Mesa Community College Athletics Department announces the hiring of Andrew Guarneri as new head coach for the men's and women's soccer programs for the upcoming fall 2008 season.
Guarneri established the men's soccer program at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in 1998 and coached through the 2006 season. He also coached the women at CGCC from 2000 through 2006. His teams produced three All-Americans, four Academic All-Americans, and one National Team Award for Academics.
Guarneri was named ACCAC Men's Coach of the Year for 2003 and ACCAC Women's Coach of the Year for 2004. He also won Phoenix Women's Sports Association Coach of the Year for 2005.
Guarneri also coaches a multitude of squads in the Gilbert Soccer Club since 1995, and has a great deal of playing experience. He competed while attending Butler University in 1989, at Drake University from 1990-1993, with the Des Moines Menace of the USISL in 1993, the Arizona Sahuaros, a D3 Pro League team in 2000, and finally, the Banat Arsenal, a competitive adult league team from 2001-2007.
Additionally, Guarneri owns and operates "Soccer Shack and Sports" in Gilbert.
Guarneri obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Drake University in
1993, and a Masters of Science in Public Programs and Recreation Management from Arizona State in 1996.
"I'm excited to get a fresh start at an institution that has such a bright
future and many great things coming its way," says Guarneri.
Guarneri replaces Sal Galvano. Galvano relocated to New York State and accepted a women's soccer coaching position with Monroe Community College.
Assistant Coach Paul Manoogian
Paul Manoogian is entering his fourth year coaching junior college soccer as an assistant. He spent two years as current Mesa Thunderbirds Head Coach Drew Guarneri's assistant at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in 2001 & 2001.
Manoogian was an assistant on Tim Barmettler's staff in 2006 at Mesa as that team finished sixth in the country.
Manoogian is entering his third year at Desert Vista High School as women's head soccer coach. His 2006-2007 sqaud reached the state final under current NAU player Kara Miller. He also coached two ASU freshmen, Katie Shepard and Lauren Mitchell.
Prior to moving to Desert Vista, Manoogian coached at Mesa High for six years. The first two years, he was an assistant under Tom Hagen and the last four as head coach.
His 2004-2005 team made the state playoffs for the first and only time in Mesa High School women's soccer history.
Manoogian has also coached various teams in the Gilbert Soccer Club over the past nine years.
Manoogian holds an Advanced National License from the NSCAA.
Assistant Coach David Belfort
This is Coach Belfort's first season under Caoch Guarneri. Belfort is a recent Cincinnati, Ohio transplant and a teacher in Visual Arts at Highland High School.
In his two years coaching in Cincinnati, Belfort was a staff member of many of the area's top clubs. He was also staff on the Ohio South Olympic Developmental Program.
Coach Belfort was a four-year athlete at Bowling Gren State University. He was named team captain his senior season. Belfort is one of only two players in Bowling Green Soccer history to be named the Mickey Cochrane Award twice.
Coach Belfort holds a USSF National B Coaching license and resides in Chandler, Arizona with his girlfriend Julie Trindle who works as a personal trainer at Fitwell Coaching Personal Studio.
Contact Coach Guarneri at 480.330.7381 or drewcoaches@qwest.net
Please contact The Athletics Department for comments
or corrections phone:
480-461-7542
