" level — including Monte Castelo, FC, Venda Nova and America MG.

Barbosa came to the United States in 2010 to attend Missouri Valley College. Upon graduation, he spent three seasons as a member of the Missouri Valley College coaching staff. During his tenure at Missouri Valley College, he helped the team achieve one conference championship as well as three berths into the NAIA National Tournament.

Barbosa has served as a club coach for multiple Minnesota-based clubs, including Minnesota Rush and Salvo Soccer Club. Additionally, he was the Director of Coaching for the Kasson-Mantorville Soccer Club from 2016-18, while also serving as the Head Coach of Kasson-Mantorville's High School Team.

Barbosa also serves as the Technical Director for Minnesota Rush, based out of Rochester, Minn., and serves as the goalkeeping coach for Med City FC, helping them earn an NPSL North Conference Championship in 2022.

Barbosa holds a USSF B License, Premier Diploma from USC, a United Futsal National Diploma and an Advanced National Goalkeeping license.