EuroSports Staff
Nino Pilato Rochester, NY
Tour Director and Head Coach
Rochester, NY
Coach Pilato is currently the Head Varsity Women’s coach at Hilton High School. He previously coached at McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, NY. Over his 6 seasons at McQuaid, he compiled a record of 90-7-4, with 3 Section V titles and 2 NY State Championship appearances with a championship in 2017. For the previous 17 years, he was the Girls’ Varsity Head Coach at Odyssey Academy in Greece, having Won Sectional Titles 8 times, in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. His teams have made four trips to the State Finals, winning it all in 2012. His dedication to his player’s overall development has been rewarded by his being selected as coach of the year in Monroe County Division III 6 times, Section V Class AA, CC once, CCC once and Class B 3 times, and Section V All-Greater Rochester Coach of the Year in 2005, 2012 and 2017. He was a four-year college starter and an All-American sweeper at Canisius College. After his college career ended, he played four years of professional soccer both in Europe and the USA. Deciding it was time to settle down, he began his teaching career as a physical education instructor in the Rochester City School District. He is married and has two children.
Bill Rich
Vestal, New York
Tour Director and Head Coach
Vestal, NY
Bill Rich / EuroSports Network – Vestal, New York Coach of the National Championship Team SUNY Broome Community College for 2007, 2008, and 2016. National Soccer Coach of the Year 2007! Bill Rich has been the Head Women’s Soccer coach at Broome Community College since 1997-2022, where his teams have recorded a 353-88-14 record, 15 MSAC Conference Championships, 5 Regional Championships, and 3 National Championships! Coach Rich’s teams have also produced 34 All-Americans in the last 25 years, plus numerous All-Region Players and many All-Conference Players, including the National Player of the Year in 2007. Coach Rich was awarded our Nation’s highest Soccer Award “NJCAA National Coach of the Year, in 2007.” For the better part of his life, Bill has been training and coaching teams with great success. Recently he has been awarded Conference “Coach of the Year, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016, 2019, and 2021 Regional “Coach of the Year” 1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2018 and 2022. He has also been a New York State West ODP State Coach for U17 girls for four years and a Binghamton District ODP Coach for seven years. Before becoming Head Coach at SUNY Broome, he coached in the Vestal High School System for seven years. He holds an NSCAA Regional Diploma, an NSCAA National Diploma, and a USSF “C” Lifetime license. Bill has been a EuroSports representative and has traveled to Europe with his Section IV teams for the past 30 years. Bill was inducted into the “Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame” in April 2023 and into the National Junior College Coaches Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2024.
Mike Balducci
The Founder of EuroSports Network
Mike Balducci was the head Varsity soccer coach at Greece Arcadia and at Greece Athena High School in Rochester, NY. During his years in Greece, his teams won 12 league titles. Coach Balducci compiled a record of 274-52-43, winning seven Section V titles, four trips to the state finals with two state championships. And with his roots originating in Italy, Mike Balducci knows the ins and outs of Europe and European soccer. The All County Soccer Team program started in 1987. Each year Mike has sent many young athletes to Europe, in close cooperation with European Soccer Foundations and Soccer Clubs. Coach Balducci is a Member of Section V Soccer Hall of Fame and the New York State Hall of Fame.
Our Commitment
Our tours offer an exceptional blend of cultural exploration and athletic development, providing a truly “Once in a Lifetime” experience. Beyond honing your soccer skills against some of Europe’s top talent, you will create lasting memories to share with family and friends. Engage with local communities, form new friendships with your hosts, and witness iconic landmarks you’ve only seen in photographs. Our tours feature excellent training with top local coaches, ensuring your European matches are as enriching as they are competitive. Explore our gallery and tour descriptions to discover what awaits you on your European Soccer Tour!