The 2015 season marks Ovidio Felcaro's 14th overall as an assistant on the Northwestern coaching staff. He joined the program prior to the 2002 season and assumed the role of NU's primary goalkeeper coach. Felcaro's responsibilities include but are not limited to training and developing the goalkeepers, editing video and assisting with scouting reports.
"We are very fortunate to have a coach of Ovidio's status at Northwestern," said NU head coach Tim Lenahan. "His most recent job before he came here was coaching in the first division of Argentina's professional league. He has coached at the highest levels of professional soccer and is a great goalkeeper coach. He has a wonderful personality, and I know the players love having him as a part of the staff."
Under Felcaro's tutelage, three Northwestern keepers have earned All-Big Ten honors. Tyler Miller earned first-team honors as a sophomore in 2012 and as a senior in 2014, while J.D. Martin garnered second-team recognition in 2002 and Misha Rosenthal did the same in 2007 and again in 2008. In addition, Miller and Will Briley were named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in 2011 and 2005, respectively.
Felcaro tutored Rosenthal into becoming the one of the best goalkeepers in program history. Under Felcaro's watch, Rosenthal recorded a school-record 13 shutouts in 2008, including seven consecutive at one point. He ranked fourth in the nation with a 0.48 goals-against average and 13th with an .851 save percentage.
He also helped Miller reach the upper echelon of collegiate soccer as he finished his career as Northwestern's all-time leader with 36 career shutouts. Miller is also in the top six for career saves at NU.
Felcaro came to NU from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he served as an assistant for the Argentina Juniors Soccer Club in 2002. During his tenure, he trained three professional and two youth team keepers, both of which were named to the national team (U-17 and U-20). Felcaro spent the fall of 2000 at Lafayette College as the head goalkeeper coach. From 1996-2002, he coached with the Renato Cesarini Soccer Club and was responsible for the progress of numerous keepers who went on to play professionally in Argentina. His international coaching experience also includes a stint as the assistant to the head coach of the Saudi Arabian World Cup Team in 1994.
As a player, Felcaro was the top goalkeeper on the Renato Cesarini Soccer Club from 1977-85, when he participated in various national and international competitions. He also spent three seasons (1974-77) as the starting keeper on the Rosario Central Professional Soccer Club. Both club teams were based out of Rosario, Argentina.
Felcaro and his wife, Lucila, have two children, Matthew and Krystle.