St. Louis native Vince Gentile, who joined the SLU women's soccer staff in the spring of 2013, is in his fourth season as a Billiken assistant coach.
In 2015, Gentile helped guide Saint Louis to one of its most successful defensive performances in recent years. The Billikens posted a 1.07 goals against average in all games and a 0.95 GAA in 10 conference contests. In fact, only one Atlantic 10 opponent scored more than one goal against Saint Louis.
The 2014 Billikens won eight games, an increase of two victories over the previous season. The squad was highly competitive against the A-10's best, falling by just one goal to NCAA Championship qualifiers Dayton (overtime) and La Salle. Gentile also helped the SLU offense become more prolific; the Billikens tallied 31 goals and 31 assists, a significant increase over their 2013 totals of 19 goals and 15 assists. Several players established career scoring highs.
In his first campaign on the sideline, Gentile helped lead Saint Louis to a second-place tie in the 2013 Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season standings, an improvement of 10 spots from the previous year. The Billikens, who were 5-2-1 in conference play, qualified for the A-10 Championship for the first time since 2009. In addition, four players earned A-10 postseason accolades, the most since 2009.
“Vince is an excellent member of our staff,” head coach Katie Shields said. “He has an infectious passion for the game, a tireless work ethic and a great soccer mind that our players benefit from on a daily basis.
“Vince is incredibly well connected within the St. Louis soccer community and top clubs throughout the country,” Shields said. “He is committed to re-establishing SLU women’s soccer as a championship-level program, and he is instrumental in our recruiting efforts to attract the top youth players to Saint Louis University.”
“I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the Saint Louis University women’s soccer program,” Gentile said. “I am thrilled and honored to be a member of coach Shields’ staff. Her vision is to return Billiken women’s soccer to the top 25 nationally. I share her vision and am committed to working with her to accomplish this.”
Gentile has served as a girls’ senior staff coach for St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC since 2008, and he also has filled administrative roles with the club. He has been SLSG’s 96/97 Elite ECNL girls’ head coach since 2007 and the 97/98 Elite ECNL girls’ head coach since 2011.
Gentile’s other coaching assignments with SLSG include stints as 94/95 Premier girls’ head coach (2009-11), 89/90 Blue boys’ head coach and trainer (2002-06), and 89/90 girls’ assistant coach and trainer (2005-09). The 89/90 girls’ team won a national title and was a three-time regional finalist.
From 2004-10, Gentile was the staff and program director for Total Soccer Training Academy in St. Louis. He was an assistant boys’ varsity coach at Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School (MICDS) from 2004-06.
In 2009, Gentile was commissioned by SLSG to establish the Premier League (formerly GSLS League), which he oversees. Under his guidance, the Premier League, which serves as a primary development tool for SLSG and the local soccer community, has expanded from 45 teams at its inception to more than 200 teams.
Gentile spent four years (2008-11) overseeing SLSG’s player registration program, and he served a two-year term (2010-11) as state registrar for the Missouri Youth Soccer Association.
Prior to attending the University of Notre Dame, Gentile was a three-year letterman at St. Louis’ Christian Brothers College High School Prep. He served as co-captain and helped lead CBC to a state title in 1988.
Gentile was a member of the Region II Olympic Development Program team from 1986-88 and was in the Youth National Pool. He enjoyed success with the Busch Soccer Club, competing for the 1987 national runner-up and playing on teams that captured two regional titles and three state crowns.
Gentile is a 1994 graduate of Notre Dame, earning a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics. He holds a U.S. Soccer Federation “A” coaching license and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Premier Diploma.
Gentile’s father, Carl, played three seasons at Saint Louis and was a member of the Billikens’ 1963 and 1965 national championship teams.
