Matt Hamilton made an instant impact as Nativity’s soccer coach.
Following multiple seasons of sub-.500 soccer, the Hilltoppers exploded for 12 wins, 53 goals and Schuylkill League and District 11 Class A playoff berths in 2014, the first season under Hamilton’s direction.
It was also the last.
Hamilton, the 2014 Republican-Herald Coach of the Year, confirmed Thursday he resigned as Nativity boys’ soccer coach. He and his wife are expecting their first child and decided to stay in Florida, where Hamilton spends his winters and has had new opportunities in soccer.
A follow-up report on Hamilton’s new endeavors should appear within a couple weeks.
The Hilltoppers finished 12-4-1 last season and exited both the Schuylkill League and District 11 Class A semifinals with overtime defeats to Blue Mountain and Schuylkill Haven, respectively.
“I’ve spoken to all the guys and I’m absolutely heartbroken I can’t be there, because last year was just one of the best times of my life,” Hamilton said in a phone interview Thursday. “I know how well they’re going to do this year, as well.”
During the 2011-13 seasons, Nativity went 15-24-1 overall, 11-21-1 in Schuylkill League Division II play.
The 2014 season started bleak, too, after a 5-2 loss to Tamaqua and a 4-0 loss to Schuylkill Haven. But the Hilltoppers put together a 10-0-1 run entering the postseason.
Cullen Hoppel, one of the side’s captains and center backs, was an All-Area first-team selection, and spark plug midfielder Alvaro Mendez was chosen to the second team.
Cristian Vazquez led the Hilltoppers with 13 goals and was picked as an All-Area honorable mention.
“They’ve got a ton of really great players and great guys coming back,” Hamilton said. “So I know that whoever takes over, the core of the team there is going to push that team forward. I really can’t wait to see all the things they can accomplish this year, as well.”
In addition to Vazquez and Mendez, Nativity should bring back goal-scoring forwards Ricardo Chagolla and Ernesto Tovar and goalkeeper Eric Nelson.
The biggest hit the side will take is in the back line, losing Hoppel, Sean Greco and foreign exchange student Yu Yamahara.
Nativity is a favorite to reach the playoffs again next season out of Division II with Schuylkill Haven, but the Hilltoppers will still have to contest with Tri-Valley and Williams Valley.
Hamilton, who also served as an assistant men’s soccer coach at Penn State Schuylkill, said he informed Nativity athletic director Fran Foster of his decision in late February or early March. But he also noted that it was the same day as one of Nativity’s boys’ basketball playoff games.
“I didn’t realize that was going on, but I also wanted to tell Fran as soon as possible,” Hamilton said. “Because I know that even before they found me, they were having trouble into July finding a coach. I wanted to make sure that they knew and that they were looking for somebody.”
The position was advertised in Wednesday’s Republican-Herald.