Daytona State College

Daytona State College Athletics
1200 W. International Speedway Blvd Daytona Beach, FL 32120

NJCAA Florida Southeast

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Coaches

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Joe Avallone

Joe Avallone was named the Falcons men’s soccer head coach July 1, 2023. Joe has been an integral part of the soccer program the past three years as an assistant coach helping take the Falcons to three conference titles, three Southeast District titles and three trips to the NJCAA national championship event.

In the leadup to first practice on August 4, Avallone has been communicating with new and veteran players to keep them motivated, training and ready to hit the ground running when the season starts in three weeks.

“We’ve got a very young team this year – 23 new players,” Avallone said. “I’m confident in every single one of them. Coach Bart has been a great consigliere in the recruiting process. I want to pay him so much respect.”

Avallone is co-founder and Director of Coaching for the Florida Kraze Krush Academy, played professionally with the Orlando Lions for six seasons, racked up 150 wins over 14 years in the United Soccer League, was inducted into the USL Hall of Fame in 2007 and spent 14 years as Head Coach of the Player Development League PDL Kraze team.

“Joe has a unique ability to motivate each player and get the best out of them,” said Daytona State College President Tom LoBasso, who recruited Avallone to help with the team during the COVID pandemic. “Joe brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to academic achievement. I’m really excited to see him lead the team this fall.”

Avallone just returned from taking six of his Florida Kraze Krush youth league teams to the nationals in North Carolina.

“My training sessions are very competitive,” Avallone said. “I’m very player-oriented and they understand we’re there to compete and do our best.”

“First and foremost, Joe is a fabulous human being, and I am looking forward to his new leadership role as the head coach of our men's soccer program,” said DSC Athletic Director Will Dunne. “Joe has a long and distinguished resume of success with his many soccer endeavors which will benefit our students and program. I'm already enjoying our new working relationship and know our students are excited as well.”

The men’s team will face a highly competitive schedule this year, squaring off against teams from New York, Illinois and Georgia. Their first preseason game is August 11 against Stetson University, followed by the University of North Florida on August 13. Stetson and UNF are both NCAA Division One teams. The Falcons' first regular season game is August 17 against Morton College, who were 19-1-1 in season play last season.

“We are ready to get after it,” Avallone said.

Coaching Experience:

25+ Years of Coaching

Central Florida Kraze/Krush, Director of Coaching

Kraze/Krush Academy, Co-founder

PDL Kraze (USL) USL Head Coach for 14 years

Oviedo High School, Former Boy’s Varsity Soccer coach – 270 wins in 15 seasons

Seminole County Coach of the Year four times

US Club Soccer PDP Staff Coach

USL Hall of Fame 2007

150 wins in the USL over 14 years

Won National Championship in 2004 with USL PDL Kraze

USL- PDL U23 Southern Conference Champions at Orlando City

USL PDL National Semi-finalist 2012

Qualified eight times for the US Open Cup

Has coached 10 MLS players

Has 5 former players now coaching in college

Playing Experience:

Professional

Orlando Lions – 6 seasons

Amateur

Methodist College in North Carolina

University of Central Florida

Coaching License:

USSF National ‘B’ Coaching License

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Jonathon Lopez

In the Fall 2022 season, Jonathan Lopez will begin his first season as an Assistant Coach with the Falcons soccer program, after joining in March 2022.

Jonathan comes to Daytona State College after spending 2 years at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, GA as the Men’s Soccer Assistant Coach where the team won two Region Championships, an Atlantic District Championship, and made the NJCAA Division II Final Four.

Originally from Tampa, Florida, Jonathan played soccer at Gaither High School. In his senior season Jonathan was named to the Hillsborough County All-Star team and was a State Semi Finalist two out of his four years on the Varsity Team. Jonathan went on to play at Thomas University from 2013-2017. During that period, the team won the Sun Conference in 2013, 2014, and 2016, and earned a #1 national ranking for multiple weeks. In 2014, his team finished the season ranked #16 nationally, and in 2016 finished the season in the sweet sixteen of the NAIA National Tournament. He graduated in 2017 with a B.S. in Business. The following year, Jonathan returned to Thomas University as a Graduate Assistant for the Men’s Soccer Team to pursue a Master of Business Administration graduating in May 2019. As a Graduate Assistant at Thomas University, he helped the program to a Regular Season Sun Conference Championship in 2018.

Jonathan holds a United Soccer Coaches National Coaching Diploma.