Tim DiBisceglie

Timothy Richard DiBisceglie (born November 1, 1994) is a professional American soccer player who most recently played for the Philadelphia Atoms in the American Soccer League. DiBisceglie had been under contract with the professional team from Philadelphia through March 2019.

Tim DiBisceglie
DiBisceglie with FK Vítkovice (Czech Republic)
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-11-01) November 1, 1994
Place of birth Denville, New Jersey, U.S.
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfield
Youth career
2009–2011 IMG Academy
2009–2010 New York Red Bulls
2009–2012 Gill St Bernard Knights
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Scranton Royals 73 (8)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Kilmarnock 2 (0)
2015–2016 Electric City Shock SC 21 (4)
2016 FK Vítkovice 1 (0)
2017–2019 Philadelphia Atoms 16 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 23, 2017

Career

Youth

On November 17, 2009, Gill St. Bernard's won their first state team boys championship of any kind in the school's history with a 3–0 victory over St. Rose High School of Belmar, New Jersey. As a first-year starter, DiBisceglie earned two points in the title match with assists on the game-winning goal and the final goal.[1] Prior to college, he trained with US Olympic Development men's soccer team at IMG Academy under Jeff Tipping in Bradenton, Florida in the summers from 2009 through 2011. Tipping named DiBisceglie team captain in 2011.[2] His selection to represent the Princeton Soccer Association at IMG was made through the USL's Super Y-League as part of the Jersey United soccer club. Prior to their 2010 season, New York Red Bulls Academy's director Bob Montgomery had DiBisceglie train with the Red Bulls U16 squad under head coach Rob Elliott.

During the high school soccer fall seasons, he was a four-year starter in the midfield and a two-year captain for the Gill St Bernard Knights in Gladstone, New Jersey. He completed his career as the Knight's eighth all-time scorer in the school's history with 101 points (20g/61a) and was All-State, All-Conference, All-Area, All-County, All-Prep and All-Non Public.[3] In both 2011 and 2012, he was the leader of all Somerset County high school soccer players in assists at any level, Public and Non-Public, male or female.

College

After being recruited by twenty-one college soccer programs, most notably, Holy Cross, Iona and Rutgers University, DiBisceglie chose to attend the University of Scranton, where he was a four-year starter as a defensive center midfielder for the Royals. Scoring eight goals in 73 appearances, while also recording 11 assists, he was named to the NSCAA's All-Landmark Conference First Team in 2015 and was All-Conference again in 2016.[4]

On November 7, 2015, the Scranton Royals came from behind to defeat the #6 nationally ranked Elizabethtown Blue Jays 3–2 for the school's first conference men's soccer championship in 30 years. DiBisceglie assisted on Scranton's initial goal that changed the game in the upset victory.[5]

One year later, almost exactly to the day, on November 5, 2016, the Royals once again travelled to Elizabethtown to meet in the Landmark Championship re-match. Like he did in 2015, DiBisceglie found his way onto the score sheet again in 2016 to give Scranton a – victory in the title rematch over the Blue Jays.[6] To date, DiBisceglie is the only player in Landmark Conference history to register assists in back-to-back Men's Soccer Championship victories.

The 2016 Landmark Championship sent the Royals to the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament where on November 12, 2016, Scranton defeated Penn St Behrend, 2–1 to advance to the NCAA tournament's second round. On November 13, 2016, the Royals lost to 13th ranked SUNY Cortland 1–2 in the Round of 32. Despite playing in just the two tournament matches, DiBisceglie finished the NCAA competition ranked seventh in America amongst all players for most shots per game.

Semi-Professional

While in college, DiBisceglie doubled as a semi-professional central midfielder for the Electric City Shock SC in the National Premier Soccer League playing 21 matches during the Shock's 2015 and 2016 campaigns.

On March 14, 2015, DiBisceglie signed a contract with Electric City and opened his account that same evening with a goal against the Trenton Rebels in his first match with the Shock.

On May 22, 2016, DiBisceglie scored a goal and had two assists in the come-from-behind 4–3 overtime victory for Electric City over NPSL powerhouse, Junior Lonestar FC. In that match, his second assist at the 90th minute won the match for Electric City, while his 52nd-minute bending goal around the Lonestar keeper from 24 yards away was recognized as the Shock's 2016 Goal of the Year.

At the conclusion of the 2016 season, DiBisceglie finished tied for second on the team in goals scored and second in assists. As a result, he was nominated by Electric City to represent the NPSL's Northeastern Conference at the Los Angeles NPSL combine in January 2017. The nomination was made even though DiBisceglie missed the last three games of the NPSL season due to his transfer from the Shock in July to play professionally for FK Vítkovice in the Czech Republic National Football League.

Europe

DiBisceglie's first professional soccer experience occurred in Scotland as a trialist with Kilmarnock FC in the Scottish Premier League in 2011.[7][8] Arranged by former Welsh footballer and Swansea player, Glan Letheren, the trial became a success when Killie manager, Alan Robertson looked to sign DiBisceglie to a multi-year contract. Unfortunately the American was not able to obtain the required UK work-visa before the start of a Scottish Premier League season. But during the pre-season trial, DiBisceglie did get to play centre back for Kilmarnock, subbing on in the 35th minute of a match at Everton F.C. in England on August 6, 2011.[9] On August 11, 2011 DiBisceglie also anchored Killie's back four for the full 90 minutes in their 2–0 win over Grange. On August 15, 2011 he travelled with Kilmarnock for a match at Rangers F.C. before having to return to the US.

On July 4, 2016, DiBisceglie was offered a two-year professional contract from FK Vítkovice of the Czech Republic's National Football League. The team owner's offer was communicated through Glan Letheren and was based on DiBisceglie's CV. The 22-year-old flew to Vitkovice for training the next day. On July 9, 2016, he started and played the full match at centre back in Vítkovice's 2–0 win at Sigma Olomouc.[10] After difficult deliberations with Vitkovice manager (Roman West), DiBisceglie chose not to sign the Vitkovice contract in order to pursue other professional opportunities in the United States. Roman West had become the manager of Vitkovice on July 1, 2016, just four days before DiBisceglie arrived. West was sacked 64 days later by the Vitkovice owners on September 4, 2016.

America

On March 21, 2017, DiBisceglie signed a two-year professional soccer contract to play center back for the Philadelphia Atoms of the American Soccer League.[11][12][13][14] DiBisceglie debuted on April 9, 2017 when he started and played the full ASL match vs Mass United FC.

On June 10, 2017, DiBisceglie was awarded Veritas Man of the Match for his efforts v SGFC Maryland.[15]

On September 23, 2017, the Philadelphia Atoms set a team record with six goals in a single match in a 6–1 win over AFC Lancaster. The old team record was set when the Atoms defeated the Washington Diplomats 5–1 in the NASL on May 4, 1974. DiBisceglie's opened his professional account with the first professional goal of his career. This goal was also Philadelphia's record-breaking sixth goal in the 63rd minute of the match. Earlier in that same match, he also notched his first professional assist on the Atoms' opening goal in the 5th minute.

On October 12, 2017, DiBisceglie was elevated to player/Assistant Coach for Philadelphia by the Atoms' General Manager, Ike Onyeador.

On November 4, 2017, Philadelphia concluded their inaugural season in Boston where DiBisceglie set the team record with 1,440 minutes played for the Atoms. Team owner, Matt Driver, suspended operations of the Philadelphia Atoms in late 2018 due to financial difficulties. Driver subsequently folded the ASL in 2019, making DiBisceglie a free-agent.

Personal life

Tim was born in Denville, New Jersey to Bruce & Kathy DiBisceglie. His maternal grandfather, Joseph is of Irish descent, while his paternal grandfather, Domdi is Italian. The rest of his paternal ancestry is Austrian & Costa Rican (aka: "Austarican"[16]) and his remaining maternal ancestry is Swiss, German and French.

DiBisceglie was raised in Mine Hill Township, New Jersey with his elder sister Elizabeth. His father, mother and sister are all former soccer players. Tim is also nephew of harness racing driver Carl LeCause and cousin to New York Giants Super Bowl XXI offensive lineman Brad Benson.

Off the pitch, DiBisceglie coaches children with special needs and is a certified USSF referee.

Coaching

At the University of Scranton Tim majored in Early and Primary Childhood Education and minored in Coaching. In his off-season, DiBisceglie is a Special Education teacher and varsity soccer and basketball coach at Newmark High School in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.

On March 6, 2018, DiBisceglie was named head coach of the Gill St Bernard's boys JV soccer team and assistant coach for the boys varsity team, reuniting him with NJSIAA Hall of Fame coach, Tony Bednarsky.

On November 11, 2018, Gill St Bernard's defeated Rutgers Prep 7–0 for the New Jersey State Boys Soccer Championship with DiBisceglie on Bednarsky's staff as his assistant coach.[17]

DiBisceglie is the first athlete in history to win a NJSIAA state championship for Gill St Bernard's as a player (2009) and a coach (2018, 2019).

In 2019, with DiBisceglie as Assistant Coach for Bednarsky, Gill St Bernard began their pre-season in Portugal (3W-1D-1L), and then went on to win five championships titles: NJSIAA States, NJSIAA Sectionals, Somerset County (first in school history), Prep-B, and the Skyland-Raritan regular season Division. The Knights finished the 2019 campaign ranked #5 in all of NJ boys HS soccer with a 20–3 record and the five titles.[18] The Gill St Bernard coaching staff groomed their 2019 players to three All-State, five All-Section, and eight All-Conference honors.

References
  1. "St. Rose Falls in Finals". newspapers.com. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  2. "Tim DiBisceglie to attend Olympic Development Camp". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  3. "NJ All-Star Selections". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  4. "Four Nab Spots on All-Landmark Conference Men's Soccer Teams". athletics.scranton.edu. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  5. "Scranton Men's Soccer Shocks No. 6 E-Town; Collects First Landmark Title in 3-2 Triumph". landmarkconference.org. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  6. "Scranton Wins Second Men's Soccer Title". landmarkconference.org. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  7. "2011 Summer Transfer Window". forums.bigsoccer.com. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  8. "DiBisceglie On Trial With Scottish Soccer Club". newspapers.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  9. "2011 Everton vs Kilmarnock Match Report". grandoldteam.com. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  10. "American plays for Vítkovice". mfkv.cz. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  11. "DiBisceglie Signs Pro Contract With Philadelphia Atoms". jerseyunited.com. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  12. "Former Royal Playing Pro Soccer". scranton.edu. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  13. "Mine Hill's DiBisceglie turns soccer pro with one-year Atoms deal". newjerseyhills.com. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  14. "DiBisceglie finding his way in pro soccer". dailyrecord.c. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  15. "Where Are They Now: Tim DiBisceglie". electriccityshock.com. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  16. "He built his home with his bare hands". hudsonreporter.com. Retrieved May 1, 2007.
  17. "Gill St. Bernard's rolls past Rutgers Prep for 4th Non-Public B title". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  18. "NJ.com's boys soccer 2019 final Top 50 ranking". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
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