On April 1, 2010, Chris Smith became the new head coach of the men’s soccer program.

In 2010, Smith led the Mercy College Men’s Soccer program to an improved record of 6-7-4.  Prior to his arrival in Dobbs Ferry, the Mavericks were a combined 4-26-1 over the past two seasons. Defensively, the goals against were lowered from 42 in 2009 to 24 in 2010. The team was more competitive going to overtime in nine of the 17 matches with five out of seven conference games heading into extra time. "2010 was about changing the culture, creating a competitive environment and recruiting quality student-athletes with character, ambition and desire," says Smith.  "I think we've improved every aspect of our program in the past 16 months.  I believe we have the potential to achieve goals that we set when my staff and I began back in April of 2010 -- make the ECC playoffs, compete for the conference championship and advance to the NCAA tournament."

Prior to his arrival in Dobbs Ferry, Smith held the same position at Division I Saint Peter’s College from 2004-2006.  While at SPC, he posted a 26-23-11 overall record.  He went to the MAAC Tournament two out of three times and had an overall conference record of 15-8-4.  He coached two offensive players of the year, fourteen all conference players and had the number one offense and number two defense in the MAAC in his last year at Saint Peter’s.  Smith’s head coaching tenure began at Division III Manhattanville College where he posted a mark of 32-26-3 from 2001-2003.  During his time with the Valiants, he earned Skyline Conference Coach of the Year in 2001 while guiding the team to two out of three conference tournaments.

Before his head coaching posts, Smith was an assistant at The College of New Jersey from 1996 to 1999.  TCNJ won the National Championship in 1996 and finished as the runner-up in 1997.  In 2000, Smith did one season as an assistant at Southern Connecticut State University before moving on to Manhattanville in 2001. 

While an undergraduate at Southern Connecticut State, he started on three Final Four teams winning a National Championship in 1992.  After graduation from SCSU in 1995, Smith played professional soccer with the Tampa Bay Terror of the National Professional Soccer League.

Smith has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, a Master of Arts in Athletic Administration and holds a United States Soccer Federation “A” license.  He resides in Long Island, New York with his wife, Maureen and their three daughters, Alana (10), Emily (7) and Delia (2).

James Bruno helps Coach Smith with the day to day operations of running a highly competitive collegiate soccer program.  His primary responsibilities include recruitment of highly qualified student-athletes and managing all facets of financial aid, eligibility and NCAA compliance.  “Coach Bruno brings an ambitious attitude, vast professional experience and strong leadership qualities that will greatly help the student-athletes at Mercy College succeed,” states Coach Smith.

Prior to the 2011 season, Coach Bruno was promoted to Associate Head Coach.

He was instrumental in bringing in the 2011 recruiting class, which includes 13 new student-athletes -- all of whom have vast experience at the high school and/or junior college level. The 2011 group is one of the best recruiting classes in the history of the program.

In the prior two seasons (2008, '09), the Mercy men’s soccer squad had no All-Conference selections. This past season they had three. Two recruits that Coach Bruno was instrumental in signing in late July were named to the Second Team: Moustapha Dioum and Collin Legge.

Prior to Mercy, Bruno played at Utica College where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1997.  Since graduation, he has played for various amateur teams in the tri-state area.  He has served as an assistant coach at his alma mater while working within the Goshen Youth Soccer Club.  He holds a United States Soccer Federation National License, an National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Diploma, and is a retired Lieutenant of the Fire Department of New York.

Bruno is pursuing his Master's of Science degree at Mercy College in Organizational Leadership.  He resides in Orange County, New York with his wife, Heather and their three children, Kevin (9), Ella (6) and Cooper (3).

Hernando Santamaria assists Coach Smith’s staff by helping with the goalkeepers, scouting, film breakdown, on field sessions and recruiting.  His primary responsibilities include fundraising, academic monitoring, strength and conditioning and the rigors of day to day operations including all aspects of running a successful men’s soccer program.  “Coach Santamaria is a loyal, hard working and articulate young aspiring coach who will be a tremendous teacher for our goalkeepers and is truly an asset to the program,” states Coach Smith.

Mercy surrendered 24 goals in 17 games in 2010, compared to allowing 42 goals in 15 games in 2009.  The overall NCAA Division II rankings in 2009 had Mercy 155 out of 174 in goals allowed. In 2010, the Mavericks ranked 79 out of 177 in goals allowed. These are just some of the key contributions Coach Santamaria made in 2010 while working with the squad's goalkeepers and backline.

Prior to Mercy, Santamaria played for Coach Smith at Saint Peter’s College where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a Minor in Secondary Education in 2009.  He was a member of the NCAA tournament team that played Virginia in the first round in 2007.  In 2008, he started 10 games recording a 1.36 Goals Against Average and registering four shutouts with key results against Rutgers, Drexel and Hartford.   Since graduation, he has worked for the Albertson Soccer Club of New York, an elite club team in the USSF system.

He holds a United States Soccer Federation National License.

Santamaria currently resides in Queens, N.Y.