Fairleigh Dickinson at Florham

Fairleigh Dickinson Athletics
285 Madison Avenue Madison, NJ 07940
Division 3 New Jersey Northeast
Private Small Developing team

Coaches

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Kristin Giotta

COACHING EXPERIENCE


Head Coach, Fairleigh Dickinson University (2006-Present) - 18th 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 (184 wins)


10 seasons with 10 or more wins


2010 MAC Freedom Coach of the Year


Two MAC Freedom Regular Season Championships (2006 & 2010)


Nine MAC Freedom Postseason Tournament appearances


Nine ECAC Postseason Tournament appearances


36 MAC All-Conference selections


Five NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region/United Soccer Coaches All-Region IV Selections


2010 MAC Freedom Co-Player of the Year


Four FDU Hall of Famers, Brittany Kanickij (2016), Lora Fink (2018)), Michelle Hickey (2019) and Brittini Calleo (2022)


CAREER WRITE-UP


Kristin Giotta begins her 18th season as the Head Women’s Soccer Coach in 2024 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 13 times during Giotta’s tenure as head coach, including each of the last eight years and 14 of the last 15 seasons she has coached.


In 2023, The Devils once again got to double-digit wins (11) and earned their eighth straight postseason appearance when they became the #2 seed and host in the 2023 ECAC Division III playoffs. She coached two more players on to the All-MAC Freedom list with Erica Blackburn and Ashley Dietrich earning spots on the Second Team. Blackburn also notched recognition on the USC All-Region IV Third Team and becoming the fifth person to earn this honor under Giotta.


In 2022, Giotta coached the Devils women's soccer program to their best season in program history. The team set numerous records such as best winning percentage (.761), most wins (17), longest winning and unbeaten streak (11), most wins to start a season (11), most shutouts (13), and most consecutive shutouts (5). The season was capped off with an ECAC Tournament run that included the Devils being crowned champions with a thrilling 3-2 win against MAC foe DeSales on on Nov. 13. She was later named ECAC Coach of the Year for her historic coaching performance. Giotta coached three Devils on to the All-MAC Freedom team, including forward Mia Lopez and Erica Blackburn on to the first team and Ashley Dietrich on to the Honorable Mention list. She also helped Lopez earn First Team All-ECAC as well.


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 holds a USSF License and a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. Giotta was a longstanding goalkeeper coach for the NJ Girls Olympic Development Program for over twenty years. Her prior stints at the club circuit include, PDA, FC Copa and most recently, Match Fit Academy to which she is now retired.


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 Gallagher

Katy (Fissel) Gallagher 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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Lindsey Capalbo

Assistant Women's Soccer Coach

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