Peter Pinizzotto

Peter Pinizzotto is a Canadian soccer coach who was most recently the technical director for Italia Shooters reserve team the Woodbridge Strikers Soccer Club.^[1] Pinizzotto is also known for managing the Toronto Lynx, and is the longest-serving manager in the history of Toronto Lynx, having managed from 1997 and 2003. After his tenure with the Lynx, Pinnizzotto was appointed assistant coach to arch rivals the Montreal Impact under Nick De Santis.^[2] He enjoyed success with the Impact winning the 2004 USL First Division league championship, as well as winning the Voyageurs Cup a record four years in a row.

Management career

Toronto Italia

His first coaching role was with Toronto Italia, where in his first season he led the team to a League Championship, Playoff Championship, and was well were finalists in the Cup Championship. He was named Canadian National Soccer League's Coach of the Year. After a year off coaching he returned to Italia, to again led the team to a League Championship, Playoff Championship, and runners up to the Cup Championship. As well he was named Coach of the Year for the second time.^[3]

Toronto Lynx

When the USL First Division expanded to Toronto the Toronto Lynx were formed. The Lynx hired him as their first head coach.^[4][5] He brought former Italia players like Franco Spadafina, Luca Centurione, Joe Ciaravino, Phil Capporella, and Rick Titus as well uprising stars like Paul Stalteri, Elvis Thomas, and Dwayne De Rosario. He helped the Lynx set a League record of 10 consecutive wins in their first season, helping the team make the playoffs but were elimanted in the first round. In 1999 he was named as well the new technical consultant of the Lynx bring in team stars like Francisco Dos Santos, Nikola Vignjevic, and fan favourite Brian Ashton. In the 2000 season the team went on seven game undefeated streak, helping the team reach the playoffs for the second time making it all the way to the Conference Final but lost to rivals Rochester Rhinos. In 2002 Lynx finished in second place in the inaugural Voyageurs Cup, losing to the Montreal Impact. The Lynx struggled early on in the season but then went on six game undefeated streak at home, and only needed one win on the final game of the season to make the playoffs. But his team tied with Atlanta Silverbacks making Charlotte Eagles to clinch the final playoff berth. After the 2003 season he again failed to reach the playoffs, after that season his contract wasn't renewed leaving the Lynx after seven seasons.^[6]

Montreal Impact

In 2004 he accepted to position of assistant coach for the Montreal Impact under Nick DeSantis.^[7] In his first season he helped the team win the League Championship, regular - season title, and as well the Voyageurs Cup. In 2005 he helped the team set or tie several records, a league-record 15-game undefeated streak and total of only three losses, as well as a club-record nine-game undefeated stretch on the road. As well as another regular-season title, and Voyageurs Cup. In 2006 he helped the team to its best start ever at home, with a 10-game undefeated streak at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex winning another regular season title, and Voyageurs cup. In 2007 he signed a new deal to keep him at the club for the 2007 season.^[8] After De Santis was promoted to Manager and Director of Soccer for Montreal Impact in 2008; Pinizzotto was dismissed from his coaching duties with the Impact.^[9] On March 4, 2009 the Italia Shooters of the Canadian Soccer League appointed Pinizzotto the technical director for the Shooter's reserve team the Woodbridge Strikers Soccer Club.^[10]

Managerial stats

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	L	D	Win %
Toronto Italia		May 31, 1994	October 27, 1996	22	14	3	6	63.63%
Toronto Lynx		April 16, 1997	August 21, 2003	190	74	95	34	38.94%

References