Michele Barletta was named assistant coach/goalkeeper coach with the Syracuse women’s soccer program in February 2026.

"I am thrilled to welcome Michele to our Syracuse soccer coaching staff,” said Syracuse head coach Nicky Thrasher Adams. “Michele develops high-level goalkeepers and will also provide our players with a deep understanding of the defensive side of the game. He is passionate and energetic and will bring immediate value to our student-athletes."

Barletta spent the past season at Youngstown after his hiring as an assistant coach. He was promoted to associate head coach in December.

With the Penguin program, Barletta was responsible for all goalkeeper practices and film sessions. He was responsible for opposition scouting, on-field practices, player development and recruitment. Goalkeeper Maya Naimoli earned third team All-Horizon League.

Barletta was a graduate assistant and goalkeeper coach in men’s and women’s soccer at Quincy (Ill.). He guided two goalkeepers who led the Great Lakes Valley Conference in total saves – George Roke and Julia Mincher. Roke also finished fourth in NCAA Division II in total saves. He also was also the women’s interim head coach for two games and guided the Hawks to a 1-0-1 record during his tenure.

During the summer of 2023, Barletta served an assistant and goalkeeper coach for the Erie Commodores men (NPSL) and women (UWS). He was the assistant coach for the Quincy Rush College Prep U17 and U19 in 2023 and the head coach in 2024.

Barletta was a 2022 All-Great American Conference (GAC) goalkeeper at Southern Nazarene. He was named to the GAC/MIAA All-Tournament Team, earned Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Central Region Second Team, and was selected GAC Soccer Athlete of the Year. Southern Nazarene won the GAC regular-season title, the conference championship, and received an NCAA Division II Tournament berth.

He played soccer at Quincy from 2018-21. Barletta posted a 10-6-2 overall record in 23 matches during that time. He earned a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism and broadcasting, and received a master’s in business administration, both from Quincy.

A native of South Africa, Barletta was a product of the Bidvest Wits and Mpumalanga Black Aces Youth Academy, and earned a spot in the Premier Soccer Reserve League at the age of 16.

Barletta holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National D License, a United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeping Level 1 License and a United Soccer Coaches Analyzing Goalkeeping Performance diploma. He is enrolled in the USSF C License program.

Name	Title	Email
Nicky Thrasher Adams	Head Coach	nmadams@syr.edu
Brian Dunleavy	Associate Head Coach	bcdunlea@syr.edu
Michele Barletta	Assistant Coach / Goalkeeper Coach	mbarlett@syr.edu

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