William Floyd High School boys’ varsity soccer head coach Paul Paniccia recently achieved his 100th career victory, marking a significant milestone for the program. The achievement came during a 3-1 away win against North Babylon, where senior Derlis Aguilar scored a first-half hat trick. Junior Christian Jones, recognized as a 2025 Newsday top 100 selection, contributed two assists in the match. Senior goalkeepers Myles Von Brook and Kevin Ramos combined for nine saves to help secure the win.
Brian Babst, athletic director of William Floyd School District, commented on Coach Paniccia’s contributions: “Coach Paniccia has been the bedrock of the boys’ varsity soccer program since he took over the program in 2012. Through his hard work, dedication and steadfast leadership, the boys’ soccer program has become a perennially successful program helping to develop an amazing group of student athletes along the way. Congratulations to Coach Paniccia on this milestone.”
Since taking over in 2012, Coach Paniccia has led the Colonials to consistent playoff appearances. In 2015, he guided the team back to the playoffs for the first time in 24 years, starting a streak of ten consecutive playoff berths from 2015 through 2024. Notably, in 2019, William Floyd finished with a record of 10-4-3 and advanced to the semifinals of Section XI playoffs. The team reached semifinal rounds twice over the past decade.
Assistant coach Desmond Megna has worked alongside Paniccia throughout his tenure. A former player who was part of William Floyd’s last playoff team in 1992 and now also head coach of boys’ varsity lacrosse—where he reached his own 100-win milestone last spring—Megna reflected on their progress: “Under Paul’s guidance and hard work, he was able to build a winning culture that culminated in our first playoff appearance in 24 years,” said Megna. “This win signifies a sense of pride in a program that needed an infusion of it,” he added. “Paul’s work is tireless and he has given so much to make this program what it is today.”
Coach Paniccia also works as a Leveled Literacy Interventionist teacher at Tangier Smith Elementary School and serves as Dean of Students. Reflecting on his journey with William Floyd soccer since starting with only about fourteen players trying out for the team in 2012, Paniccia said:
“My coaching journey began in 2012 with about 14 players trying out for the team. Coach Megna also helped by recruiting a few players from his lacrosse program to help build the team. Due to the small number of players and my initial lack of varsity coaching experience, I was committed to strengthening the program. While I often wondered if we could become competitive or even win games, last night’s experience confirmed that I made the right choice.
I was especially moved by the young players, some of whom had only been [just] born when I started coaching, congratulating me and Coach Megna. Parents took photos and made a banner to honor us. I received heartfelt messages from several former players – three from my first season – David Rivera, goalie Brandon Geraghty, and Kevin Quituizaca, who helped us achieve our first win. That season, we finished with a record of 1-15, having been 0-15 before our final game against Sachem North. In that game, tied in overtime, Kevin asked if he could wear a Spiderman mask if he scored, and he did, celebrating by running off with the mask. Now, 14 years later, with 99 more wins, we stay in touch. Brandon recently got married, David is coaching professionally, and Kevin owns a pool service business.
There are so many stories and players who helped us reach 100 wins, and everyone contributed, but it was nice to reach that milestone with these boys, my assistant coaches, and friends Tony Guma and Mike Podstupka who put in endless hours practicing and mentoring these boys. And of course my longtime coaching partner who was there from the beginning—Coach Megna. These coaches and players seemed to want that 100th win more than I did—and that's what makes this milestone special.
This district and community have been very good to me and my family—they took a chance on me twenty-five years ago as a young teacher—and then stuck with me to earn one hundred wins as a varsity coach—it just makes me want to give back even more—I may not be able to reach another one hundred wins—but I'd love to be on the sideline when the next coach does.
On a personal note—my two sons Sebastian and Darius followed the team—Coach Megna—and I—to every game—to witness this milestone—both boys played—and graduated from William Floyd—Sebastian in two thousand nineteen—and Darius in two thousand twenty-three—and they were present for one hundredth win.”
The accomplishment highlights both individual achievement for Coach Paniccia as well as ongoing success within William Floyd's athletics programs.