Athletics > Men's Soccer > Coach
Meet the Coach
Matt Cushing
Head Coach
Entering his 14th season at the helm of the Wheaton men's soccer program, head coach Matt Cushing has compiled one of the highest winning percentages among active NCAA Division III coaches in the country at .770 (200-52-22). He picked up his 200th career victory in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament final.
Under Cushing's leadership, Wheaton has qualified for postseason play in each of his 13 seasons, including an NCAA Tournament national semifinal finish in 2003, a national quarterfinal placement in 2001 and additional NCAA bids in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The Lyons also captured the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) title in 1998 and NEWMAC Tournament championships in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006.
Cushing was named regional coach of the year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in 2001, and coach of the year by the Eastern Massachusetts Soccer Coaches Association (EMSCA) in 2000, NEWMAC in 1998 and 2001, and New England Intercollegiate Soccer League (NEISL) in 1997 and 2001. He is currently the coaching director at the Crusaders United Club in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and has also coached the U17 Olympic Development team in Massachusetts.
A scout for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer (MLS), Cushing has groomed five professional players at Wheaton. James Greenslit '06 signed a contract with the United Soccer Leagues' (USL) New Hampshire Phantoms, and Dan Antoniuk is with the A-League's Atlanta Silverbacks. Jim Manganello '99 and Oscar Medina '97 spent time with the Cape Cod Crusaders of the United States Interregional Soccer League (USISL), while Jeremy Long '99 played for the Boston Bulldogs of the A-League. Cushing has also witnessed 10 All-Americans, 32 All-New England selections and seven NEWMAC Player-of-the-Year recipients.
In addition to his success on the field, Cushing performs an active role outside the realm of coaching. He is currently the national chair for the NSCAA Division III rankings committee. Cushing has served as the regional chair of the rankings committee and as the vice president of the NEISL, an organization that recognized him with the NEISL Service Award in 2002. He also handled regional chair duties for the Division III ratings board for three years, while serving on the NCAA Tournament selection committee for four years.
In 1994, Cushing earned a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National "B" license. He received a national diploma from the NSCAA in 1992, followed by an advanced national diploma in 1993.
Prior to coming to Wheaton, Cushing was the assistant coach at Division I power Rutgers University, which advanced to the 1993 NCAA Tournament after capturing the Atlantic 10 Conference title. He also spent the previous two years on the coaching staff at Lafayette College.
A 1988 University of Massachusetts-Amherst graduate with a bachelor's degree in sport management, Cushing was a captain on the 1986 and 1987 Minutemen teams.
This former Parade Magazine high school All-America honoree led his Duxbury (Mass.) High School team to four consecutive state championships.
The Cushing File
| Year | Overall | League | Highlight(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 14-4-3 | n/a | ECAC Tournament |
| 1995 | 13-4-2 | n/a | ECAC Tournament |
| 1996 | 15-3-3 | n/a | ECAC Tournament |
| 1997 | 14-4-1 | n/a | NCAA Tournament |
| 1998 | 18-4-1 | 5-0-1 | ECAC Champs, NEWMAC Champs |
| 1999 | 12-6-1 | 4-2-0 | ECAC Tournament |
| 2000 | 17-3-1 | 4-2-0 | NCAA Tournament, NEWMAC Champs |
| 2001 | 21-2-0 | 6-0-0 | NCAA Tournament, NEWMAC Champs |
| 2002 | 15-5-0 | 5-1-0 | NEWMAC Tournament |
| 2003 | 19-3-2 | 5-1-0 | NCAA Tournament, NEWMAC Champs |
| 2004 | 17-4-2 | 5-1-0 | NCAA Tournament |
| 2005 | 13-5-2 | 5-0-1 | NCAA Tournament, NEWMAC Champs |
| 2006 | 12-5-4 | 5-1-0 | NCAA Tournament, NEWMAC Champs |
| Totals | 200-52-22 | 44-8-2 | 13 Seasons |
Matt Ristuccia
Assistant Coach
Matt Ristuccia returns to his alma mater after spending a pair of seasons as an assistant coach with Division I Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
In 2005, Ristuccia's first season with the Big Green, Dartmouth won the Ivy League title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. While in Hanover, he was the managing director and a coach of the Lightning Soccer Club and served as a camp coordinator at the Dartmouth soccer academies. Ristuccia has also actively coached boys' youth soccer, heading the U14 Crusaders United Club team and assisting the U14 F.C. Greater Boston Bolts during his final two years of college. He is currently back with the Bolts as the operations manager.
During his four-year Wheaton career, Ristuccia appeared in 86 of a possible 90 games while tallying 77 points on 31 goals and 15 assists. He helped the Lyons qualify for the NCAA Final Four as a junior and the Elite Eight as a freshman. In his final two seasons alone, Ristuccia started all 47 games while recording 22 goals and 13 helpers to go along with eight game-winning markers. After leading the team in goals and points as a senior, he was a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-New England selection and a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-Conference honoree.
In addition to being a Wheaton Scholar-Athlete, Ristuccia was a two-year member of the Wheaton Athletic Mentors (WAMs), serving as the organization's president during his senior year. He also interned with Executive Director of Athletics Chad Yowell and in the sports information office. Ristuccia graduated cum laude with a degree in sociology in 2005.
Brian Johnson
Assistant Coach
Brian Johnson, a former four-year player at Division I Rutgers University, joins the Wheaton men's soccer staff for his first season of college coaching. He is also currently the head coach of the U12 Crusaders United Club boys' team.
Johnson appeared in 64 games at Rutgers from 2001-04, recording six goals and three assists. He helped the Scarlet Knights qualify for two NCAA Tournaments, advancing as far as the Sweet 16 in 2001.
A high school All-American in 2000 at Marshfield High School, Johnson graduated from Rutgers in 2005 with a degree in exercise science and sport studies.
This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 2/12/08.
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NCAA Tournament
10-Nov Middlebury 5, Wheaton 0
7-Nov Wheaton 2, Bridgewater State 0
NEWMAC Tournament
4-Nov Wheaton 4, Babson 0
