Ramapo College of New Jersey Athletics

Coach DJ Pinton enters his 13th season as head coach of the Ramapo College Men’s Soccer team.  Pinton served as an assistant to the program for four years (2000-2003) before taking over the reins at the start of the 2004 season. In his first two years with the program, Pinton’s team recorded a 12-6-1 and 14-4-3 overall record respectively.  Over the next four seasons the Roadrunners combined for 39 wins overall.

Pinton returned to his alma mater after completing his degree in marketing in 1999.  A three-year member of the Roadrunner men’s soccer team, Pinton left his mark as one of the top players in program history.  In his first year with the program the team reached its first ever post-season berth qualifying for the ECAC Tournament, falling short in the semi-finals.  In his second season he helped guide the men’s soccer team to a 16-5-1 record and the programs first ever post-season championship winning the ECAC title.  That same year, Pinton received the first of his consecutive First Team All-New Jersey Athletic Conference honors, and was named the 1997 Ramapo College Athlete of the Year.   In his final season as a Roadrunner, Pinton helped lead the team to its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance and collected Mid-Atlantic Regional All-American honors on top of his all-conference and all-state honors.  In 2006 he was inducted into the Ramapo College Athletic Hall of Fame for his tremendous contributions on the soccer field.

Pinton has recruited top NJAC players including defensive standout, Ryan Lahey, who was honored as NJAC Defensive Player of the Year, NJAC 1st Team All-Conference, and NSCAA All-Region 1st Team in 2007.  In 2006, goaltender Patrick Jagodzinski was named NJAC Goalkeeper of the year, NJAC 1st Team All-Conference, and NSCAA All-Region 2nd Team, while Arturo Moreira and Jeremy Taylor were named to the NSCAA 3rd and 2nd All-Region teams respectively in 2004.  Pinton landed NJAC standout, Rob Santaniello, in 2009.  Santaniello quickly made a name for himself in the conference earning NJAC Rookie of the Year, NSCAA All-Region honors and NJAC 1st Team All-Conference honors in just his freshman year.  He was named NJAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2010 after scoring 21 goals, breaking the single season college record previously held by RCNJ Hall of Famer Nansha Kalonji who tallied 19 goals in 1997.  Santaniello was also named NJAC 1st Team All-Conference and NSCAA/Performance Subaru Men's NCAA Division III All-South Atlantic All-Region 2nd Team finishing the season leading all of NCAA Division III in three offensive categories; points per game, goals per game and total goals.  Santaniello wrapped up his career with 64 goals, another record at Ramapo, again surpassing Kalonji who tallied 52 in his playing days.

Other top recruits have included goalkeepers Ian Tighe and Brad Stockton, forwards Giuseppe Trani and Will Mazzuto, and defenders Zach Theinert and Jim Clementi.  Jonathan Yazo also made his mark as one of the program's top midfielders earning NSCAA/Performance Subaru Men's NCAA Division III All-South Atlantic All-Region 3rd Team and NJAC 1st Team All-Conference honors in 2010.  He led the Roadrunners in 2011 with 13 assists tying the single-season assist record with Jorge Chipoco (13, 1994). He started all 17 games for the Roadrunners and finished ranked third in assists per game (0.76) in NCAA Division III and sixth in total assists.

Pinton has spent time overseas training with Italian professional club A.C. Arezzo under then Head Coach Serse Cosmi and aside from coaching at Ramapo College, he serves as the full time Coordinator of Athletic Facilities and Resource Management/Budget Coordinator.  In his spare time he is also involved with youth soccer serving as the Director of the Cosmos Soccer Camps.

2016 Season