Lower Merion boys’ soccer coach Nico Severini earns 100th career win

When the Lower Merion High School boys’ soccer team defeated Harriton, 2-1, Oct. 1, it was the 100th career win for Aces’ head coach Nico Severini.
With the victory against Harriton, Severini has a win-loss-tie record of 100-33-10 (as of Oct. 5), which includes two years spent as head coach of the Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School boys’ soccer team and he is currently in his sixth year as the head coach of the Aces.

Severini said, “I am very proud of reaching this [100 career win] milestone.  I do not take any achievement for granted as they are very difficult to accomplish, hopefully it is one of many more.  I love being around the game as a player and a coach, and soccer has been a passion for me since day one.  It helped create a special bond with my father.”

Severini is the son of the legendary Haverford High School boys’ soccer coach Jorge Severini, who coached the Fords for 22 years and passed away in October 2014. In 22 years as the head coach, Jorge Severini posted a 233-115-7 record that included a Central League title (1994) and 11 PIAA District One Class AAA playoff appearances. In 2011, Jorge Severini joined his son Nico at Lower Merion as an assistant coach and helped the team capture the 2013 Central League Championship.

The Lower Merion coach said, “I miss my father every day and every day I want to make him proud, I know that he is on the sideline supporting and cheering. I also want to say thank you to all of my current and former players for their hard work and dedication, coaching mentors, as well as to the schools,  adminstrators, and parents.  Lastly, a thank you to my mother, Maria Severini, who has come to almost all of my games over the years and to my brother, George Severini, who has also helped me  a ton throughout the seasons and sister Marlena Severini.  This is an accomplishment by everyone that has been part of the “team” and my philosophy is what I was taught by my father and my mentor coach John Chaney, “team together. Thank you everyone”

“Over the years  I have learned that coaching is not about the wins and losses, it’s about teaching players to become better athletes, students, and people.  There is no better satisfaction than seeing the smiles on the players I coach and knowing that they leave the field a better player and person.  I wouldn’t change my teaching and coaching careers for the world, and  I relish starting every new day with a brand new challenge.

Nico Severini’s Lower Merion squad captured the Central League championship in 2013 posting an undefeated regular season of 16-0-0 with 15 shutouts, the District 1 AAA Championship and a PIAA state quarterfinal appearance in 2010, multiple years ranked in the top 25 nationally, has a .800 winning percentage, and five consecutive appearances in the PIAA District One Class AAA playoffs.

He was a Central League MVP his senior year at Haverford High School and was also All-State and Regional All-American.  He later went on to play division 1 soccer at the University of Pennsylvania, winning the 2002 Ivy League Championship and trained internationally at professional clubs Liniers of Argentina and Sevilla of Spain.

While at Lower Merion, he has coached and developed a Central League MVP, Central League first team goalie, All-State, Regional All-American, multiple collegiate players at all levels, and several first team All-Central League and All-Main Line players.   Nico currently teaches Spanish at Lower Merion High School, holds a US Soccer National Coaching License as well as Argentine Coaching Diploma.

Severini coaches at Lower Merion Soccer Club, where he has won three outdoor Eastern Pennsylvania State Championships and one indoor state championship, is a head coach for the EPYSA Olympic Development Program, and is Director of World Class Soccer School.