Coaches

James Hamilton

James Hamilton was named the seventh men’s soccer head coach in program history on April 7, 2016. Hamilton was promoted after serving as an assistant coach during the 2015 campaign. He was also the interim head coach following the departure of 13-year veteran Fernando Barboto. Hamilton enters his eighth season at the helm of the men's soccer program in 2023.


In his fourth season at the helm of the program, Hamilton and his squad won the first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship in program history. The Gaels finished the year 14-6-1 overall (6-3-1 MAAC) and earned the program's first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament.


The Maroon & Gold entered conference tournament play as the No. 3 seed after dropping two of their final three matches of the regular season. Iona hosted No. 6 seed Rider for the second straight season, winning 2-1 and advancing onto the MAAC Semifinal. The Gaels traveled to face Quinnipiac and earned a berth in the conference championship with a 2-1 victory.


Iona and Saint Peter's met in Jersey City, New Jersey with a NCAA Tournament bid on the line. Down two goals with just 32 minutes to play, the Gaels roared back and forced overtime. With 12 seconds remaining in the first extra period, Mauro Bravo buried a free-kick, his second goal of the game, and Iona were champions of the MAAC.


Under Hamilton's tutelage, Malcolm Moreno and Bravo were selected as All-MAAC First Team honorees. 2019 marked the 10th straight season that a Gael was represented on the list. Moreno was also a United Soccer Coaches All-East Region selection and was voted the 2019 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. Ignacio Antequera-Sanchez earned a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie Team. With three players having earned postseason honors, the program has now had a student-athlete earn an end-of-the-season accolade every year since 2007. 10 student-athletes earned placement on the MAAC All-Academic Team for the second consecutive season.


In 2022, Hamilton guided the Gaels to their second MAAC Championship game appearance during his tenure. The Maroon & Gold finished the season 7-5-5 overall and 5-1-4 in league play, earning the No. 2 seed in the 2022 MAAC Championship. Iona hosted Manhattan in the MAAC Semifinal, defeating the Jaspers 1-0 to advance to the MAAC Championship at Quinnipiac. Time ran out on the Gaels' late comeback, falling to the Bobcats 3-2. Seven Gaels earned All-MAAC distinction: Camil Azzam Ruiz (Second Team), Tom Fillaudeau (Second Team), Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez (Second Team), Tim Timchenko (Second Team), Frederik Johnson Oee (Third Team), Matias Morales (Third Team) and Federico Russo (Third Team). 10 members of the Maroon & Gold were honored on the MAAC All-Academic Team.


The Maroon & Gold played to a 6-9-2 overall mark and a 3-6-1 mark in league play in Hamilton's sixth season as head coach in 2021. Camil Azzam Ruiz was voted to the All-MAAC Second Team after finishing top-five in the conference in goals (10) and points (23). Iona saw 12 student-athletes earn MAAC All-Academic Team distinction in 2021.


Hamilton's fifth season as head coach began in the Spring of 2021, composed solely of conference opponents, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Iona finished 2-3-1 in the regular season, earning victories over Monmouth and Siena. Iona entered the postseason as the No. 7 seed, traveling to face No. 2 Rider, the third consecutive season that the two programs did battle in the opening round of the conference's postseason. The Gaels' season came to a close at the hand of the Broncs. Iona named 12 student-athletes to the MAAC All-Academic Team, the third straight year that the Maroon & Gold placed 10 or more names on the league's all-academic squad.


Hamilton concluded his third season with the team at 10-6-2 overall (6-3-1 MAAC). The Maroon & Gold won their final five games of the regular season against conference opponents and earned the No. 4 seed in the MAAC Championship. Iona hosted the eventual conference champion Rider Broncs in the program's first-ever postseason game at Mazzella Field.


Senior Killian Colombie was named to the All-MAAC First Team. Bravo, a freshman at the time, was voted the 2018 MAAC Rookie of the Year and joined his teammates Humbert Ferrer and Moreno on the All-MAAC Second Team. 10 student-athletes were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team in 2018 under Hamilton.


Iona finished 5-7-4 overall (4-4-2 MAAC) under Hamilton in 2017. The Gaels lost in the opening round of the MAAC Tournament. Luis Mendoza was voted to the All-MAAC First Team and seven student-athletes earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors.


In 2016, Iona finished with a 10-7-3 overall record and tied for third in the MAAC standings with a 5-3-2 league mark. Hamilton’s experience both as a player and a coach were integral in the development of rising junior Marcos Nunez and rising sophomore Daniel Huertas, the 2015 MAAC Offensive Player and Rookie of the Year, respectively.


In his first full season with the Maroon & Gold the program went 5-13 overall and 4-6 in MAAC play. Two student-athletes were named to the All-MAAC First Team and one earned Second Team distinction. Seven were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team.


In addition to his role at Iona, Hamilton served as the U16 Elite and Premier Head Coach for World Class Football Club. His teams competed in the New York Eastern Development Program National Premier Leagues (EDP NPL), and several college showcases. He also lent his leadership skills as the leader of the U13 Premier team.


From 2010-2015, Hamilton mentored his alma mater, Dominican College, in both an assistant and associate head coaching role. The Chargers won the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference tournament in 2010 and 2012 and never finished lower than third in the regular season standings during his tenure.


Hamilton also served as the Director of Coaching at the Speed Soccer Academy during the time frame. He was instrumental in the implementation of a highly competitive winter and summer program, developing full team and individual training and growth curriculums. In 2012, he oversaw the opening of a soccer specific indoor training facility to help perpetuate the growth of his coaching programs.


As a student-athlete at Dominican, Hamilton was a four-year starter and two-year captain for the Orangeburg, New York school in Rockland County. Hamilton helped to lead his team to a CACC Championship and two NCAA Division II Championship berths. In his final season, he was the recipient of the Charger Award, earned by one student-athlete a year whose character exemplifies the value of sportsmanship, teamwork and commitment.


Hamilton’s amateur career in his native Scotland took him to three national finals including a championship with the Glasgow Amateurs FC on his third attempt. He was selected to the U18 West of Scotland Regional Team, and was awarded the Castlehead High School Club Award for Outstanding Performance in Football.


In 2004, Hamilton earned a higher national diploma in Sports Coaching with Sports Development at James Watt College in The National School of Sport in Inverclyde, Scotland. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Dominican College in 2010 in marketing management.


Hamilton has also attained his United States Soccer Federation National 'A' License in 2014 as well as several Scottish Football Association youth certifications.