Anthony Latronica Named Assistant Coach
8/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 14, 2007
Air Force men's soccer coach Doug Hill announced today the hiring of Anthony Latronica as an assistant coach. Latronica comes to the Academy after spending the 2006 season as an assistant coach at Harvard. He joins Lt. Col. Chris Foster and Capt. Billy Minor on the sidelines for the Falcons in 2007.
Latronica (pronounced luh-TRAWN-ih-kuh) also spent four years (1999-02) as an assistant coach with the Crimson before a three-year stint as an assistant at Oregon State from 2003-05.
"I am very excited to have Anthony join our staff," said Hill, who is entering his first season as head coach. "He brings eight years of experience from two other Division I programs and has a lot of exposure with club soccer. He is involved with soccer at every level and will help our program immediately."
A native of Littleton, Colo., Latronica carries a long list of competitive experience. He spent four years as a goalkeeper in the U.S. National Team system, playing on the U-20, U-21 and U-23 squads from 1993-95 and 1997. During that time, he played for renowned coaches John Kowalski, Jay Hoffman, Steve Sampson, Bruce Arena and John Ellinger.
Latronica has a background in international competition as well, having played for Millwall FC in the English First Division in 1998 and 2000, in addition to starting for Monselice Calcio of the Italian Fifth Division in 2001. He also had stints with five Major League Soccer teams from 1998-2000, including Kansas City, New York/New Jersey, San Jose, New England and Colorado. He was the Most Valuable Player of the Boston Bulldogs as a rookie in the A-league in 1998.
A four-year team captain at the University of Rhode Island, Latronica was a two-time All-American in 1995-96, leading the team to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and a school-record 19 wins in 1995. "Latro" was also a four-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference and three-time Academic All-Conference pick with the Rams. He holds URI school records for career shutouts (25), single-season goals-against-average (0.67), single-season shutouts (13) and career games played (84). The 1997 ECAC Scholar Athlete of the Year, Latronica graduated with honors in business management.
Latronica, 32, holds a USSF "A" license, is in his second year as a National Staff Instructor for US Soccer and has spent four years on the Region IV ODP staff. The former Columbine High School All-American is a dual citizen of the United States and Italy.
