MEDFORD, MA (December 19, 2025) -- Coming off the program's fifth NCAA crown back on December 9 as well as its fourth New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title, the top-ranked Tufts University men's soccer staff was named as the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Division III National Coaching Staff of the Year.
The Jumbos, led by head coach
Kyle Dezotell, assistants
Adam Batista,
Cristian Wood-Suvak,
Luca Napora,
Eric Nordenson,
Zach Abdu-Glass, athletic trainer
Rick Cox and strength and conditioning coach Paul Stone, were one of the best sides in the nation all season as they finished with a stellar 20-1-3 record on the year. Tufts completed the "double" for just the second time in program history, earning a NESCAC and NCAA title in the same year, while tying the school record for wins in a season with 20.
Dezotell helped the Jumbos to one of the most incredible NCAA runs in recent history, as Tufts had to come from behind in three of its final four games of the NCAA Tournament. That included a NCAA title game where the Jumbos tallied with four seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime before winning the title in extra time.
Tufts lost just one game all season, and has gone a combined 32-1-9 over the last two seasons. Over his tenure at Tufts, Dezotell is 69-10-23 at the helm of the Jumbos, earning two NESCAC titles while appearing in the NCAA Tournament all five seasons he has coached. Dezotell also has the program's highest winning percentage all-time, winning 78.9 percent of his contests.
The Jumbos were the NESCAC's leading scoring squad this season, averaging 2.38 goals per game while allowing 0.54 per contest. Tufts had 25 players tally at least one point on the season, and senior goalkeeper
Nikola Antic finished with 10 shutouts, tied for third-most in program history.
This is the fourth time that the Tufts staff has received the United Soccer Coaches National Staff of the Year honor. Tufts were previously recognized following NCAA championship victories in 2016, 2018 and 2019. It's the first national honor for Dezotell in his collegiate coaching career.
--JUMBOS--
