COACHING STAFF

HEAD COACH: Tony Horta Tony Horta has been named head coach of the New England Mutiny of the Women’s Premier Soccer League for the 2007 season. “It was apparent that Tony has all the attributes we were seeking - coaching ability, enthusiasm, leadership, organizational skills and the overall capacity to lead this team to success”, said Team Owner Joe Ferrara. “It was important to continue the tradition of hiring top-notch professionals.” Horta coached at the collegiate level for the Quinnipiac women’s soccer team for nine years - developing a nationally ranked program while winning three Northeast-10 Conference Championships. Horta was named Conference Coach of the Year in 1994. He was an assistant for the nationally-ranked women’s program at the University of Connecticut led by Len Tsantiris and the University of Hartford led by close friend and current Connecticut State Director of Coaching, Austin Daniels. He was also involved with the Olympic Development Program and serves on the CJSA Premier Board of Governors. Horta is President of Academica Futebol Club (AFC), a premier program in Connecticut. Horta has also coached at the professional level. In 1987, he was named Coach of the Year in the LASA league and most recently guided Academica FC in the Arena Soccer League.

HEAD ASST. COACH: Sam Lopes

Sam Lopes joins the New England Mutiny this season from Southern Connecticut State University (New Haven, CT) where he currently serves as Head Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach. Lopes is also the Director of Coaching & Player Development for Academica Futebol Club (AFC) premier program in Connecticut, where he coaches the AFC Girls U15 Pride (Head Coach) and Girls U11 Pride (Assistant Coach). Sam was the former Assistant Coach for Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, CT. A former professional player, he has spent time with the Connecticut Wolves and Westchester Flames, as well as the Massachusetts Twisters of the American Indoor Soccer League. He was a four-year starter for the Quinnipiac University Men’s Soccer Team, where he graduated with a Bachelors in Computer Information Systems.

Chris Legates is entering his fifth season as assistant with the Mutiny, with his primary emphasis on working with and training the goalkeepers. In Fall 2003 in his seventh season as head soccer coach at St. Joseph College in West Hartford, CT, he was named Conference Coach of the Year in 2003. LeGates led the Blue Jays to school records for wins in 1997, 1999 and 2000. He was formerly the associate head coach of women’s soccer at Quinnipiac University from 1992-1997 where the team was ranked in the national Top 25 in every season. LeGates has also been involved in CT ODP and has established himself as a strong lecturer & clinician. GOALKEEPER COACH: Manny OliveiraManny Oliveira is currently the assistant men’s coach at Quinnipiac University. Oliveira, a 1999 graduate of the University of New Haven, most recently served as an assistant under Eric Da Costa at Post University.
Oliveira has extensive coaching experience in the high school and college level. He served as an assistant from 1999-2003 at Naugatuck High School. He owns and operates the Superior Goalkeeper School, and serves as the goalkeeper director at several local clubs throughout Connecticut. Oliveira, who was a goalkeeper for UNH, will work with the Quinnipiac netminders in addition to his duties as the team’s assistant coach. He will also work with recruiting new talent and organizing daily practices.

ASSISTANT COACH: James Luis James is the Director of Marketing and Promotions for Academica Futebol Club’s Program. He is also the Head Assistant University of New Haven Men’s Soccer and Assistant Coach of New England Mutiny of the Women’s Premier Soccer League(WPSL). He currently coaches Academica Futebol Club Girls U12 Pride. Fall of 2006, James was an Assistant/JV Coach Cheshire High School girls soccer teams. He has been a clinician for Collegiate Soccer Systems and instructor for pre-season camps at various CT High Schools. James is a Certified CPR/First Aid and a Certified ‘D’ licensed coach.