Davidson men’s soccer head coach Matt Spear announced Thursday the addition of Tony Falvino and Eric Reed to the Wildcats’ coaching staff. Falvino will be involved with all aspects of the program while Reed, the current Charlotte Eagles team captain and goalkeeper, will primarily prepare and develop the squad’s goalkeepers.

Falvino arrives at Davidson after serving as an assistant coach at Francis Marion for three seasons. He was previously the top assistant at High Point from 2006-08.

“I am very excited to be joining the Davidson College family,” said Falvino. “I am looking forward to working with Coach Spear and the team.”

Hailing from Johnsonville, New Zealand, Falvino was a member of the Under-17 and Under-20 New Zealand national teams. Falvino is fluent speaking Spanish as his father is a native of Italy and his mother a native of Spain. His parents both reside in New Zealand, where Tony and his parents moved as a child from Venezuela.

“Tony will be a wonderful addition to our program and community,” said Spear. “We welcome he and his wife Elizabeth to Davidson with open arms and full hearts. As a coach, he is a smart, focused learner, a creative, passionate teacher and an honest, loyal mentor. I am sure he will connect well with our players, and I believe he will expand the growth of our soccer program.”

He earned his undergraduate degree in sports and exercise studies from Greensboro College, where he was a four-time all-conference selection on the soccer field and three-year team captain.  He was named the USA South Conference Rookie of the Year in 2002 and later earned conference Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2005. He added a master’s degree in sports administration from Wingate in 2010.

“As an excellent player, Tony was a leader, a hard worker, and a diligent student,” said Spear.

Falvino has worked three years with the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association as an Olympic Development Program (ODP) scout and coach, and has coached with the Twin City Soccer Association in Winston Salem, the Greensboro Soccer Club, and the Carolina Dynamo.  He has been on summer camp staffs at Wake Forest, North Carolina, UNC Wilmington, Elon, and Roanoke College.  He has also worked one season with the South Carolina ODP program.

Reed is in his second season with the Charlotte Eagles of the USL Pro League and was a finalist for the USL PRO Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2011. He was goalkeeper coach for both the men’s and women’s soccer teams at the University of San Francisco in 2007 and has extensive experience coaching for various camps, schools and clubs.

“I am truly excited to begin working with the soccer program at Davidson,” said Reed. “Coach Spear is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. He has a great heart for his players and I look forward to learning a tremendous amount from him.  I also believe that we will have a very talented group for the fall, including some exceptional young goalkeepers that I am really excited to work with.

The Nashua, N.H. native was a member of the U.S. U-18 national team and attended UCLA, where he was a consistent starter in his final two seasons. As a junior, he earned first-team All-Pac-10 and third-team NSCAA/adidas All-Far West honors after leading the team to the 2005 Pac-10 title. He also earned shutouts in three of five NCAA tournament games during his senior season as the Bruins reached the NCAA finals in 2006.

“I have a strong passion for soccer and I can't wait to join the players and staff at Davidson to see what amazing things we can accomplish,” said Reed.

After graduating with a degree in religious studies in 2007, Reed was selected by the California Victory of the USL First Division, in the 2007 USL First Division College Player Draft. At the end of the 2007 USL-1 season, California Victory fans voted Reed as team MVP.

Reed transferred to USL Second Division outfit Cleveland City Stars, who he helped win the USL2 title in 2008. Reed joined the Carolina RailHawks for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

“Eric has a gushing enthusiasm for the sport, he continues to be an excellent player himself, and he truly inspires and connects with those around him,” said Spear. “His Charlotte Eagles’ coaches rank him as one of their best all-time leaders. He craves making a positive difference in people’s lives, and that is a core mission of coaching.”

Reed is active in the community, associated with Missionary Athletes International, Athletes in Action and Ambassadors in Sport.

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