Bio

A veteran coach, Jonathan Velotta joined the Carnegie Mellon University men's soccer coaching staff in 2014 and helped guide the program back to the NCAA Tournament in his second season. He was promoted to Associate Head Coach in July 2018.

Velotta's fourth season on staff witnessed the program just missing it's third consecutive NCAA bid after playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules that included three opponents ranked seventh or better in 2017, and a gauntlet UAA schedule that saw four teams make the NCAA tournament and two advance to the national semifinals. Junior Zach Masciopinto repeated on the All-Great Lakes Region team and was joined by senior Jimmy Jameson. The pair also earned All-UAA first-team honors while two others picked up second-team recognition.

In his third season with the Tartans in 2016, the program made it's 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and won for the sixth time when the team topped Ohio Wesleyan University, 2-1, in the first round. The Tartans, finished the season ranked 20th nationally with a 13-4-2 record and a second-place showing in the University Athletic Association, which sent five teams to the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore Zach Masciopinto earned NSCAA All-Region honors after leading the team and the UAA in goals scored with 13.

The 2015 Tartans returned to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year hiatus and finished the season with an 11-4-3 record. Three games into the season, the Tartans took down #3 Messiah by a 4-3 score and went on to finish third in the University Athletic Association.

In Velotta's first season with the Tartans, the program turned out an 8-5-3 overall mark against some of the top teams in Division III, as the team faced three nationally ranked opponents and five NCAA tournament participants.

Velotta helped mentor Connor Webb who was named the program's eighth NSCAA All-American and first since 2009 following the 2015 season. Webb led the UAA in goals scored for the second straight season and was named to the NSCAA All-Region team as a junior.

Prior to his arrival in Pittsburgh, Velotta coached more than 11 years at the club, Division II and Division I levels.

Velotta began his coaching career as the assistant men’s soccer coach at the University of Louisville in 2003, directly after he graduated from Brescia University with a bachelor’s degree in English. Most recently, Velotta spent four years as the head women’s soccer coach at Bellarmine University where he led the program to a 51-18-9 record and three appearances in the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament.

While at Bellarmine, Velotta was named the 2011 NSCAA Midwest Regional Coach of the Year and the 2011 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Coach of the Year. He coached a three-time All-American, who was also named the conference’s defensive player of the year twice, and the 2013 GLVC Freshman of the Year. Prior to taking the reigns of the women’s program in 2010, Velotta served as the assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s programs since the 2006 season and was named the associate head coach in 2009.

Velotta, who obtained his United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “A” License in 2005, has also held key roles in the Olympic Development Program and at the club level since 2003. As a Region II assistant, Velotta traveled to Costa Rica with the 1998 Girls Region II team where they competed against international competition. He was recently the assistant coach of the 2000 Girls Region II ODP team and previously held the head coaching role of Kentucky’s 1992 and 1993 girls teams. In the club circuit, Velotta has held posts of Youth Technical Director, Director of Coaching and Assistant Technical Director, serving as the latter two with Kentucky Fire Juniors since 2006.