The Ocean City Nor'easters' first-year head coach Matt Perrella is bringing a talented team of coaches to help bring a USL League Two championship to the Beach House in Ocean City, N.J., America's Greatest Family Resort.

Perrella is taking over the head coaching job after serving as an assistant in two of the past three seasons with the Nor'easters. Both seasons were under head coach Kevin Nuss, who was recently hired as an assistant coach with USL League One team Union Omaha. In those two seasons, Perrella primarily served as the first assistant and goalkeeper coach, helping Felix Schafer win the USL League Two Golden Glove as the league's top goalkeeper. In those two seasons (2019, 2022), the team had an overall record of 17-3-8 record, including last year where the club completed an historic undefeated season (11-0-3).

The North Brunswick, N.J. native has already begun his Ocean City head coaching career with a win over West Chester United in the opening game of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in March. The team's Open Cup run would end on the road against pro side Maryland Bobcats (NISA) 3-2 in extra time. Matt brings a lot of experience up and down the soccer landscape from youth to international coaching. As a player Matt spent time in England with Newcastle United before returning to the United States where he played his college ball at Rider University where he was a four-year starter and a three-year captain. He also played professionally in both indoor (Harrisburg Heat, Syracuse Silver Knights) and outdoor soccer (Sporting KC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Jacksonville Armada, North Carolina FC and Philadelphia Union affiliate Bethlehem Steel). Currently, Perrella leads Camden County College in Blackwood N.J., a program that has been in the top 8 nationally in the NJCAA since 2013.

In order to continue the momentum from last season's undefeated campaign, Perrella is bringing in an exceptional coaching staff to Ocean City:

Alexis Arriaga

Alexis is a native of Moctezuma, San Luis, Mexico is entering his second season as an assistant coach for the Nor’easters after helping the club during its undefeated season (11-0-3) in 2022. Arriaga is currently working at Iowa Western Community College where he began in February of this year. Previously, 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. Last spring, Iowa Lakes had a 12-5-1 record and finished in third place at the NJCAA national tournament. He also served as an assistant under former Nor'easters head coach Kevin Nuss at Indian Hills Community College. Alexis played four years of college soccer at Auburn University at Montgomery.

Cam Christine

Cam returns for his second season with the Nor'easters. A native of Woodbridge N.J., Christine was recently featured in EDP’s Under-30 most promising coaches. Currently Cam is an assistant under Coach Perrella at Camden County College. In addition, Cam leads youth players in the Washington United program near Cherry Hill, N.J. as well as working closely to new Ocean City partner club Oaklyn United (Eastern Premier Soccer League), who have aligned with the Nor'easters to offer high level, year round men's soccer.

Bobby Diaz

Bobby is a former five-year goalkeeper in the very competitive Atlantic-10 Conference from St. Bonaventure University. Following his collegiate career Bobby moved to Spain where he helped Publijaime (Jaraíz de la Vera) win promotion to their Regional Third Division. Moving to Málaga the following year he played for an affiliate club of El Palo Fútbol Club (Tercera División) while making a few friendly appearances for the first team. Bobby’s Spanish soccer career came to a close after moving to play for Unión Estepona Club de Fútbol (División de Honor). Diaz reunites with Perrella as the two were previously teammates in the academy system at the Under-17 / Under-18 age group. Bobby's main responsibility will be to work with the Nor'easters' goalkeepers.

Ty O'Connor

Ty is currently an assistant coach / recruiting coordinator at NCAA Division One program Utah Valley University. There he works with head coach and former U.S. international Kyle Beckerman. Prior to UVU, he spent one season as the head coach at Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado, where he led the Rattlers to a 9-6-2 mark in 2022. Prior to Otero, O'Connor was the first assistant coach at Salt Lake CC, where he helped guide the Bruins to consecutive NJCAA Final Four appearances and a National Title in the 2020-21 season. Before SLCC, O'Connor helped establish the men's soccer program at Lincoln Trail College in Illinois. O'Connor's former coaching experience includes Granger High School in West Valley, Utah; Salt Lake City Football Club, Pateadores Soccer Club in Huntington Beach, CA; and Corona Del Mar High School in Corona del Mar, CA. O'Connor played collegiately for Concordia University of Irvine (2017-18), with prior stops at BYU-Hawaii (2014) and Orange Coast College (2015). As a player, he was named to the PacWest All-Conference team and was named CCCAA Defensive Player of the Year. O'Connor received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 2019 and completed a Master's degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration in 2022, both from CUI.

Francesco Torino

Francesco was born in Rome, Italy, but grew up in Rutherford, N.J. He now calls Ocean City home and is looking forward to his first season as a coach with the Nor'easters after previously coaching at BW Gottschee Soccer Club out of Weehawken N.J. He led the Boys Under-16 team. Francesco currently serves as a Business Education Teacher and the head coach of the Cedar Creek High School boys soccer team. He was recently named The Press of Atlantic City "Coach of the Year" award in his first year.

Nico Tramontana

Tramontana, a Vineland, N.J. native, but currently is a year-round Ocean City resident, was a member of the South Jersey Barons / Ocean City Barons youth academy. Also as a youth player, he was part of multiple US National Team events. Nico went on to be a four-year starter at Rider University, where he captained the team for two years. He led the Broncs in scoring for three seasons, was a two-time team MVP and was an all-conference selection. Nico's final steps as a player included stints signing to New York City FC at the USL level and then with Sporting Kansas City as a discovery player. Nico recently suited up for the Nor'easters in the US Open Cup where he was the captain for the team's First Round win over West Chester United. He joins the staff where he will assist his former college teammate Matt Perrella.