Jen Prozzo Honored With NEWISA Coaching Award

Central Connecticut women's soccer assistant coach Jen Prozzo was named Division l Assistant Coach of the Year by the New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association on Thursday. 

Prozzo has been on the sidelines for the Blue Devils for 18 seasons, and has won a Northeast Conference Championship in nine of those seasons.

This year, she coached along a defense that allowed less than a goal per game against conference opponents (.87 in the regular season) and shut out the opposing offense in both NEC Tournament games (1-0 win over Bryant followed by 3-0 win in Championship match over Fairleigh Dickinson). 

The Blue Devils' defense flew around the field all season, stifling opponents and setting up the offense. Against other NEC opponents, the Blue Devils shot the ball at a rate four times that of their opponent. While CCSU averaged 20.1 shots per game, opposing teams averaged 5.1.

Prozzo came to Central with a successful history on the field of her own. As a professional player for the Philadelphia Charge of the WUSA (Women's United Soccer Association), Prozzo was a captain on the team in all three of her seasons, a finalst for Defensive Player of the Year and took her team to the Founders Cup two seasons in a row. 

Before her time with the WUSA, Prozzo dominated on Connecticut soccer fields in college as well. At the University of Connecticut, Prozzo was First Team All-Big East, All-Northeast, and All-New England honors three times and set the career record for assists along with season total for assists.

Prozzo and the Blue Devils will look to add another NEC Championship ring next fall.