Head Coach Nate Guagliardi served at the helm of the Caldwell University women’s soccer program for 16 years, from 2007 through 2022. A 2000 graduate of Caldwell, he has an overall record of 135-120-18 including a 106-49-15 mark in conference matches. Guagliardi was also an Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Soccer Operations for the department and is a site supervisor for several sports.
In 2021, Guagliardi's squad posted seven wins, finishing 5-5-1 in conference play. The Cougars reached the CACC First Round and the programs earned two all-conference honorees and one all-region selection.
Guagliardi led the Cougars to a 2-3-1 record in a COVID-19 shortened 2020 season that was played in the Spring 2021 semester. The Cougars went 2-2-1 in conference play and reached the CACC Quarterfinals. Guagliardi recorded his 100th CACC victory with a 2-1 win over Chestnut Hill College on March 9, 2021. His squad was rewarded with four all-conference honorees for their successes the field.
In 2019, Guagliardi led the Cougars to back-to-back double-digit wins as the team finished with a 10-4-3 overall record. Caldwell finished in third place in the CACC with an 8-1-3 conference record. The Cougars recorded a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Post University to reach the CACC semifinals for the fifth time in seven seasons.
In 2018, Guagliardi guided the Cougars to their third CACC Championship since 2013 and the program’s second title in three seasons. The Cougars reached the NCAA Division II Championship for the third time in program history.
Caldwell finished in fourth place in the CACC in 2018 with an 8-3-1 conference mark. Guagliardi guided the Cougars back to the CACC Tournament for the 12th straight season. The Cougars defeated Jefferson 2-0 in the CACC quarterfinals and upset top seed Georgian Court University 2-1 in the semifinals. Caldwell captured the conference title with 2-0 win over Holy Family to secure the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Championship.
In 2017, Guagliardi reached the 100-win threshold in the Cougars 5-1 win over Post University on September 26, 2017.
The Cougars won the CACC conference championship for the second time in four seasons in 2016. They defeated Nyack College 3-1 in the quarterfinals and advanced to the championship match with a shootout win over Holy Family University. Guagliardi guided Caldwell to a 1-0 victory over regular season champions Georgian Court University to secure the conference automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament.
In his 15 seasons as head coach, Guagliardi has coached 37 All-CACC players as well as the CACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, CACC Player of the Year in 2013 and the CACC Rookie of the Year in 2015. In addition, he has coached two All-American players. Guagliardi's teams have also excelled in the classroom as his squads have received the United Soccer Coaches Association Team Academic Award 12 times during his career.
Guagliardi led the Cougars to its best season in 2013 as Caldwell won the CACC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Both achievements were firsts for the program, which has flourished under the guidance of Guagliardi.
In 2013, the Cougars finished in second place in the CACC regular-season standings, then defeated Bloomfield, Philadelphia and Holy Family with three consecutive shutouts for the CACC Tournament championship. In the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance, Caldwell suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to 18th-ranked Bridgeport in the first round to finish with a 13-6-2 record on the season. Another highlight of the 2013 season came when midfielder Julie Crankshaw, the CACC Player of the Year, and defender Lauren Iuliucci became the first players in program history to receive All-American honors.
The climb to the top of the CACC almost occurred in 2012, as Caldwell went 14-5 overall and 10-2 in conference play to set program records for overall wins and CACC victories. The regular season included a school-record eight-game winning streak that earned the team its first regional ranking in the program’s history. The Cougars also advanced to the semifinals of the CACC Tournament with a 4-0 victory over Holy Family in the quarterfinals.
In 2007, Guagliardi’s first season, the team went 5-14 overall and 5-6 in the conference to finish in a tie for seventh and earn a spot in the CACC Tournament after not qualifying for postseason play in 2006. With only five players returning from the 2007 team, Guagliardi brought in 18 new players and quickly molded his 2008 squad into a contender. The Cougars finished fourth in the CACC with a 7-3-1 record and defeated Nyack in the first round of the CACC Tournament. The turnaround was recognized by the other coaches in the conference, as Guagliardi was named the CACC Coach of the Year. Guagliardi is a back-to-back ECAC Division II Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2019.
After a seventh-place finish and another berth in the CACC Tournament in 2009, Caldwell went 10-8 overall and 8-4 in league play in 2010 to qualify for the CACC Tournament for the fourth straight season. In 2011, the Cougars were 8-8-2 overall and 7-3-2 in the conference, good for fourth place and a spot in their fifth consecutive CACC Tournament.
Guagliardi returned to Caldwell after coaching the Saddle Brook High School boys' soccer team for six years. He took over a team in 2001 that had won just six games in its previous six seasons combined and led it to its first conference title in 2003. Saddle Brook also advanced to the finals of the New Jersey Group 1 North Tournament that year. Guagliardi, who taught social studies and math at Saddle Brook Middle School for three years, also coached the junior varsity girls' basketball and baseball teams at Saddle Brook High. He began his teaching career at St. Gerard School in Paterson, N.J., where he taught English for four years.
A native of Belleville, N.J., Guagliardi was an all-State goalkeeper at Belleville High School before coming to Caldwell College in 1996. In 1997, Guagliardi became the Cougars' starting goalkeeper and recorded a school-record 11 shutouts to earn all-Northeast Region honors. His 16 career shutouts also are the most in the program's history. He graduated in 2000 after majoring in Education and Social Studies.
Guagliardi currently resides in Pequannock, N.J., with his wife Deena and their son Nicolas.
The Guagliardi File
|
Overall |
|
|
|
CACC |
|
|
|
| Year |
Wins |
Losses |
Ties |
|
Wins |
Losses |
Ties |
Postseason |
| 2007 |
5 |
14 |
0 |
|
5 |
6 |
0 |
CACC Tournament Quarterfinals |
| 2008 |
8 |
11 |
1 |
|
7 |
3 |
1 |
CACC Tournament Semifinals; CACC Coach of the Year |
| 2009 |
6 |
11 |
1 |
|
6 |
5 |
1 |
CACC Tournament Quarterfinals |
| 2010 |
10 |
8 |
0 |
|
8 |
4 |
0 |
CACC Tournament Quarterfinals |
| 2011 |
8 |
8 |
2 |
|
7 |
3 |
2 |
CACC Tournament Quarterfinals |
| 2012 |
14 |
5 |
0 |
|
10 |
2 |
0 |
CACC Tournament Semifinals |
| 2013 |
13 |
6 |
2 |
|
8 |
2 |
2 |
CACC Tournament Champs; NCAA DII East Regional |
| 2014 |
9 |
7 |
2 |
|
8 |
3 |
1 |
CACC Tournament Quarterfinals |
| 2015 |
11 |
9 |
1 |
|
8 |
3 |
1 |
CACC Tournament Runner-up |
| 2016 |
12 |
8 |
2 |
|
9 |
3 |
0 |
CACC Tournament Champs; NCAA DII East Regional |
| 2017 |
8 |
9 |
1 |
|
7 |
4 |
1 |
CACC Tournament Quarterfinals |
| 2018 |
12 |
7 |
1 |
|
8 |
3 |
1 |
CACC Tournament Champs; NCAA DII East Regional; ECAC DII Coach of the Year |
| 2019 |
10 |
4 |
3 |
|
8 |
1 |
3 |
CACC Tournament Semifinals; ECAC DII Coach of the Year |
| 2020 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
2 |
2 |
1 |
Season Played in Spring 2021 Due to COVID-19; CACC Tournament Quarterfinals |
| 2021 |
7 |
10 |
1 |
|
5 |
5 |
1 |
CACC Tournament First Round |
| 2022 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
5 |
4 |
3 |
CACC Tournament Semifinals |
| Totals |
142 |
127 |
25 |
|
111 |
54 |
18 |
|
