Center Valley, PA, (July 15, 2024) – Director of Athletics Scott Coval has announced Melina Couzis as the eighth head coach of the DeSales University women's soccer program beginning her tenure as a Bulldog immediately.
Couzis comes to DeSales having served as the Interim head coach at Long Island University over the past year. She also has served as the head coach and Girls Elite Technical Director for the Massapequa Soccer Club since March, 2023 and been the head coach of the Eastern NY Soccer Association Olympic Development Program since November, 2023.
"I'm honored and humbled to be named the head women's soccer coach at DeSales University. I would like to thank the Director of Athletics, Scott Coval, Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Women's Administrator, Gracia Perilli, and the search committee for providing me with this opportunity to usher these student-athletes toward success. I am committed to fostering a competitive, supportive, and growth-oriented environment where our student-athletes can excel both on and off the field. I look forward to building upon the strong foundation of this program and leading our team to new heights."
Couzis was a highly successful Division I soccer player playing four years at UCONN from 2017-21 earning United Soccer Coaches East Region Second-Team honors and was named First-Team All-Big East as a senior. She then played one more season as a graduate student at St. John's University earning Big East All-Tournament team honors, finishing the season with one goal and five assists.
Couzis graduated from UCONN in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in exercise science, earned her first Masters in translational medicine from CCNY in 2022, and earned her MBA from St. John's University in 2023.
"We are extremely pleased and excited to announce Melina Couzis as our head women's soccer coach", said Director of Athletics Scott Coval. "We had an outstanding pool of candidates. During the interview process, Melina's soccer knowledge, passion and leadership abilities, along with her experience as a high level athlete and coach, separated her from others and made her a great fit for our women's soccer program. We're excited for the future of DeSales women's soccer."
Couzis takes over a women's soccer program that has earned a spot in the MAC Freedom postseason tournament in each of the last three years advancing to the MAC Freedom championship game in 2022 and falling to Misericordia University in double overtime in the 2023 MAC Freedom semifinals.
She hails from Baldwin Place, NY where she graduated from Somers (CT) scoring 60 goals and 63 assists in her HS career helping Somers win the 2014 NY State Class A Championship and earning several conference, regional, and national accolades during her HS career.
