Sachem Coach Profiles: Matt Stallone

Sachem has a rich history in the sport of soccer. For any former player, being able to return home to coach is a great honor. Matt Stallone has been doing it for the past 12 years.

Stallone, a Sachem graduate from 1992, began his coaching career at Sachem in 1998, when his former coach Frank Schmidt contacted him about an opening at Sagamore Junior High School, now middle school. Several years later, he moved up to an assistant coaching position at the JV level, before taking over as North's JV coach. When the the district expanded in 2004, he was given the varsity reigns at the new Sachem High School East.

"It's an honor to come back and work in the district I grew up in and went to school," said Stallone. "To give the kids the opportunities that I had is just phenomenal. To teach and coach everyday is such a rewarding experience."

Stallone is quick to drop names on other former Sachem soccer stars who are now coaches in the district, like his assistant coach Glen Monsen and JV coach Tom Anson, both of whom he played with during his high school career. Then on the North side there's varsity head coach and a plethora of other alums.

This past season for East was a little disapointing due to a failure of making the playoffs. Stallone, though, sees the season as a stepping stone to future success.

"We have an incredible base from this year to build on," he said. "The experience for many juniors and sophomores getting the playing time of 70 or 80 minutes a game.

"Next year, the goal is to get into the playoffs," the coach said with determination. "If we can get all the kids on the same page trying to get them into the philosophy of the game, we can definitely make some noise in the league, and maybe the county."

Although the players change each year, the goal of being the best team they can be is a constant for Stallone and Sachem East.

"To come out and say every year that we're going to win a state title probably isn't realistic," Stallone said. "We have to think logically and have a positive outlook on things.

"I don't think expectations change. There's ways we want to tell the players on the team to play and make them better throughout the season. We expect a certain way for our players to act. Once you're wearing the Sachem uniform, people look at you a different way."

For Stallone, coaching seniors each year means also being a mentor and role model. He has the opportunity to teach his players about life and what they could expect heading off to college the following year.

"At times it's humbling, and other times it's the best feeling you can have" he said. "You realize you really have an impact on [the players]. What you say to them, how they react to you, is how you can help mold them. That's our number one goal: we're educators and we have to educate them not just about the game of soccer, but the game of life."