Jesse DiLuzio - Men's Soccer Coach - Davidson College Athletics

Jesse DiLuzio

Title:
Associate Head Coach
Email:
jediluzio@davidson.edu

Jesse DiLuzio is quickly emerging as one of the brightest young coaches in collegiate soccer, with a track record of player development, strategic excellence, and positive results. After four seasons on Mike Babst's staff, DiLuzio has proven himself as an important piece behind the recent success of the Davidson Men's Soccer program entering his fourth season with the Wildcats.

The 2024 season saw the Wildcats battle one of the toughest schedules in the nation, facing off against six ranked or receiving-votes opponents. Despite the challenge, DiLuzio helped guide the team to its second consecutive A-10 Tournament appearance, a milestone that marked just the second time in program history. Their resilience against top competition, including a narrow 1-0 loss to eventual A-10 champions Dayton, secured the team’s #78 ranking in the RPI—making Davidson a top 80 program for two years in a row.

DiLuzio’s impact was already evident in 2023, when the Wildcats enjoyed their best season in recent history, finishing 10-5-1. They not only won and hosted their first-ever A-10 playoff game in team history but also earned a spot in the Top 25 rankings and finished the year at #57 in the RPI. Under DiLuzio’s guidance, players like Vincent Bennage and Denis Krioutchenkov earned All-Region honors, while Nico Cavallo became the program’s first MLS draft pick since 2016 (NYCFC). This breakthrough year earned DiLuzio a well-deserved promotion to Associate Head Coach, setting the stage for even greater success.

In 2022, Davidson’s youth showed early, but the ‘Cats concluded the regular season 6-4-3 over their last 13 contests highlighted by a 3-1 win over Virginia Tech and consecutive league win’s to close out the campaign, including 2-0 at Rhode Island. In the same year, DiLuzio played a pivotal role in developing Denis Krioutchenkov, who became the first-ever Freshman All-American in Davidson history, while scoring 9 goals in his debut season.

DiLuzio’s coaching journey at Davidson began in 2021, when the Wildcats finished with a 9-7-2 record and advanced to the A-10 Tournament quarterfinals. That season saw memorable wins over #24 High Point and #20 Rhode Island, earning the program its first Top 25 ranking since 2014—another testament to DiLuzio’s growing influence.

Before joining Davidson, DiLuzio spent two years as a graduate assistant at the University of Louisville, where he contributed to a Cardinals team that achieved 15 wins, including historic victories over #2 Georgetown and #1 Clemson. His time at Louisville culminated in a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament appearance in 2019 where they fell to eventual national champions Georgetown. DiLuzio was instrumental in developing top players such as Cherif Dieye, Elijah Amo, and Lamine Conte, who all earned MLS draft picks.

His coaching versatility extended to the Louisville City Academy, where he served as head coach for two age groups, helping to establish the clubs’ positive reputation in their first year as a professional academy.

A standout player during his college years, DiLuzio captained Centre College to its first SAA Championship, bringing leadership and vision to the pitch long before his coaching career began. Now holding a USSF B License and a Master’s in Sports Administration, DiLuzio’s deep understanding of the game, his ability to develop players, and his track record of success make him a key figure in Davidson’s soccer future—and a coach whose rise in the soccer world is one to watch.