Head Coach Kyle Dezotell embarks on his 10th season at the helm of the Norwich men’s soccer program in 2015. He became the winningest coach in NU men's soccer history in 2012, breaking Bob Friskie's old record with a 2-0 victory over Emmanuel on Oct. 3. for his 90th career win. Overall, he has compiled an impressive career record of 119-55-17.
The 2013 season saw the Cadets post their best winning percentage since 2008 after finishing the year with a 12-5-4 mark. Norwich also qualified for the ECAC New England Tournament for the third straight season. During Dezotell's NU tenure, the Cadets are the only team to reach atleast the GNAC semifinal round in all nine seasons.
Dezotell has won three GNAC Coach of the Year awards with the latest coming in 2012. Under his tutelage seven players have earned major GNAC awards with Christian Albrecht (Defensive POTY 2014), Ryan Campbell (Defensive POTY 2013, 2011), Rob Harlow (MVP 2007), Ryan Boyton (Offensive POTY 2008), Jason Grupp (Defensive POTY 2008), Roger Motaze (Rookie of the Year 2007).
Dezotell began his coaching career in 2003 as the assistant coach at Saint Michael’s College. The following year in 2004 he was named head coach of the Johnson State College Badgers, a squad he ended up coaching to the NAC Regular Season Championship in 2005 and earned the 10th spot as “Most Improved Team” in NCAA Division III. That year, Dezotell was named NAC’s “Coach of the Year”.
In 2006, he found his way to Norwich and became the ninth head coach in the 55-year history of the men's soccer program.
In his inaugural season, Dezotell coached the Cadets to a 13-7-1 record and into the ECAC New England Tournament semifinals. The following year, NU finished at 19-3-1 and won the GNAC Regular Season title, setting precedent as the first Norwich University athletic team to ever win an ECAC New England Championship. He earned his first GNAC “Coach of the Year” in 2007 and then repeated in 2008 after guiding the Cadets to their first GNAC Tournament title since 2001.
The coach’s soccer resume stands out as early as ninth grade, where at North Country Union High School, Dezotell’s name still stands as the career record holder in goals, assists, and points, in addition to holding the single season and career Vermont Division-I High School goals record. He was a four-time All-Metro Conference athlete and three-time All-State performer. Dezotell also earned Vermont Gatorade “Player of the Year” and NSCAA All-America. In 1998, he led his team to the Vermont State Championship.
Dezotell received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College in 2003 and also holds an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. Dezotell played to an impressive level in his four years with the Panthers men’s soccer team and still stands as the career record holder in goals, assists and points at the College. In 1999, the team captured the ECAC New England Championship and won the inaugural NESCAC Men’s Soccer Championship two seasons later. While at Middlebury, Dezotell was named to the All-NESCAC and All-New England teams, while still finding time to compete on the Division-I Nordic Ski Team for three seasons.
After college, Dezotell played three seasons with the semi-professional Vermont Voltage. In 2003, his team advanced to the Final Eight of the PDL National Championships.
Dezotell serves as the Director of Coaching for Far Post Soccer Club and has coached previous seasons for Vermont’s Olympic Development Program.
