KANSAS CITY, Mo.–The NJIT men’s coaching staff has been named United Soccer Coaches Atlantic Region staff of the year, the organization announced Friday.

The coaching staff’s from the eight Division I regions will be recognized at the College Coaches Awards Reception at the United Soccer Coaches convention in Baltimore Jan. 16.

The United Soccer Coaches will announce the National Staff of the Year for all NCAA Divisions on Dec. 20.

Fernando Barboto, the ASUN conference coach of the year, along with assistant coaches Matthew Uy, Augi Freitas, director of soccer operations Evan Marques and volunteer coach Junior Anderson guided the Highlanders to their first NCAA appearance at the Division I level.

The squad became the first NJIT team to capture an ASUN tournament and regular season title since competing in the ASUN Conference (first season 2015-16).

NJIT tied the school-record for wins (10) in a season and ranked in the top 10 of the United Soccer Coaches Atlantic Region poll all season, with its highest ranking, week two at the No. 2 spot.

The Highlanders ranked 11th in the NCAA for total goals with 44, while 2019 ASUN Player of the Year Rene White sits tied for fourth at 17.

NJIT earned four major awards in the ASUN Conference: Barboto (coach of the year), White (player of the year), Alejandro Rabell (freshman of the year) and Samuel Reisgys (goalkeeper of the year).

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.