Photo Courtesy of Susquehanna Athletics
By Abrielle Tutino
When Angela Amato graduated from Susquehanna University in 2024, she already knew her future would stay tied to the sport that shaped her college years.
Now, just a year later, Amato is stepping into her first season as the head women’s soccer coach at Goucher College, marking a major milestone in a career that began on the same fields she once played on as a River Hawk.
Amato’s return to Susquehanna as an assistant coach, following a standout playing career, was the first hint that she had the leadership qualities to take her career further. Her promotion to a head coaching role at Goucher shows just how quickly she has risen.
Amato joined Susquehanna’s coaching staff in 2022 and made an instant impact. Working under head coach Nick Hoover, she helped develop a defensive unit that became one of the most disciplined in the Landmark Conference. During her time as a Susquehanna coach, the women’s soccer program earned shutout streaks, postseason appearances, and many individual player honors.
As a former two-year captain and defensive player during her own playing career, Amato knew exactly what it meant to lead from within. That experience translated naturally into her coaching style of being steady, composed and relentlessly committed to player growth.
“I had a really unique experience at Susquehanna,” said Amato. “I was not recruited to the program, but the head coach at the time allowed me to try out for the team. At the end of the preseason, she offered me a spot on the team, and that’s a conversation I will never forget.”
Her time at Susquehanna was more than just a job or athletic experience. It was where she learned how to build qualities and strengths that she would utilize as a coach, how to empathize with other’s experiences, and how to build a culture that supports both individual and team goals.
Hoover, who coached Amato both as a player and later worked alongside her, saw her potential early.
Coach Hoover stated, “During her time as a player at Susquehanna, Angela was one of the hardest working players I have ever coached. Her dedication was evident from the very first day and each season her voice got bigger, along with her ability to be a leader and captain.”
Amato’s impact on the soccer program didn’t end there.
“When Angela joined Susquehanna as a coach, it was immediately apparent she had all the players’ respect,” stated Hoover. “Between how much effort she put into training every day, to her scouting reports, to breaking down film, she showed a natural ability to work with and coach college athletes.”
In July 2025, Goucher College announced that Amato would take over as the new head coach for the Gophers women’s soccer team. For Amato, it was both an exciting challenge and a chance to apply the lessons she learned at Susquehanna in an environment where she can shape the program from the ground up.
Amato was hired by Stephanie Johnson, who was formerly associate athletic director at SU.
In her first months at Goucher, she has focused on establishing a structure with consistent training habits, an emphasis on accountability, and a style of play that mirrors her own approach to the game based off organization, discipline and defensive strength.
Amato’s coaching strategy blends empathy with expectation. She understands the Division III lifestyle because she lived it. She knows what it’s like to balance a demanding course load with the constant grind of practices, travel and competition.
“Coach Hoover always talks about character when speaking with prospective student- athletes. When we invite players to be part of a culture that demonstrates high character as part of the value system, it establishes a baseline for the group of how we want to treat ourselves and others,” explains Amato. “Holding character as a high value is something that I try to emulate in shaping our team culture here at Goucher.”
Amato brought aspects of Susquehanna’s culture, taught by Coach Hoover, with her to Goucher. At Susquehanna, she learned how to build relationships that make players want to work for one another. At Goucher, she wants to replicate that same sense of belonging, accountability and pride.
Though still in her first year, Amato’s impact is already noticeable.
Hoover said, “What makes Angela such a great coach for Goucher College is her willingness to work as hard as anyone I know and her ability to connect with people. The program she has now is already better than the program she took over, and it has only been a couple of months.”
For Amato, the long-term goal goes beyond wins and losses. She wants Goucher to become a program known not just for competitive soccer, but for the holistic development of its athletes.
Her vision includes attracting recruits who are competitive, academically driven and eager to be part of a program that is still rising. She wants to leave a legacy built on culture, character and a love of the game.
Amato explained, “Here at Goucher we are focusing on becoming a more competitive presence in the Landmark Conference. While we have a long path forward, we have a legacy of being a scrappy, hardworking program. I want players to look back at their season(s) and to still love the game, love their teammates, and want to come back for more.”
Angela Amato’s journey from a Susquehanna women’s soccer player to Susquehanna assistant coach, to first-year head coach at Goucher reflects her drive, leadership and deep connection to the sport. She is building something new, but she isn’t doing it alone. She is carrying with her the lessons learned at Susquehanna, the mentorship of coaches like Nick Hoover, and the competitive mindset honed over years of dedication.
And now, with a new program in her hands, she has the chance to shape a future that reflects everything she values: hard work, trust, community and the belief that young women can thrive when they’re pushed, supported and inspired.