Liza Offreda ’10

A graduate of the College of Education and Human Services, Liza Offreda has been a varsity athlete, gold medalist in the Deaf Olympics and has recently been appointed to the head coaching position of the women’s soccer team at Gallaudet University, in Washington D.C. Previously an assistant coach there for four years, Offreda was already very familiar with the program and the players, and now plans to rebuild the program while highlighting the academic success of her players.“Student first and athlete second,” she emphasizes. “I take pride in supporting Gallaudet University’s students in balancing both worlds as a student and an athlete.”She also lived up to this motto at Montclair State, where she played for the varsity women’s soccer team and remained committed to her studies. As a deaf student, she found that those around her were often a main source of inspiration.CharChar322

Offreda says, “As a Red Hawk, under the helm of Coach Eileen Blair, I was able to thrive and grow as a student-athlete. Not only did she push me to become a better soccer player, her supportive nature also pushed me to grow as a human being.”

Similarly, English department professors Jessica Restaino and Naomi Liebler also positively impacted Offreda’s life and remain an inspiration to her today in teaching and coaching.

After graduating from Montclair State in 2010, Offreda moved to Washington D.C. to pursue a master’s degree in Deaf Education at Gallaudet University. While earning her master’s, she taught middle school English at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School and is now a doctorate student at Northeastern University.

Coach Offreda is also a member of the United States Deaf National Soccer Team. She has won three gold medals, one at the 2009 Summer Deaflympics in Tapei, Taiwan, one at the 2012 Deaf World Cup in Ankara, Turkey and the third at Sofia, Bulgaria, the 2013 Deaflympics.

“I always refer to my years at Montclair State as the best time of my life. I not only received an exceptional education, but the relationships I forged are ones I will never forget and I am grateful for all of them. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today if it were not for Montclair State.”