A graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham in 2001, Dr. Joseph Vespignani completed a B.A. in Spanish and Master of Arts in Teaching in the QUEST Program. He went on to earn a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership- Specialization in Higher Education from Rowan University.
Currently, Joseph serves as an adjunct professor in Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Peter Sammartino School of Education in the Educational Leadership department. He holds five certifications from the New Jersey Department of Education including Teacher of Spanish, Elementary School Teacher, Supervisor, Principal, and School Administrator. He also holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) ‘D’ License
After transferring to FDU as a sophomore, Joseph was a three year starter for Head Coach Tom McLoughlin. He captained the team in 1999, and was selected as a 1st Team MAC- Freedom League All-Star. He was also twice a member of the MAC All-Academic Team finishing his career with 12 goals and 12 assists.
In 2002, Joseph became the Head Boys Varsity Soccer Coach at Clifton High School in Passaic County. In 9 years at the helm, he amassed a 170-38-8 record with an 80.56 winning percentage. In 2007, his team won the NJSIAA Group IV Championship and won three consecutive NJSIAA North 1, Group IV Sectional Championships in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The team won the Passaic County Championship six times in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2010. Individual accolades included the 2011 Passaic County Coaches Association Honor Award, 2010 Star Ledger North Jersey Coach of the Year, 2009 Clifton High School Coach of the Year, 2007 NNJIL Coach of the Year and WGHT All-Area Coach of the Year, and 2005 Passaic County Coach of the Year.
In 2015, Joseph began his college coaching career as an Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach at Berkeley College in New Jersey. In his second year on staff, the team qualified for USCAA national tournament for the first time in the history of the program.
He is honored to have joined Coach McLoughlin’s staff in 2017 at his alma mater.
