Kyle Dezotell tabbed as Josh Shapiro’s successor at Tufts

Kyle Dezotell heads to Tufts after spending three years at the helm of Ithaca. (Ithaca Athletics)

At recruiting events, Kyle Dezotell (Newport, Vt.) and Josh Shapiro would often cross paths and exchange thoughts on Division III soccer, recruits and the like.

Now, Dezotell has taken over from Shapiro as Tufts' head coach after the latter departed this past January to steer the ship at Harvard, a struggling Ivy League side in Division I.

The challenge ahead – following in Shapiro’s footsteps after he led the Jumbos to four of the last six national titles, including back-to-back ones, plus NESCAC titles in 2017 and ‘19 – wasn’t lost on Dezotell.