Nor'easters head coach Kevin Nuss announces 2022 coaching staff
Matt Perrella, who replaced Nuss at Camden College, joins current Indian Hills assistant Alexis Arriaga on technical staff
Ocean City Nor'easters head coach Kevin Nuss has already begun recruiting players for the upcoming 2022 USL League Two season, and now he has some help.
The Nor'easters are proud to welcome Coach Nuss' coaching staff for the upcoming campaign: Current Camden County College (NJ) head coach Matt Perrella, and current Indian Hills Community College (IA) men's soccer assistant Alexis Arriaga.
Both coaches have worked directly with Nuss, which will help create a shared vision as the team works to bring a championship trophy home to Ocean City, N.J., America's Greatest Family Resort.
"We are pleased with the 2022 coaching staff," said Nor'easters sporting director Tim Oswald. "Coach Nuss has worked with the club in so many roles over the years and understands what it takes to not only win, but identify talented players who have the ability to play at the next level with high-end character. I have no doubt he will be successful with this crew and we look forward to excellence on the field and in the community."
MORE: Kevin Nuss to return as Nor'easters head coach, Alan McCann steps down
Matt Perrella reunites with Nuss after working as his assistant at the Camden County College men's soccer program during the 2020 season. Perrella, who specializes in goalkeeper training, helped lead the Cougars to an 11-2-1 record and a run all the way to the NJCAA national championship game this past spring. When Nuss was named the head coach of Indian Hills Community College (IA) this past spring, Perrella was the natural choice as his replacement as head coach at Camden County College. Perella has continued the Cougars' momentum into the 2021 fall season, finishing with a 12-1-2 regular season record and will play in the regional tournament this weekend.
This will be Perella's second season with the Nor'easters, having worked as Nuss' assistant coach during the 2019 USL League Two season.
Perrella previously worked as an assistant coach of the women’s soccer program at Drexel University and brings professional playing experience to the Nor’easters coaching staff. The North Brunswick, NJ native played professionally in both indoor (Harrisburg Heat, Syracuse Silver Knights) and outdoor soccer (Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Jacksonville Armada, Bethlehem Steel, North Carolina FC) during his playing career that began in England back in 2014 where he played for the Newcastle United reserves team.
Perrella played his college ball at Rider University where he was a four-year starter and a three-year captain.
Perrella will hope to add to the tradition of elite level goalkeepers with the Nor’easters. Since 2010, the Nor’easters have had 14 former goalkeepers sign with professional teams.
“I look forward to working together with Matt again," said Nuss. "He has a good understanding of me, how I work and what I am looking for in the team. He provides the staff with a great balance to my approach.“
The other assistant on the 2022 USL League Two coaching staff is Alexis Arriaga. Since Nuss arrived on campus in July, Arriaga has been an assistant with the Indian Hills Community College program.
Arriaga, a native of Moctezuma, San Luis, Mexico, has brought a lot of local coaching experience to Nuss' program at IHCC and to the sidelines in Ocean City. He served as a graduate assistant for the Iowa Lakes men's soccer program in Estherville, IA where he helped head coach Ben MacRae lead the Lakers to its most successful season in school history. In the spring, Iowa Lakes had a 12-5-1 record and finished in third place at the NJCAA national tournament.
Arriaga played four years of college soccer at Auburn University at Montgomery where he played in 67 career games, scoring seven goals and dishing out two assists. In addition to his performance on the field, he also performed well off the field, making the Dean's List all four years.
“Alexis is an intelligent, young coach with a great work ethic and very bright future," said Nuss. "He shares my vision of how the game should be played but he has his own voice, which I greatly appreciate as an assistant.”
The 2022 campaign will mark the Nor'easters' 25th season as a franchise (the last 19 in USL League Two). The season will begin in May with the club playing their home games at Carey Stadium (“The Beach House”) in Ocean City, N.J.