Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague

Tyler Chiara just had a feeling that his soccer career was not over. 

Chiara was all set to begin his senior year, attending The College of New Jersey, but he was not playing soccer at the school. 

“I guess I had been away from the game for a while,” said Chiara, who played soccer at Monroe Township High School and then New Jersey City University, before giving up the sport to concentrate on a music career and his academics. “I really missed playing. I guess the soccer frenzy came over me and I really wanted to play, but I didn’t want to play where I was at.” 

So Chiara made a phone call to Kevin East, his former coach at NJCU and current coach at Rutgers-Newark. 

“I thought of Coach East and decided to give him a call, to see if he was interested in having a player like me,” Chiara said. “Part of the deal was that I wanted to go to a school that played against The College of New Jersey. I wanted to get a little vengeance there.” 

Regardless of the motives, East liked the idea that a talented and experienced player like Chiara would want to join the Scarlet Raiders. 

“He’s a little bit older and experienced,” East said. “He’s been around for a while. When he came to Jersey City, we had some of his friends from high school on the team. Tyler had taken a year off, then decided to come out. I remember that he always put forth a great effort. He called me and said he only had a semester left before graduating, but he wanted to play. I definitely thought he could help us.” 

At age 23, Chiara is a little bit older than most of his Scarlet Raider teammates. 

“I think that’s a good thing,” East said. “It took Tyler a little while before he realized what he truly wanted to do. Tyler is an excellent student and is a good addition to the team. You can never question his effort. He always gives a good effort.” 

Chiara said that he felt comfortable with the R-N soccer program, mainly because of his familiarity with East and assistant coach Tony Flores, who was once Chiara’s teammate at NJCU. 

“But the team in general has been great,” Chiara said. “It was like I had been there for years. They accepted me right away and I felt like they knew me forever. It was a very easy transition and I fit in right away.” 

As for the age barrier? 

“It’s funny, because last year, I was an assistant coach at my high school (Monroe Township H.S.) and I remember talking to those kids, telling them that I was transferring to Rutgers-Newark and I could be playing against them next year,” Chiara said. “Well, one of the kids is playing for William Paterson. I’m playing against a bunch of guys I coached? That’s a little weird. 

Added Chiara, “But with our team, once you get started and playing, age doesn’t come into play. No one notices who’s 18 and who’s 23. But there is a little difference and it is a little weird.” 

Chiara has already made an impact on the R-N soccer program. He’s scored two goals thus far, including the second goal in a 2-0 win over NJCU last weekend. 

“He can finish when you give him a chance,” East said. “Scoring from the midfield is so big for us. It makes us a more dangerous team. He gets himself into good spots and makes himself dangerous. Against NJCU, he got inside the box and scored on a header.” 

“I’m just trying to help the team and be effective,” Chiara said. “I was happy to get the goal and help us get a big NJAC win. It’s good to know that I was an important player in that win. It’s a good feeling.”
When Chiara is not playing soccer, he’s making music. He’s been involved in several bands in the past and is adept at many different musical instruments, including the drums, the piano, the bass and the guitar. 

“Right now, I’m working with a new group,” Chiara said. “It’s a new group that plays rock and roll, but we also do like a psychedelic Latin beat, like Santana. I’m always thinking about making music. It’s why I stopped playing soccer for a while, because music became more serious for me. I’m getting back into both now.” 

Chiara would also love to become a soccer coach some day. 

“The degree in history is so I can get that piece of paper,” Chiara said. 

“He is a bit eccentric and a bit of a character,” East said. “But we’re glad to have him. He’s been a good addition. It’s a little different to recruit a kid twice at two different schools. I was a little shocked when he called, but I’m glad he did. He adds a lot to the team.” 

Chiara is also happy to be playing soccer again. 

“I’m completely happy where I am,” Chiara said. “My friends all thought I was crazy, transferring to my fourth college right when I’m ready to graduate, but this is something that I had to do. I had to keep playing and I had to get one more year of soccer glory in.”