Sacred Heart Coach Inducted to Conn. HOF

Barroso Coached Bridgeport and Sacred Heart

December 10, 2008

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Sacred Heart men’s soccer coach Joe Barroso has been selected for induction into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame. The ceremonies will be held Jan. 31 at the Farmington Marriott in Farmington, Conn.

A fixture on the Connecticut soccer scene for nearly two decades, Barroso recently completed his fourth season as head coach of the Pioneer men's soccer team after eight seasons as head women's soccer coach at Sacred Heart University.

“I am honored to be receiving this induction,” Barroso said. “The Hall of Fame has some of the most famous names in Connecticut sports history and I am humbled to be viewed in the same regard.”

Joe Barroso. (Source: Sacred Heart Athletics)

Barroso made an immediate impact on the SHU men's team in 2005, engineering the second biggest single-season turnaround in a conference history, leading the Pioneers to the playoffs for the first time ever in Division I. After falling just short of the postseason in 2006, he led SHU back to the playoffs in 2007 and missed the tournament by one game in 2008.

He helped lay the foundation of the women's soccer program at Sacred Heart serving as head coach from 1992-94. He amassed a record of 27-28-2 in those three years on sideline, receiving the regional Coach of-the-Year award in 1994-95.

Barroso is in his second stint at Sacred Heart after leaving for five years to coach at the University of Bridgeport. At the University of Bridgeport, Barroso was named the New England Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year in ‘97. He was 34-41-6 while coaching the women for four years. He also served as the head men's soccer coach for the Purple Knights from 1997-99.

He returned to help the Pioneers make the transition to Division I and guided the women's team to three-straight Northeast Conference Tournaments. In 2001 the coach guided the team to its first postseason tournament appearance where it enjoyed a magical run, capturing the first-ever Northeast Conference Crown and spot in the NCAAs. For his efforts Barroso was named Coach of the Year.

“Joe has been a prominent figure on the local soccer scene for a long time and he deserves this honor,” said Sacred Heart Athletic Director Don Cook. “We at Sacred Heart are very proud of Joe for his accomplishments.”

Originally from Portugal, Barroso played at Southern Connecticut State University, where he was a member of that school's Division II National Championship squad in 1990 and is eighth on the Owls all-time scoring list with 99 points (41 goals, 58 assists). His 41 goals are sixth on that all-time list. He was chosen as one of the top-25 players in the country after his senior season at SCSU and picked to play in the Senior Bowl.

The Connecticut Soccer Hall Of Fame was founded in 1999. It is dedicated to recognizing the pioneers, developers and continuing contributors to the sport in Connecticut. Players, coaches, referees, administrators, and friends of soccer all are members.

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