AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria University Athletic Department is excited to name Dariel Collazo as the head coach of the Gyrene Men's Soccer program.

"We're really excited to be able to elevate Dariel to the position of head coach of our Men's Soccer team," said Vice President of Athletics John Weisbrod. "I believe strongly in his grounding in the game, and that he possesses a humility and authenticity that has and will continue to enable him to have a great impact on our talented young group."

Collazo joined the Gyrenes as an assistant coach in the summer of 2024 and helped facilitate great change within the program. Under his coaching in the 2024 season, the Gyrenes improved their goal differential by 30 goals. Collazo also worked with the Men's Soccer Reserves team during the that season.

This is Collazo's second stop at the collegiate soccer level, working as an assistant coach for NCAA Division I Stoney Brook from 2005-2011. The Seawolves won 57 games during his tenure and made the postseason five out of seven times.

After Stoney Brook, Collazo returned home to Puerto Rico where he became a mainstay in the soccer scene. A few highlights include a coaching a stint with the Puerto Rican Football Federation and being the head coach of the women's program at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras from 2018-2023, the first and largest campus in the University of Puerto Rico system.

Having been with the team, Collazo has a good rapport with the players and is excited to get the 2025 season underway.

The Ave Maria Men's Soccer team opens the regular season at home on August 21 when they play host to the Shawnee State Bears. It will be the first ever meeting between the Gyrenes and the Bears on the pitch. It is the first of three home matches for Ave Maria to start the season.