Sebastian Vecchio
Assistant Coach
Email: vusoccer@vanderbilt.edu
Experience: Fifth Season at Vanderbilt
Former Rice and Memphis goalkeeping coach Sebastian Vecchio joined the Vanderbilt soccer program in the summer of 2010, taking over similar responsibilities for the Commodores while adding the organization of Vanderbilt[apos]s recruiting efforts.
In his first four seasonswith the Commodores, Vecchio[apos]s goalkeepers have posted 16 shutouts. At the same time, the school[apos]s recruiting profile has quickly risen thanks in part to Vecchio[apos]s tireless work ethic.
[quote]Sebastian is passionate about the game of soccer and deeply cares about our team,[quote] VU Head Coach Derek Greene said. [quote]He[apos]s one of the rising stars in college soccer, and I[apos]m excited to continue working with him. We are both committed to doing everything we can to make this one of the top programs in the country. Sebastian[apos]s coaching–from recruiting to mentoring our goalkeepers–will be a huge part of our success.[quote]
Vecchio joined the Commodores after a one-year stop at Rice. Vecchio trained goalkeepers for the Owls while assisting in the coordination of the program[apos]s recruiting efforts. He also was responsible for scheduling and budget management. Then-junior goalkeeper Meghan Erkel flourished under Vecchio, leading Conference USA in save percentage (.845) and saves per game (5.17).
Prior to coaching at Rice, Vecchio was the assistant and goalkeeper coach at his alma mater, the University of Memphis, from 2005 to 2009. In four seasons with the Tigers, Vecchio[apos]s goalkeepers combined to post 33 shutouts and 54 victories.
In the summer of 2009, Vecchio served as the interim assistant director of coaching for the Alabama Youth Soccer Association in Birmingham while assisting in the Olympic Development Program.
As a player, Vecchio was a two-year starter for the Tigers after transferring to Memphis from Mid-Continent College in Kentucky. He allowed just 12 goals in over 1,500 minutes of play during the 2004 season–for a school record 0.69 goals-against average–en route to being named the CUSA Defensive Player of the Year and a first team All-Conference USA selection. The native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, ended his Tiger career with a school-low 1.02 goals-against average and 21 wins in two seasons.
After completing his playing career with the Memphis men[apos]s soccer team in 2004, Vecchio stepped over into the coaching ranks with the women[apos]s program as an assistant coach in charge of goalkeepers. He also assisted with recruiting.
Vecchio earned a bachelor[apos]s degree in marketing from Memphis in 2005 and a bachelor[apos]s in sports and leisure management in 2008. He is currently working on attaining his master[apos]s degree in sport and leisure commerce from Memphis. Out of the classroom, he has a USSF National C. License and NSCAA National Goalkeeping diploma.
Prior to his collegiate playing days, Vecchio played with the Argentina U-16 National Team.