Head coach Tom Giovatto joined the LIU women's soccer team in June 2024.
Before LIU
Prior to joining LIU, Giovatto most recently served as an assistant coach for Fordham University's men's soccer team under head coach Carlo Acquista. Fordham ended up making it to the Atlantic 10 Championship after going 6-4-7 on the season.
Previously, the Iona-graduate (Class of '97) had a decorated 16-year career as the head coach of St. Francis' men's soccer team. During his time with St. Francis, Giovatto led the Terriers to five NEC tournament titles, and subsequently five NCAA Tournament appearances, in an eight-year span (2013-21). His teams also won three conference regular season titles, punctuated by back-to-back undefeated NEC seasons (2016, 2017). In 2021, St. Francis was victorious in their opening NCAA Tournament matchup against Milwaukee.
Giovatto has been named NEC Coach of the Year twice, earning back-to-back honors in 2016 and 2017. He is only the fourth coach in conference history to do so, dating back to 1986.
Giovatto mentored two NEC Players of the Year, four NEC Defensive Players of the Year, three NEC Rookies of the Year, an NEC Goalkeeper of the Year and 34 First Team All-NEC selections.
Giovatto began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach at Saint Peter's in 2001. Two years later, he helped the Peacocks win 18 games and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before moving on to Stony Brook, where he served on staff until arriving in Brooklyn.
Giovatto played his collegiate soccer at Iona, where he was a three-year letterwinner. After graduating in 1997 with a degree in mass communications, Giovatto played in the preseason with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer. He also played professionally for the Brooklyn Knights of the USL PDL and the Baltimore Blast of the NPSL.
