Joe Barroso

Joe Barroso began his new role on January 21, 2022 after serving 24 seasons as head coach for the Pioneers

During his tenure, he guided the Pioneers to their first NEC tournament appearance since 2011 a season ago. Barroso served as eight seasons as the head coach for women's soccer, leading them to an NEC title and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

He made an immediate impact on the SHU men's team in 2005, engineering the second biggest single-season turnaround in a conference history, leading the Pioneers to the playoffs for the first time ever in Division I. Barroso followed that up with another postseason appearance in 2007.

Barroso began his career helping lay the foundation of the women's soccer program at Sacred Heart serving as head coach from 1992-94. He amassed a record of 27-28-2 in those three years on sideline, receiving the regional Coach-of-the-Year award in 1994-95.

He is in his second stint at Sacred Heart after a five year hiatus in which he coached at the University of Bridgeport. He returned to help the Pioneers make the transition to Division I and guided the women's team to three straight Northeast Conference Tournaments. It was in 2001 that Barroso led the women's team to its first postseason tournament appearance where they enjoyed a magical run, capturing their first-ever Northeast Conference Crown and spot in the NCAA's. For his efforts Barroso was named Coach of the Year.

At the University of Bridgeport, Barroso was named the New England Collegiate Conference Coach-of-the-Year in 1997. He was 28-31-4 while coaching the women for four years. He also served as the head men's soccer coach for the Purple Knights from 1997-99.

Originally from Portugal, Barroso played at Southern Connecticut State University, where he was a member of that school's Division II National Championship squad in 1990 and is eighth on the Owls all-time scoring list with 99 points (41 goals, 58 assists). His 41 goals are sixth on that all-time list. He was chosen as one of the top-25 players in the country after his senior season at SCSU and picked to play in the Senior Bowl.

Barroso has played professionally both in Europe and the United States. He played for a First Division club in Portugal competing in the prestigious UEFA Cup and for both the Connecticut Wolves and the Boston Storm in the A-League of the USISL. Barroso was also a member of the United States National Team in 1990-'91.