VIDEO: Bino Campanini Lead Florida Tech Soccer To Top

By Maria Sonnenberg // April 20, 2015

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

ABOVE VIDEO: With Bino Campanini on the field, first as a player and then as assistant coach from 1990 to 1994, Florida Tech’s soccer team moved from the basement to the penthouse. Campanini represented Florida Tech in NCAA Division II soccer, winning a national championship in 1988 as a player and also as a member of the coaching staff in 1991.

BINO CAMPANINI – 2015 INDUCTEE

FIRST ENGLISH PLAYER AT FLORIDA TECH

As Player and Coach, Helped Power Florida Tech Soccer From the Basement To the Penthouse

Put together some extremely athletic genes from two soccer-loving societies, Great Britain and Italy, and you just may end up with Florida Tech Sports Hall of Famer Bino Campanini.

With an English mom and an Italian dad from Bologna, Campanini was born and raised in Jersey, part of the Channel Islands.

With Campanini on the field, first as a player and then as assistant coach from 1990 to 1994, Florida Tech’s soccer team moved from the basement to the penthouse. (Florida Tech image) — With Campanini on the field, first as a player and then as assistant coach from 1990 to 1994, Florida Tech’s soccer team moved from the basement to the penthouse. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

Soccer is not a matter of life and death for the British and the Italians.

It’s much more important, so Campanini grew up immersed in soccer culture, playing for the English National Public School Boys’ Team and with the Saints of the legendary Southampton Football Club.

Colleges around the world interested in boosting their soccer teams noticed the talented young player, but Campanini chose Florida Tech, at the time a basement team struggling to be noticed.

“I was the first English player to come to Florida Tech,” said Campanini.

Bino Campanini with his two sons and father after winning High school state championship. (Florida Tech image) — Bino Campanini with his two sons and father after winning the high school state championship. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

With Campanini on the field, first as a player and then as assistant coach from 1990 to 1994, Florida Tech’s soccer team moved from the basement to the penthouse.

Campanini represented Florida Tech in NCAA Division II soccer, winning a national championship in 1988 as a player and also as a member of the coaching staff in 1991.

His excellence in the sport earned him three spots in the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame, both as a player and with the teams.

BINO-CAMPANINI-580-2 — LEFT TO RIGHT: Dylan Lewis, Steve Freeman, Bino Campanini, Robin Chan, Figi Haig and Eddie Enders. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

“I like to say I’m a three-time Sports Hall of Fame winner,” said Campanini.

After college, Campanini played for the Cocoa Expos in the United Soccer Leagues.

“It was a very strong team that made it to the final four,” explained Campanini.

Bino Campanini with his father and mother. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com) — Bino Campanini, left, with his father, mother and family friend. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

In addition to Florida Tech’s Sports Hall of Fame, Campanini was inducted into the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame and was selected for the Sunshine State Conference Silver Anniversary soccer team.

With a 1992 master’s in business administration from his alma mater, Campanini headed to the corporate world for 17 years, starting in marketing with the Cape Canaveral-based firm of Stottler Stagg & Associates Architects Engineers Planners.

“I was there until 2010, when I decided to come back to Florida Tech,” said Campanini, who was CEO of Stottler Stagg & Associates when he left.

Campanini represented Florida Tech in NCAA Division II soccer, winning a national championship in 1988 as a player and also as a member of the coaching staff in 1991. His excellence in the sport earned him three spots in the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame, both as a player and with the teams. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com) — Bino Campanini, far left, represented Florida Tech in NCAA Division II soccer, winning a national championship in 1988 as a player and also as a member of the coaching staff in 1991. His excellence in the sport earned him three spots in the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame, both as a player and with the teams. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

In 2013, he was named vice president for alumni affairs for Florida Tech, a position that requires around-the-world travel, often with university president Dr. Anthony Catanese.

“We have such a diverse alumni body,” said Campanini.

“We take the story of Florida Tech to our alumni around the world and inspire them to support their university.”

MULTI GENERATION SOCCER FAMILY

Soccer remains very important in the Campanini family.

The next generation – Isabella, 20, Luca, 17, and Carlo, 14 – are all engaged in the sport. Isabella, a sophomore at Florida Tech, is on the soccer team. Both Luca and Carlo play in Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy’s soccer program, which Campanini helps as much as possible.

“It’s come full circle,” said Campanini.