Nov. 22, 2006

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray has announced the hiring of Matt Viggiano, who will succeed Bobby Herodes as head coach of the men's soccer program. Viggiano was a two year starter and team captain for the Red Foxes under Herodes.

Viggiano came to Marist after starting his career at the University of Albany. While at Albany, he helped the squad to a Division III national ranking and a spot in the national tournament. He spent his last two seasons as a player at Marist and joined Herodes' staff for the 1999 season. While on staff, the Red Foxes went to back-to-back MAAC Tournaments and won the conference tournament in 2004.

Viggiano then moved on to Division III Elmira College where he was an assistant coach and head men's JV coach for the Soaring Eagles. Following his stint at Elmira he got his first head coaching job at Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. While there, he turned around the program and helped the team triple its win total from the previous five years.

Viggiano then moved on to be the head coach at SUNY Purchase for two seasons, before returning to the MAAC as an assistant at Iona for the 2006 campaign.

A 1999 graduate of Marist with B.A. in American Studies, Viggiano also earned his M.S. Ed. in Health and Physical Education from East Stroudsburg University in 2003. He currently resides in New Rochelle with his wife Elizabeth.

Herodes leaves Marist after 11 seasons at the helm. Under his tenure, the Foxes won three MAAC Championships and made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament, with the most recent coming in 2005. In 2000, the Foxes appeared in the NCAA play-in game where they fell 1-0 to IUPUI in three overtimes.

Herodes has been named MAAC Coach of the Year on two occasions; in 2002 with Marist and in 1995 with Iona.

Marist finished the 2006 season with a 6-9-1 overall record and a 3-5-1 mark in the MAAC.