PRESCOTT, Ariz. – The Yavapai College Athletics Department is excited to announce the hiring of Billy Gatti to be the next assistant men's soccer coach at Yavapai College. Gatti will serve on the staff with Head Coach Chris Houser who enters his second season at the helm of the Roughriders in the fall of 2023. 

"I am happy to be a part of a program with a vast winning history," said Gatti. "I want to thank Coach Houser and AD Michael Tenette for giving me the opportunity. I believe that with my playing and coaching experience, in the US and abroad, I can help the players and the program reach their goals."

Gatti brings over 25 years of coaching experience to YC, most recently as a head coach with Club Union Pigue in Argentina. Other coaching stops for Gatti include being an assistant coach with Olympians FC, head coach at Sarmiento FC, assistant head coach and goalkeeper coach at Molloy College, assistant head coach and goalkeeper coach at Long Island University, assistant coach with the Long Island Fury and assistant coaching stops at University of Bridgeport, Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University. 

As a player, Gatti played collegiately for Concordia College and Southern Connecticut State University. He was Conference Rookie of the Year at Concordia College and earned All-Conference, All-Region and All-America honors at both schools. 

In 1998, he helped lead SCSU to an NCAA Division II National Championship. Following his college career, Gatti was drafted in 1999 by the Staten Island Vipers (USL-1st Division). Later in his career, and while playing for the Long Island Rough Riders (USL-2nd Division), Gatti helped lead his team to a United Soccer League National Championship. 

Gatti also played professional soccer for the Estudiantes de Merida F.C. (Venezuelan 1st Division) in Venezuela. 

Following his time with the Rough Riders, Gatti would go on to play 10 more years of semi-professional soccer while coaching the sport as well. 

In 2001, Gatti earned his major in computer science from SCSU. In addition, he holds coaching licenses in Argentina and the United States.