Eastern Illinois University Athletics

Dino Raso is in his fifth year as an assistant coach on Adam Howarth’s staff. Raso played at Eastern for coach Cizo Mosina from 1988-91 and was a teammate of Howarth’s.

Since returning to Charleston, the program has enjoyed its greatest level of success of the Missouri Valley Conference era (1996-present). The Panthers have qualified for the MVC Tournament each of his first four years as an assistant coach, highlighted by semifinal berths in 2006 and 2007. Eastern posted a combined 23 victories during those memorable seasons, recording the program’s first consecutive double-figure win campaigns since 1988-89 – Raso’s underclassman seasons as a student-athlete.

Raso conducts the majority of the goalkeeper training but is also very involved with the tactical implementation of the back four defenders and the forwards. He also leads the pregame warm-ups.

His work with the defensive unit has produced fruitful results. In 2005, the EIU defense allowed more than one goal only once in the team’s eight home games. A year later, the Panthers surrendered only 18 goals in 20 games, a program low in the Valley era. Eastern shutout eight opponents, another school record in the MVC years, en route to a 12-win campaign in 2007.

Offensively, meanwhile, EIU scored 34 goals in 2007, the program’s most since 2002.

Raso is also very involved with area youth programs, working with various boys and girls teams, ages 9-18. Most recently he coached an U-18 squad that posted an 8-2-2 record and won a number of tournaments in Central Illinois. Three of his former players are now suiting up for college teams.

After earning both a bachelor’s degree and MBA from Eastern, he returned to his native Canada and played in the Premier Division of the Ontario Soccer League. He was also an amateur coach in Ontario from 1995-00, compiling a 75-9-2 record, before returning to the States and joining the Barry University (Fla.) coaching staff in 2002.

From 2002-04, Barry went 40-13-4 and was always ranked among the NCAA Division II Top 20. The Bucs won the Sunshine State Conference in 2002 and finished second in 2003 and 2004 – earning NCAA Tournament berths in ‘02 and ‘03. He coached three DII All-Americans and three other players that went on to play professionally.

Raso earned master’s degrees in sports management (2003) and higher education administration (2005) during his time at Barry. Along with his assistant coach duties, he also worked in the athletics compliance office, Career and Counseling Center and Recreation and Wellness Center.

He holds a U.S. Soccer National “A” License and a Level 1 NSCAA Goalkeepers License.

Raso resides in Charleston with his wife Kathryn and daughters Michaela and Giuliana. Giuliana was born in the spring of 2009.