Antonio La Gamba was announced as an assistant coach at WKU in March 2025.
La Gamba serves as an assistant coach for WKU Women's Soccer, leading training sessions, tactical preparation, set-piece implementation, player development, performance analysis, and recruiting for the Hilltoppers. He designs and implements the team's seasonal periodization plans, manages GPS and Spiideo analytics, conducts film sessions, and collaborates closely with the Strength & Conditioning and Athletic Training staffs to optimize player performance. During his first fall season in 2025, La Gamba helped lead the Hilltoppers to the program's first-ever undefeated Conference USA regular season and the 2025 Conference USA Regular Season Championship, earning Conference USA Coaching Staff of the Year honors. The staff also orchestrated the largest single-season turnaround in Conference USA history, guiding WKU from ninth place in 2024 to first place in 2025 in Conference USA play while dramatically increasing the team's attacking production and overall performance. The team increased expected goals by 470%, points per game by 184%, and goal production by 270% from 2024 to 2025. Under his guidance, the program produced four All-Conference USA selections, including the Conference USA Freshman of the Year and Midfielder of the Year, while recording several historic victories and milestones, including the program's first-ever wins at LA Tech, Missouri State, and New Mexico State.
La Gamba came to The Hill from the University of the Cumberlands, where he served as an assistant coach during the 2024 season. He helped lead the Patriots to an 18-1 overall record, including a perfect 6-0 conference record. La Gamba helped UC capture both the Mid-South Conference Regular Season Championship and the MSC Tournament Championship, earning the No. 1 seed in the NAIA National Tournament. In addition to the team's success, UC was home to the 2024 NAIA National Player of the Year, Jayden Boelter, who scored more than 30 goals. The Patriots also produced a program-record five NAIA All-Americans. La Gamba helped UC compile a 27-match winning streak, one of the longest in women's collegiate soccer history. The Patriots scored 71 goals while conceding just eight in 19 matches, recording 13 shutouts. Their lone loss came in the NAIA National Tournament Round of 16, and UC finished the season ranked No. 8 in the final NAIA poll.
La Gamba also serves as the head coach of Flower City 1872, a USL W pre-professional team, and the first assistant coach for Flower City Union, an NPSL semi-professional club. In 2026, he led Flower City 1872 to its best season in club history, finishing second in the USL W Great Forest Division while earning a top 10 national ranking throughout the season. Under his leadership, Flower City 1872 has recorded impressive results against some of the nation's top pre-professional clubs, including the Pittsburgh Riveters, FC Buffalo, and Cleveland Force. With Flower City Union, La Gamba helped guide the club to the 2025 Midwest Great Lakes Conference Regular Season Championship and Tournament Championship. Flower City Union finished the 2025 season with a 12-1-1 record before falling in the national quarterfinals. The club finished the season ranked fifth nationally and qualified for the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a distinction earned by only 15 non-professional clubs across the United States each year.
Prior to his coaching career, La Gamba enjoyed a successful collegiate and professional playing career. He competed at the NCAA Division 1 level for 5 years. At Coastal Carolina, he was part of the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Championship team and helped the Chanticleers earn a first-round NCAA Tournament victory over NC State. Across his NCAA Division I career, La Gamba appeared in 80 matches, making more than 60 starts. A five-year team captain, he scored three goals and added nine assists. During his collegiate career, he competed against nationally ranked programs including Duke, Syracuse, Clemson, West Virginia, Vermont, Oregon State, SMU, Kentucky, Portland, and several other Top 25 opponents. He also scored goals against Duke, UNC Greensboro, and William & Mary. His collegiate success led to trial opportunities with clubs in the USL Championship and USL League One following the conclusion of his eligibility.
Before beginning his collegiate career, La Gamba played in Italy for multiple Serie A academies and a Serie D first team, representing Benevento Calcio and Reggina 1914. In addition to his collegiate experience, he competed in USL League Two and the NPSL, serving as captain for Dakota Fusion FC, Albany Rush, Laredo Heat SC, and Flower City Union. In the spring of 2024, La Gamba competed in the prestigious Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with the Hudson Valley Hammers, recording a backheel assist against the New York Red Bulls.
La Gamba earned a Bachelor of Science in Business with an emphasis in Sports Marketing from Siena College before completing his MBA at Longwood University. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Recreation and Sport Management with a concentration in Athletic Administration and Coaching at Western Kentucky University. La Gamba holds a U.S. Soccer National B Coaching License and a Sports Performance Diploma through United Soccer Coaches.
