Southern Connecticut State University Athletics

Samuel Lopes is in his seventh season as the lead assistant coach with the Southern Connecticut State University women’s soccer program. 

In this role, Lopes directly works with head coach Adam Cohen on all matters pertaining to the program, including but not limited to: on-field instruction, scouting, recruiting, player development and student-athlete academic monitoring. Lopes also works extensively with the program’s external relations efforts. 

Prior to joining the Owls, Lopes spent three seasons as an assistant women’s soccer coach at St. Joseph’s College in West Hartford, Conn. 

Lopes played collegiately at Quinnipiac University for four years (1998-2001). While with the Bobcats, he helped the club qualify for the Northeast Conference Tournament on two occasions. 

Following his collegiate career, Lopes played for four different professional soccer clubs. In 2001, Lopes was a member of the Connecticut Wolves of the USL Professional Soccer League, and also a member of the Massachusetts Twisters of the American Indoor Soccer League. 

In 2002, he played for the West Chester Flames in New Rochelle, N.Y., and the Connecticut Academica FC of the Premier Arena Soccer League, a team that he finished playing with in 2003. 

Lopes earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Quinnipiac. 

He is also the managing partner of Academica Futebol Club, a division of Collegiate Soccer System, LLC. Lopes is AFC’s director of coaching and player development of its premier club, which consists of youth teams from ages U10-U19. 

He has also served as an assistant coach with the New England Mutiny of the WPSL. The Mutiny have qualified for the ‘Final Four’ in each of the past two seasons. 

Lopes also holds an advanced national diploma from the NSCAA and a USSF B License. 

A native of North Dartmouth, Mass., he currently resides in New Haven, Conn.