Michele Barletta, the graduate assistant coach for Quincy University’s women’s soccer team, is charting a path to share his passion for the game with plans to finish his Master of Business Administration degree in December.

Barletta is making his second season with the Hawks one to remember, bringing both experience and energy to the program.

A former goalkeeper for Quincy University’s men’s soccer team from 2018 to 2021, Barletta knows what it takes to succeed on the field.

After his time with the Hawks he transferred to Southern Nazarene University in 2022, helping the men’s soccer team to the GAC regular season title along with a conference title and the NCAA national tournament

Barletta’s contributions to the Southern Nazarene team led him to an All-GAC Honorable Mention, GAC all-tournament team, conference goalkeeper of the week, and GAC Student-Athlete of the Year for the sport of soccer with a 3.9 GPA.

But even after one season of personal and team success, at Southern Nazarene University Barletta sought a new challenge.

“I didn’t want to play anymore, I was tired, I was injured, not enjoying it anymore, I always said for a while I wanted to coach,” Barletta said.

When Barletta learned that Quincy University was looking for a graduate assistant coach to oversee goalkeepers for both the women’s and men’s soccer teams, the opportunity felt like a fit.

“I thought that’s me like I can do that, so I got in touch with coach Carpenter and coach Mackenzie, and it all worked out, and I came back here that January,” Barletta said.

Michele Barletta is coaching the women’s soccer team at practice.

Barletta has a targeted plan for his future after graduating with his master’s degree.

“I want to coach, that’s where I think I have the most to offer and I enjoy the most, I don’t know if it will be college or something else, but I want to coach,“ Barletta said.

His commitment has not gone unnoticed. The former women’s soccer team Head Coach Mackenzie Schissel thinks that his knowledge of the game challenged her.

“I think that he has brought a really good energy and really good knowledge of the game. What I really like about having him on staff is that he challenges me, if he agrees he agrees if he doesn’t he lets me know why and we will have a constructive conversation about it,” Schissel said.

Team captain Ella Wolfard sees Barletta as a good addition to the women’s soccer team.

“I think Michele is a really good addition to our team, he brings a lot of energy, and he also brings a different perspective,” Wolfard said.

Wolfard adds that Barletta has earned his spot by coaching the women’s soccer team in the last week of last season where he led them to a 1-0 win over Lewis University.

“I am really happy that he is the assistant coach because I think he has earned it by doing that. I think he has a lot of potential, I hope he sticks around for a long time, he is very very smart,” Wolfard said.

Barletta is constantly improving his soccer knowledge. Over the summer, he completed a 9-week course to earn his D license from the United States Soccer Federation.