User:Michael DiNunzio

Michael DiNunzio (born May 10, 1966) is a former professional soccer player who earned two caps with the United States National Soccer Team in 1990. DiNunzio represented the U.S. National Team in the 3 Nations Cup against Canada and Mexico. DiNunzio played in the American Indoor Soccer Association with the Canton Invaders (Canton, Ohio) (AISA Champions 1988-89; 1989-90) and in the National Professional Soccer League for the Buffalo Blizzard (Buffalo, New York). DiNunzio was also an All-American in college while attending The State of New York Agricultural and Technical College at Morrisville; Morrisville State College (Morrisville, New York). DiNunzio has a Bachelor of Science from Buffalo State College and a Master of Science from Canisius College. He is currently a Technology teacher for the Buffalo Board of Education in Buffalo New York.

Michael started playing soccer at the age of twelve and scored 68 goals in 26 games playing for Circolo Sportivo Italia of Buffalo New York. He Is currently a Tech Teach for 7th and 8th graders

High School

Michael DiNunzio graduated from Kenmore East Senior High School (Tonawanda, New York) in 1984. He was a three year starter on varsity, the all time assists leader to date, second in goals and was on the All New York State Team and an All-American nominee in 1983. DiNunzio was inducted into the Kenmore East Hall of Fame in 2002.

Collegiate

DiNunzio started college at Miami Dade Community College (Miami, Florida) on a soccer scholarship where he made All State and All Region teams. He also played collegiately at Morrisville State College (Morrisville, New York) and Florida International University (Miami, Florida). DiNunzio was nominated to the All-American, All State and All Region teams while at Morrisvile State College in 1985. Both teams made it to the National Junior College Soccer Tournament in 1984 and 1985 and DiNunzio was named to the Junior College National Tournament Teams for both Miami Dade C.C. and Morrisville in 1984 and 1985.

Professional

DiNunzio was offered a professional contract with the Buffalo Stallions of the Major Indoor Soccer League in 1984 but decided to enter college. In 1988 he signed his first professional contract with the Canton Invaders of the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA). Continuing with the great soccer tradition in Canton, he helped them to championships in 1988-89 and 1989-90. The 89-90 team also had an indoor soccer best regular season mark of 36-4. After the 90-91 season, he returned home and was the first player ever to sign with the Buffalo Blizzard of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL).

National Team

Michael DiNunzio participated in the 3 Nations Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada in 1990. He started and played both games in full as a midfielder against Canada (May 6, 1990) and Mexico (May 10, 1990) earning 2 caps. Michael was also invited to participate in the U.S National Team Futsal try-outs.

Coaching

Coach Mike has coached throughout Western New York and South Florida. While attending Florida International University he and his boys U-12 Palm Springs Patriots won the Florida State Youth Soccer Association Championship. Today Mike is the coach of the Kenmore-Tonawanda Invaders U-19 boys team that advanced to the 2009 New York State Youth Soccer Association Championships. Mike has been with Ken-Ton since 1996. Mike and his brother Tom also won the 2007 New York State Youth Soccer Association Championship with the U-13 girls Invaders team that played out of Delaware Park in Buffalo New York. They went on to participate in the United States Youth Soccer Region 1 Championships in Portland Maine. The Invader team was the first ever club team to advance to the Regional Championships. Mike has also coached youth football and hockey in his hometown.

Coach Mike has also coached at the Collegiate level. He coached at Niagara County Community College from 1997-1999 taking the Lady Trailblazers to the Regional playoffs and earning coach of the year honors. He then moved on to start the Womens' Soccer Program at Daemen College in Amherst New York where again the team participated in the NAIA Regional playoffs and again Mike earned coach of the year honors.

Most recently Mike is not only coaching the KenTon Invaders, but he is in his fifth year coaching at Amherst High School. Coach Mike also has been with the Empire State Games since 2000, coaching the Scholastic Boys Team to the medal round eight of nine years winning Gold three times.

References

Categories: 1966 births; living births; Kenmore East Senior High School; Miami Dade Community College; Morrisville State College; Florida International University; Buffalo State College; Canisius College; Canton Invaders; American Indoor Soccer Association; Buffalo Blizzard; National Professional Soccer League; United States National Soccer Team; Canton Invaders players; Buffalo Blizzard players; American Indoor Soccer Players; National Professional Soccer Players