Old Westbury, N.Y. — Karim Diallo has been promoted to head coach, director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation Dan Vélez announced Friday.
Diallo had been an NYIT women's soccer assistant coach for the past two seasons after previously serving in that role for eight years in the East Coast Conference with now-defunct Dowling College.
Diallo had been acting as interim head coach with NYIT since the departure of Rachel Reeves for Sacred Heart in November.
"Coach Diallo is a high-energy leader committed to being a part of our university and the surrounding area," Vélez said. "He has a tremendous soccer pedigree and a strong track record of recruiting, developing and mentoring high-quality student-athletes. His relentless work ethic, passion for the game and clear vision of how to build a program capable of competing at the highest levels in the East Coast Conference and on the national stage are impressive. I look forward to our student-athletes, fans, donors and all of the NYIT family getting to know Coach Diallo and watching this program flourish under his direction."
Under Diallo's tutelage, the women's soccer team had a breakthrough season in 2017. The Bears produced a 9-7 record — the third winning season in program history. The Bears also came within one point of earning a postseason berth for the first time in program history.
"First of all, I want to thank Dan and the entire department for trusting me to lead the program," Diallo said. "It's a very humbling experience. I'm very excited. I'm looking forward to the challenge of leading this program and making it as far as we can into the NCAAs."
The current members of the team strongly endorsed Diallo to ascend to the lead role on a permanent basis.
"It's very good for the program. Everybody loves him," said Elise Brune, a senior midfielder this past season. "He's very organized. He knows how to run practices. He knows us as a team."
Diallo, a native of Guinea in West Africa, came to the United States to play soccer collegiately at Dowling. His squad won three conference titles during his playing tenure with the school (1998, 2000 and 2001).
Diallo went on to play one season professionally with the Long Island Rough Riders, where he was named national Co-Defensive Player of the Year and won a Premier Development League title.
Diallo then served as an assistant coach with the Dowling men for six seasons before switching to the women's squad in that role.
He has a bachelor's degree in political science and master's degree in adolescence education from Dowling.
Diallo also serves as a youth trainer and coach with the East Islip and Massapequa soccer clubs and the Long Island Junior Soccer development program.
Provided by the NYIT Sports Information Department.
