Men's Soccer
Costanzo, Rich
Rich Costanzo
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Alma Mater:
- Maryland, '08
- Email:
- rcostanzo@athletics.pitt.edu
- Season at Pitt:
- Fourth
- Phone:
- 412-648-8508
Rich Costanzo is entering his fifth season with the Pitt men’s soccer program after joining the staff in July of 2017.
Costanzo helped guide the Panthers to a record-breaking season in 2020-21 that saw the team finish 16-4 overall, 9-1 in ACC play and win the ACC Costal Division crown and earn a berth to the NCAA College Cup for the first time in program history. The Panthers broke numerous single-season school records, recording 142 points and 44 assists and finishing as the fifth best scoring offense in the nation.
Pitt earned multiple postseason accolades, including the first All-America selections in program history in Valentin Noel and Jasper Löeffelsend. The Panthers had 14 All-ACC selections, including ACC Offensive Player of the Year (Noel), Defensive Player of the Year (Löeffelsend), Freshman of the Year (Bertin Jacquesson). Pitt also earned the No. 1 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Poll on Oct. 20, 2020 the first time in program history and third time in Pitt Athletics history (football, men’s basketball) a team has been named No. 1 in its respective poll.
In 2019, Costanzo helped guide the Panthers to a 10-8-2 record overall and a 4-3-1 conference mark. The Panthers earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament for the first time since 1965, and reached the second round. Pitt also hosted its first ACC Tournament game, a 2-1 overtime victory over NC State in the quarterfinal round, which advanced the Panthers into the ACC semifinals for the first time in school history. Pitt also upset No. 1 Virginia, 2-0, on the road on Oct. 18 for the first victory over a No. 1 team in program history.
During his second year at Pitt in the 2018 season, Costanzo helped Vidovich lead the Panthers to wins over two ranked opponents in No. 12 NC State and No. 7 Virginia in the ACC Men’s Soccer Tournament. The victory over the Cavaliers marked the Panthers’ first ACC Tournament win in program history. Pitt collected its first conference win on the season against the Wolfpack and picked up another ACC victory over Clemson on Oct. 5.
In his first year on the staff, Costanzo assisted Vidovich in leading the Panthers to wins over No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 13 Columbia and No. 21 Syracuse in the 2017 season. The win against Syracuse would be the Panthers’ first win over a ranked opponent since the 2008 season. The victory over the Orange was also the first conference win for Pitt since moving into the ACC at the start of the 2013 season, and they would add their second conference win against the Fighting Irish on Oct. 13. The Panthers would also capture victories against rivals Penn State and West Virginia throughout the season.
Costanzo returned to Pittsburgh after a successful three-year stint at Army West Point as an assistant.
Prior to joining the staff at West Point, Costanzo’s five-year professional playing career included stops with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rochester Rhinos and the Minnesota Thunder of the United States Soccer League (USL), while his collegiate playing career featured two years at the University of Maryland as well as Penn State.
While with the Army Black Knights, Costanzo was under the guidance of head coach Russell Payne who also serves as the goalkeeper coach for the U.S. Men’s National team. Costanzo’s tenure included three consecutive trips to the Patriot League Tournament, with the team advancing to the semifinals in 2014. During those seasons, eight student-athletes garnered All-Patriot League honors.
Costanzo holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “A” Coaching License and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Premier Diploma. He is also a U.S. Soccer Network Scout where he evaluates U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) teams and players.
Following a successful year on the sidelines in 2015, Costanzo was selected by the NSCAA for the “30 under 30” Coaching Development Program, a year-long education and mentorship program for a selected group of up-and-coming coaches who are making soccer their career.
Before transitioning to the coaching side of the game, Costanzo started his professional playing career with the Minnesota Thunder in 2009 where he appeared in 20 games. He then spent two years with the Rochester Rhinos, assisting the team to two regular season titles in 2010 and 2011. Costanzo capped off his professional career in his home city with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, spending the 2012 and 2013 seasons with the Hounds where he appeared in 43 games for the club while captaining the team in 2013.
In 2012, Costanzo founded the Pittsburgh Soccer Academy (PSA), a training organization for youth soccer players. The program, under Costanzo’s direction, offers players one-on-one training, group training, camps and clinics in the Pittsburgh area. Two years later, Costanzo was named a “13 under 30” Entrepreneur in the regional area by Pittsburgh’s Whirl Magazine for his accomplishments with PSA.
As a collegiate student-athlete, Costanzo got his start at Penn State where he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2004, while garnering Freshman All-America honors by SoccerAmerica and TopDrawerSoccer.
He then transferred to the University of Maryland in 2006 and had a notable senior year in 2008 as a team captain. That year, Costanzo helped lead the Terrapins to an ACC Championship title as well as a NCAA Division I National Championship title. At the conclusion of the banner season, Costanzo was tabbed to the College Cup Team, and received the Coaches Award from head coach Sasho Cirovski for his commitment and dedication to the team.
A product of Thomas Jefferson High School, Costanzo collected numerous honors in his four years – so many that he was inducted into the Heinz History Hall of Fame in 2012.
Costanzo is a two-time NSCAA All-American, EA Sports All-American, two-time Tribune-Review and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Boys Soccer Player of the Year, 2004 Post-Gazette Male Athlete of the Year and was named the No. 1 player in the state of Pennsylvania by Adidas in 2003.
He also gained youth national team experience as a member of the U18 National Team in 2004 and was a part of the Olympic Development Program from 2002-2005.
Costanzo graduated from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business in December 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Business.
Alma Mater
Maryland, ‘08
Professional Playing Experience
Minnesota Thunder, Rochester Rhinos, Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL)
Prior to Pitt
Army West Point (2014-16)
Costanzo helped guide the Panthers to a record-breaking season in 2020-21 that saw the team finish 16-4 overall, 9-1 in ACC play and win the ACC Costal Division crown and earn a berth to the NCAA College Cup for the first time in program history. The Panthers broke numerous single-season school records, recording 142 points and 44 assists and finishing as the fifth best scoring offense in the nation.
Pitt earned multiple postseason accolades, including the first All-America selections in program history in Valentin Noel and Jasper Löeffelsend. The Panthers had 14 All-ACC selections, including ACC Offensive Player of the Year (Noel), Defensive Player of the Year (Löeffelsend), Freshman of the Year (Bertin Jacquesson). Pitt also earned the No. 1 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Poll on Oct. 20, 2020 the first time in program history and third time in Pitt Athletics history (football, men’s basketball) a team has been named No. 1 in its respective poll.
In 2019, Costanzo helped guide the Panthers to a 10-8-2 record overall and a 4-3-1 conference mark. The Panthers earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament for the first time since 1965, and reached the second round. Pitt also hosted its first ACC Tournament game, a 2-1 overtime victory over NC State in the quarterfinal round, which advanced the Panthers into the ACC semifinals for the first time in school history. Pitt also upset No. 1 Virginia, 2-0, on the road on Oct. 18 for the first victory over a No. 1 team in program history.
During his second year at Pitt in the 2018 season, Costanzo helped Vidovich lead the Panthers to wins over two ranked opponents in No. 12 NC State and No. 7 Virginia in the ACC Men’s Soccer Tournament. The victory over the Cavaliers marked the Panthers’ first ACC Tournament win in program history. Pitt collected its first conference win on the season against the Wolfpack and picked up another ACC victory over Clemson on Oct. 5.
In his first year on the staff, Costanzo assisted Vidovich in leading the Panthers to wins over No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 13 Columbia and No. 21 Syracuse in the 2017 season. The win against Syracuse would be the Panthers’ first win over a ranked opponent since the 2008 season. The victory over the Orange was also the first conference win for Pitt since moving into the ACC at the start of the 2013 season, and they would add their second conference win against the Fighting Irish on Oct. 13. The Panthers would also capture victories against rivals Penn State and West Virginia throughout the season.
Costanzo returned to Pittsburgh after a successful three-year stint at Army West Point as an assistant.
Prior to joining the staff at West Point, Costanzo’s five-year professional playing career included stops with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rochester Rhinos and the Minnesota Thunder of the United States Soccer League (USL), while his collegiate playing career featured two years at the University of Maryland as well as Penn State.
While with the Army Black Knights, Costanzo was under the guidance of head coach Russell Payne who also serves as the goalkeeper coach for the U.S. Men’s National team. Costanzo’s tenure included three consecutive trips to the Patriot League Tournament, with the team advancing to the semifinals in 2014. During those seasons, eight student-athletes garnered All-Patriot League honors.
Costanzo holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “A” Coaching License and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Premier Diploma. He is also a U.S. Soccer Network Scout where he evaluates U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) teams and players.
Following a successful year on the sidelines in 2015, Costanzo was selected by the NSCAA for the “30 under 30” Coaching Development Program, a year-long education and mentorship program for a selected group of up-and-coming coaches who are making soccer their career.
Before transitioning to the coaching side of the game, Costanzo started his professional playing career with the Minnesota Thunder in 2009 where he appeared in 20 games. He then spent two years with the Rochester Rhinos, assisting the team to two regular season titles in 2010 and 2011. Costanzo capped off his professional career in his home city with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, spending the 2012 and 2013 seasons with the Hounds where he appeared in 43 games for the club while captaining the team in 2013.
In 2012, Costanzo founded the Pittsburgh Soccer Academy (PSA), a training organization for youth soccer players. The program, under Costanzo’s direction, offers players one-on-one training, group training, camps and clinics in the Pittsburgh area. Two years later, Costanzo was named a “13 under 30” Entrepreneur in the regional area by Pittsburgh’s Whirl Magazine for his accomplishments with PSA.
As a collegiate student-athlete, Costanzo got his start at Penn State where he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2004, while garnering Freshman All-America honors by SoccerAmerica and TopDrawerSoccer.
He then transferred to the University of Maryland in 2006 and had a notable senior year in 2008 as a team captain. That year, Costanzo helped lead the Terrapins to an ACC Championship title as well as a NCAA Division I National Championship title. At the conclusion of the banner season, Costanzo was tabbed to the College Cup Team, and received the Coaches Award from head coach Sasho Cirovski for his commitment and dedication to the team.
A product of Thomas Jefferson High School, Costanzo collected numerous honors in his four years – so many that he was inducted into the Heinz History Hall of Fame in 2012.
Costanzo is a two-time NSCAA All-American, EA Sports All-American, two-time Tribune-Review and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Boys Soccer Player of the Year, 2004 Post-Gazette Male Athlete of the Year and was named the No. 1 player in the state of Pennsylvania by Adidas in 2003.
He also gained youth national team experience as a member of the U18 National Team in 2004 and was a part of the Olympic Development Program from 2002-2005.
Costanzo graduated from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business in December 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Business.
Alma Mater
Maryland, ‘08
Professional Playing Experience
Minnesota Thunder, Rochester Rhinos, Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL)
Prior to Pitt
Army West Point (2014-16)
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