Head Coach Dave Bontempo

Coach Dave Bontempo holds a National Coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation and is a former referee who officiated at the high school and collegiate levels. He arrived on the GMC campus in the fall of 2003 along with 14 new freshmen and a strong desire to build a winning program. He comes from the highly regarded Philadelphia Catholic League where he coached at two high schools for a total of 28 years.

In his first season at Gwynedd, the team posted a 2-16 record, in 2004 improved to 7-10-1 and in 2005 set the school record for most wins in a season finishing with a record of 10-6-2. In that third year, the team set records for most overall wins, most conference wins, most goals scored and fewest goals allowed. Over the last three years the program has strengthened their schedule and has traveled far and wide to play the region’s top Division III teams. In addition to the progress on the field, Gwynedd Men’s soccer has a special relationship with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation and has adopted a special team member. Luke Ronco is 10 years old and has been battling a brain tumor for 7 years. Luke and his family are frequent visitors to campus and can be seen at practices, tossing the coin before games and having dinner with the team. The players also act as guest coaches and trainers for special needs children with Autism at Lighthouse TOP Soccer Foundation.

Coach Bontempo was a three-year varsity starter and an All-league forward at Archbishop Ryan High School, one of the top programs in the State of Pennsylvania. In May of 2009 he was elected to the Ryan Soccer Hall of Fame and will be inducted at a special dinner in November. After an injury cut short his playing career at LaSalle University he turned to coaching. In 1976 he began coaching at Ryan as an Assistant Coach. During his 15 years at Ryan they won the Catholic League Championship 8 times, including 6 in a row. The team set a National High School record of consecutive wins, 119 straight games without a loss over a six-year period and were ranked 4th in the country.

From 1991 to 2002 he was the Varsity Head Coach at Father Judge High School and led his team to the playoffs in five consecutive seasons and was voted Philadelphia High School Coach of the Year.

During his coaching years, Bontempo helped produce countless all league and all state players, including five College All Americans and the Philadelphia Soccer 7 College Player of the Year. Six former players have or are playing professionally and many others have gone on to coach at the high school and collegiate level. Dave is very proud of the fact that 4 former players are now college head coaches and 3 are college assistants. Two of his former players are currently playing in the MLS and one was a member of the 2006 US World Cup squad.

Over the years he coached various youth teams and won League and State Championships and from 1991 to 2000 he served as a select coach for the UJSL and his team won three state championships.

Bontempo served as a Staff Coach for the Eastern PA Youth Soccer Association for 10 years and was an instructor for the State-level Coaching License courses. Dave has twice served as the head coach of the Philadelphia Region for the Keystone State Games and his team won two Gold medals.

Dave lives in Southampton, Pa. with his wife Mary who is a writer and three children, David ( a graduate of Gwynedd Mercy) , Laura ( a graduate of West Chester University ) and Megan ( currently enrolled at West Chester University).

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