The end of an era: Coach Mauro Ongaro retires from Humber soccer
ETOBICOKE – Humber women's soccer head coach Mauro Ongaro has announced his retirement after a distinguished career that spanned a quarter-century. Ongaro amassed a career record of 230-56-29, making him the all-time winningest coach in OCAA women's soccer history.
"Words cannot express how grateful and thankful I am for the opportunity to have worked for an amazing College and Athletic program for the past 25 years," said Coach Ongaro. "It has been an honour and a privilege to coach the women's soccer team. My time at Humber has been so special to me and I want to thank all the players, coaches, and staff that I have had the pleasure to work with and learn from over the years. The Hawk family has been an important part of my life that I will cherish forever."
Ongaro's many accolades are highlighted by three CCAA bronze medals – the most national podium finishes in the conference. His indoor and outdoor squads have captured 17 OCAA provincial titles and Ongaro retires with a conference postseason record of 53-20 (.726), capturing 23 OCAA tournament berths.
"On behalf of Hawks Nation, I would like to express my gratitude to Coach Ongaro for his 25-years as the leader of our women's soccer program," athletic director Ray Chateau stated. "Mauro Ongaro is synonymous with Humber women's soccer and the program's tremendous achievements over the last 25 years can be directly attributed to coach Ongaro's dedication, expertise and passion. He has made a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of student-athletes, and I wish him and his family all my best."
Team and individual success have gone hand in hand during Ongaro's tenure. Along with Vince Pileggi (1996-2018), the duo brought women's soccer to the Humber varsity lineup in 1996. He has coached two OCAA Players of the Year, including two-time recipient Keyla Moreno, three-time scoring champion Joanna Vitale, seven OCAA Division Rookies of the Year, and 60 All-Ontario selections.
Over a 14-season stretch (1999 to 2012), Ongaro elevated the Hawks to the top program in the province. All three CCAA bronze and all seven outdoor OCAA gold medals were captured during that span, while the Hawks accumulated an overall record of 142-14-18.
2011 was another historic year for the Hawks, finishing OCAA action with a perfect 11-0-0 record. The Hawks successfully defended their provincial crown with a thrilling victory over Algonquin in the OCAA final. After battling to a 1-1 draw, the gold medal was decided on penalty kicks. Still tied after five rounds, Natasha Kroon buried her shot to give Humber the win, resulting in one of the most iconic photos in program history. The penalty kick victory was also named one of Humber varsity's top-50 moments in 2017.
Coach Ongaro's replacement will be announced in the coming weeks.
