Last week, Jon Hind ’80, Director of Athletics, announced the retirement of long-time Men’s Soccer Head Coach Perry Nizzi.
Before Coach Nizzi started coaching, he had a collegiate playing career. Nizzi was All-American at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, went All-state at SUNY Cortland and one of eight players inducted into Cortland’s C-Club Hall of Fame in 2009. In 1981, five years after earning an associate’s degree from Mohawk Valley Community College, Nizzi became Herkimer College’s head coach. In 17 seasons, he compiled a record of 291-56-11 and achieved three straight National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III championships from 1994 to 1996. Even after he left Herkimer College, Nizzi was inducted into the NJCAA Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Herkimer College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.
Following his time at Herkimer in 1999, Nizzi took on the head coaching job at Hamilton, where he had an immediate impact. Not only did Nizzi turn Hamilton into a winning program, but he earned several personal accolades along the way. Since Nizzi’s arrival, the Continentals advanced to the postseason 17 times and made five NCAA Division III championship appearances (2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2024). Additionally, he led Hamilton to capturing two Liberty League (Hamilton’s league before joining the NESCAC) tournament titles in 2004 and 2007 and won the the Liberty League regular seasons crown twice in 2000 and 2006. After joining the NESCAC league in 2012, the Continentals reached the NESCAC final in 2016.
This past season with Hamilton was one of Nizzi’s more memorable campaigns, coaching one of the Continentals’ best teams in recent years. The team received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, defeating Calvin University 2-3 in the first round and tied Kenyon College 2-2 in the second round before losing on penalty kicks. Hamilton’s final record was 8-6-4.
While individual recognition is often set aside, it is hard to ignore Nizzi’s decorated coaching career. Nizzi was voted the 2016 NESCAC Coach of the Year and earned the United Soccer Coaches Men’s College Team Academic Award for the sixth time in seven years in 2020-21. Nizzi was instrumental in shaping his players’ growth and driving noticeable improvements in their on-field performance. In 2006, he coached third team all-American Greg Rogan ’07, had 13 all-NESCAC player selections since 2001, 20 all-region team picks and coached the 2016 NESCAC Rookie of the Year. Coach Nizzi tallied 516 wins in 45 seasons.
However, Coach Nizzi was not just Hamilton’s Men’s Soccer coach. He also is a physical education instructor and has had a larger impact on the community during his time at Hamilton College. Deidre Pierson, Hamilton Associate Athletic Director, and Senior Women’s Administrator praised Nizzi and shared how “Perry Nizzi will leave an indelible mark on Hamilton Athletics and the countless student-athletes he has mentored.” She further noted that Coach Nizzi “is known for his unique coaching style, and his true legacy lies in the positive impact he has had on the lives of his players. Coach Nizzi fostered a team environment that was both intensely focused and remarkably jovial. He possessed a rare ability to instill discipline and a strong work ethic while maintaining a lighthearted atmosphere that players cherished. He created a culture where student-athletes could thrive as players, students, and as individuals.”
Nizzi leaves behind a legacy defined by excellence, mentorship, and passion for the game. His remarkable career, filled with championships and accolades, reflects his dedication to both athletic success and personal growth. Hamilton College and its student-athletes are better because of his unwavering commitment and influential presence.
