Richard Nuttall Retires After 37 Seasons at Hofstra

It truly was an offer he couldn’t turn down.

Richard Nuttall, who has been a staple as the Hofstra men’s soccer coach, is set to retire after a remarkable 37 seasons that will conclude this fall.

His journey, one could say, was destined to lead him to eight Colonial Athletic Association Conference Championships.

“I was playing for the Glencove soccer club… and I’ve heard a lot about this part-time job opportunity,” Nuttall, who hails from Yorkshire, England, reflected on how he ended up on Long Island back in the late 1980s.

Fortuitously, the Glencove team was made up of about “80% Hofstra” players. Among them was Jim Kilmeade, a friend of Nuttall’s who now runs an American soccer club.

“When the job opportunity arose, we urged Richie to take it,” Kilmeade shared. “For over three decades now, he’s transformed it into one of the top programs in the nation.”

Nuttall initially thought his tenure at Hofstra would last just two years. He even considered heading back to Australia, where he had played previously.

But instead of heading back “down under,” he found himself enamored with the universities, the campuses, and, well, the area overall, which was a stark contrast to the rural life he had known.

“From the custodian to the university president, like Lefty and Nelson,” the coach noted regarding the various connections he’s made.

Nuttall has dedicated years to nurturing youth soccer programs in Massapequa and Brentwood, emphasizing that success is about more than just winning on the field.

“We racked up quite a few victories and championships,” he stated, adding that his greatest source of joy now is witnessing his former players excel in their careers.

“I’m not just referring to financial success; I mean in all walks of life. Many of them have become doctors, investors, bankers, teachers, and coaches. It’s heartwarming that 90-95 percent are still in touch.”