Former star SMU midfielder Giampaulo Pedroso makes his return to the Hilltop in 2008 as an assistant coach. One of the more highly decorated players in SMU history, Pedroso was named second-team All-America by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in 1991, and was named first-team All-Midwest Region in 1991 and 1992. A gifted playmaker, Pedroso still is tied for fifth place in school history with 28 assists. Pedroso graduated from SMU in 1993 with a double major in psychology and physical education and a minor in Latin American studies. Following his graduation, Pedroso embarked on a 10-year professional playing career, playing seven seasons with the Dallas Sidekicks and three with the Houston Hotshots of the Major Indoor Soccer League. During his years with the Sidekicks, Pedroso helped his teams reach the MISL finals in eight of his 10 seasons, including three seasons in which he helped the Sidekicks bring championships to Dallas. While in Houston, he also served as the Hotshots[apos] camp director. Pedroso has coached with the Olympic Development Program (ODP) for the North Texas State Soccer Association (NTSSA) and South Texas Youth Soccer Association (STYSA), worked as a scout in the Minority Youth Identification Program for the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), and has coached at The Highlands School in Irving, Texas. He has coached youth club soccer throughout his playing career, and continued coaching after retiring as a player, and spent the 2002 season as a volunteer assistant coach for the SMU women[apos]s team. Among the clubs with which he has coached are D[apos]Feeters, FC Dallas Youth, Andromeda and the Texas Premier FC in Houston. In addition to his playing career, Pedroso worked his way up from a ticket account executive with the Dallas Burn to director of soccer business development with FC Dallas. He also has worked as director of operations for Soccer Futebol, which coordinates international tours for American youth soccer teams. He has one son: Gianluca, 4.
