THOMASVILLE, Ga. – Thomas University Athletic Director Jessica Sanders has announced Sergio Rapuano as the next head women's soccer coach.
Rapuano brings more than 25 years of collegiate, professional, and international coaching experience to the Night Hawks women's soccer program. He joins TU after a distinguished career that spans NCAA Division I and II, NJCAA, national team appointments, MLS and GA level youth development, and leadership roles across elite soccer organizations.
His coaching background includes extensive goalkeeper and team development, tactical periodization, international recruitment, and program-wide operational leadership. Rapuano's coaching influence extends well beyond the college game, with many of his former players advancing to professional careers around the world.
Most recently, Rapuano served as Assistant Men's Soccer Coach at Florida Southern College, where he planned and ran daily training sessions, conducted opposition analysis, and evaluated personnel based on tactical needs and performance indicators. His role also included academic monitoring and transfer evaluation to support student-athlete success.
Rapuano has held long-standing leadership roles with West Florida Flames Soccer Club, serving as Goalkeeping Director, MLS and GA Staff Coach, and Coordinator of College Athletic Recruitment. There, he implemented goalkeeper-specific training programs, developed periodized curriculum, and built a robust college placement pathway for aspiring student-athletes.
Internationally, Rapuano brings experience as an assistant coach for both the United States Virgin Islands Men's and Women's National Teams, contributing to World Cup Qualifiers, Olympic Qualifiers, and CONCACAF Nations League competition. His responsibilities included tactical game planning, film analysis, and implementing recovery protocols to ensure peak performance.
Rapuano's collegiate résumé includes impactful coaching roles at Columbia University, Longwood University, Broward College, and others—where he led training design, recruitment strategy, and major fundraising initiatives. At Longwood, he secured the single largest donation in program history within two weeks of hire.
Beyond the college game, Rapuano has directed operations for major youth clubs, managed national-scale tournaments, and coordinated media and event logistics for international teams including Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Olympique Lyonnais.
Rapuano holds a UEFA B License, Italian B Coaching Badge, USSF Goalkeeping License, and USSF National C License, complementing his Bachelor of Applied Science from St. Petersburg College and associate degree from Southern Connecticut State University.
Off the field, Rapuano is the proud father of four and lives locally with his wife and their three dogs.
