Antonio La Gamba was announced as an assistant coach at WKU in April of 2025.
La Gamba came to The Hill from the University of the Cumberlands where he served as an assistant coach for the 2024 season. He helped lead the Patriots to an 18-1 overall record, including a perfect 6-0 record in conference play. La Gamba helped UC win the Mid-South Conference Regular Season Championship and the MSC Tournament Championship, earning the #1 seed in the NAIA National Tournament. In addition to the team success, UC had the 2024 NAIA player of the year, Jayden Boelter who scored 30 goals and had a program record 5 NAIA All-Americans. La Gamba helped UC notch a 23-match win streak which is one of the greatest win streaks in women’s collegiate soccer history. The Patriots scored 71 goals and conceded 8 in 19 games, including 13 shut outs. The Patriots' lone loss came in the NAIA National Tournament in the Round of 16. UC ended the season ranked eighth in the NAIA poll.
In the summer of 2025 La Gamba was the Head Coach of Flower City 1872, a USL W pre-professional team and the top Assistant Coach for the Flower City Union, a NPSL Semi-Professional team. For Flower City 1872 in his first game at the helm, La Gamba made history by beating FC Buffalo 2-1 who were previously undefeated for 4 years across all competitions. Prior to Flower City 1872 beating FC Buffalo in May, FC 1872 had lost 20-1 on aggregate in the first 4 contests between the clubs. 2025 marked a historic first season for FC 1872 in USL W, the top pre-professional league globally for the women’s game. Then, for the Flower City Union in the NPSL, La Gamba’s leadership helped the team win the Midwest Great Lakes Conference Regular Season Championship and the Midwest Great Lakes Conference Tournament Championship. Flower City Union finished the season with a 12-1-1 record. The team ultimately lost in the Quarter-Final of the national tournament, finishing the season being ranked 5th nationally, and qualifying for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for 2026 which is a major achievement that only 15 non-professional clubs each year earn across the United States.
Prior to his coaching career, La Gamba enjoyed a successful professional academy, collegiate, and semi-professional career. He played at Coastal Carolina University, Siena College and Longwood University. At Coastal Carolina, he was part of a Sun Belt championship team in 2019 and helped the Chanticleers win their first-round game of the NCAA Tournament against NC State. La Gamba went on to play in 80 games in his division 1 career starting over 60 games. La Gamba was a 5-year captain standout, scoring 3 goals and compiling 9 assists in his division 1 career. La Gamba played against the likes of Duke, Clemson, West Virginia University, University of Vermont, Oregon State, SMU, University of Kentucky, University of Portland and several other top 25 schools. La Gamba scored against Duke, UNC Greensboro, and William & Mary throughout his college career. The success of his collegiate career saw him get opportunities with USL Championship and USL 1 professional clubs after his eligibility was finished.
La Gamba played for multiple Serie A and Serie B professional academy teams in Italy before his college career, playing with Benevento Calcio and Reggina 1914. In addition to his collegiate experience, La Gamba also represented clubs at the USL 2 and NPSL levels, serving as a captain with the Dakota Fusion FC, Albany Rush, Laredo Heat SC, and the Flower City Union. In the spring of 2024 La Gamba played in the prestigious Lamar US Open Cup with the Hudson Valley Hammers, recording a back heel assist against the globally famous NY Red Bulls.
La Gamba graduated from Siena College with a Bachelor degree in Business with an emphasis in Sports Marketing before attaining his MBA from Longwood University. La Gamba is currently enrolled in the M.S. in Recreation and Sport Management with a concentration in Athletic Administration and Coaching at Western Kentucky University. La Gamba holds a USSF National C’ Coaching License and a Sports Performance Diploma through United Soccer Coaches.
