The Boston Latin School boys’ varsity soccer team kicked off their 2021 season with a record of 0-4 under new Head Coach Nick DiCicco.

The team’s former head coach, Jason Miller, resigned from his position last year after an 11-year tenure. While there were many questions and uncertainties regarding the upcoming season, the noise was quickly silenced when Coach Nick DiCicco assumed the position of head coach for BLS.

DiCicco has a long relationship with soccer. His father, Tony DiCicco, was a professional player, who coached the United States women’s national soccer team from 1994 to 1999 and won a gold medal at the Olympics in 1996 and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in 1999. Needless to say, Coach DiCicco grew up with big shoes to fill. He played for Wethersfield High School in Connecticut and for Suffolk University. After he graduated, he went on to coach for various teams for ten years.

DiCicco was introduced to BLS athletics four years ago, when he became the freshman team coach for the school. He then moved up to assistant varsity coach for one year, stating, “I was interested in the position immediately not only because I love the sport, but also because it was an opportunity to coach a team in Boston, where I lived and worked.”

Now, as head coach of BLS varsity soccer, DiCicco emphasizes the importance of perseverance and resilience. Although this season started off with some tough games, he remains optimistic about the team’s prospects for the year. “With the hard work the players put in and the commitment they show at training every day, we know we haven’t played our best game yet,” DiCicco states.

Furthermore, DiCicco maintains a passion not only for his role as a leader, but also for the steps that lead to success. The coach strives to make sure that his players are getting the most out of their athletic experience. DiCicco emphasizes, “[I want our team to] be a program that plays an exciting style of the game, is hard to beat and above all, enjoys the process of working hard for the benefit of the team. […] My vision for BLS soccer is to foster an environment where everyone understands their role in creating a winning team.”

Senior Captain Lev Sugerman-Brozan (I) has a similar outlook on the season as DiCicco. “We have to make sure that there are guys on the team who can carry us into the future,” he continues, “[I want to] spend as much time as I can with the team. I’m looking forward to savoring these moments and making the most of my last year.”

DiCicco concludes, “Right now, our goal is to keep working hard and improving as players and as coaches so that we are playing to our full potential by late October.”