STONY BROOK, N.Y. — After a program-record setting tenure as the Head Coach at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, John Ciano is set to join Ryan Anatol's coaching staff for Stony Brook Men's Soccer.
In six seasons with Saint Rose, Ciano had the highest winning percentage of any coach in the program's history and is the only coach in the program's 40-year history to finish with a career winning record.
"I am really excited and honored to join the Stony Brook Athletics family," Ciano said. "I want to thank head coach Ryan Anatol for allowing me the opportunity to be a member of his program and I look forward to learning from him and the experienced members of his staff. I hope to help and contribute positively in any way I can and look forward to the challenge as we open up play this fall in the CAA."
During the 2021 campaign, he tied the program's record for wins with 10 and earned the highest ever finish in the Northeast-10 conference, along with hosting the program's first ever home playoff game.
He led the Golden Knights to the semifinals of the NE10 tournament, as well as earned regional rankings in the NCAA and United Soccer Coaches polls, as well as the highest-ever RPI in the program's history. During the Spring of 2021, the squad received votes in the United Soccer Coaches national polls for the first time in program history.
"John Ciano is an excellent addition to our staff," head coach Ryan Anatol said. "His work ethic, passion and personality are a great fit for our program. He has proven to be an outstanding coach and his experience will benefit the growth of our student-athletes."
Over his tenure, he has coached 17 all-conference, four all-region and three all-tournament players, along with the league's 2019 Rookie of the Year. During that season, the Golden Knights earned their first-ever appearance in the conference final, as well as the first postseason victory in program history, as well as a regional ranking in every United Soccer Coaches poll during the regular season, finishing sixth.
Before his stint with Saint Rose, he spent five seasons as a Division I assistant at Siena (2013-15) and NJIT (2011-12). While in Loudonville, he helped the Saints qualify for the postseason two of his three seasons, including a place in the conference playoff semi-finals in 2015. During his time with the Highlanders, he aided them to the second-best record in the school's Division I history. Before joining NJIT, Ciano began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Division III Manhattanville College (2009-2010). He helped the program to back-to-back double digit win seasons and a 2009 regular season conference title.
He joins a Seawolves program that earned its most wins since the 2018 campaign and the most wins at LaValle Stadium since 2011 in its final season in the America East Conference.
