Friday, January 5, 2024
by SFU Athletics/Wilson Wong

BURNABY, B.C. – After leading the SFU Women's Soccer program to historic heights, Carlo Basso has been selected as the Red Leafs' permanent full-time head coach.

Basso served as the team's interim leader for the 2023 NCAA season. In his first year at the helm of the Red Leafs, he guided them to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships title and a berth to the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship tournament. It was the first time SFU had achieved either feat since joining the GNAC in 2010.

"I am extremely honoured to be leading this program moving forward as we look to build on the successes of our 2023 season," said Basso. "I have had so many amazing experiences as a player and coach at this institution, and truly believe Simon Fraser University provides the most unique opportunity for student-athletes in Canada. While this past season will be remembered for our historic milestones within the NCAA, our staff is motivated to create continued success that adds to the legacy of SFU Women's Soccer.

"After such a successful debut as interim head coach, we're thrilled to shed this tag and make the position official," said Breanne Watson, SFU's Associate Director, Athletics. "Carlo's passion for SFU and the women's soccer program makes him a fantastic addition to our department."

The Red Leafs finished the 2023 campaign with a record of eight wins, five losses and six ties and went 5-5-4 in conference games. The team qualified for the GNAC Women's Soccer Championships as the fourth seed. In the tournament, SFU knocked off regular season champion Seattle Pacific 4-2 in the quarter-final round before defeating defending NCAA champion and second-seeded Western Washington 2-1 in the title game.

The Red Leafs battled California State Los Angeles to a scoreless draw in the opening round of the NCAA tournament before the Golden Eagles advanced via penalty kicks.

Basso is used to making history with SFU. As a player with the men's team from 2010 to 2013, the striker from Coquitlam, B.C., recorded 47 goals, 16 assists and 110 points in 87 games. He is the school's NCAA-era leader in career goals and total points, and ranks second in GNAC history in those same categories.

Basso was an integral part of SFU's historic back-to-back trips to the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Final Four in 2012 and 2013. He was an NSCAA First Team All-American twice in his career (2011 and 2012) and the GNAC Men's Soccer Player of the Year and the SFU Male Athlete of the Year in 2012.

In 2023, Basso was one of three SFU individuals nominated for the NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Gold Award, which honours those who have made a lasting and positive impact in Division II.

After finishing his university career on Burnaby Mountain, he played with the Ottawa Fury and Victoria Highlanders before moving into coaching with Coquitlam-Metro Ford.

A holder of two SFU degrees (B.A., 2015 and B.Ed, 2017), Basso joined the women's soccer team as an assistant coach in August 2021, and the Red Leafs qualified for the GNAC Women's Soccer Championships the next two seasons (2021 and 2022).

He also spent time as an assistant coach with the Vancouver Whitecaps Pre-Girls Elite Program in 2022.

Basso is the third head coach in the history of the school's women's soccer program, which began varsity play in 1988.