Rider University Athletics

Larry Povia begins his eighth season on the staff of Charlie Inverso in 2019.

In 2015, 2016 and 2018, Povia helped Rider advance to NCAAs, while the Broncs reached the MAAC Championship Game for the third-straight year in 2017. 

The Broncs won 14 games in 2015, the most in 18 years and the second most ever. The 14th win was in the MAAC Championship Game, sending the Broncs to the NCAA Championship Tournament against defending National Champion Virginia. A year later, Rider returned to the NCAA Tournament, winning 13 games.  

The groundwork for the historic 2015 season was set the previous season.

In 2014 the Rider men’s soccer team (9-7-2) enjoyed its best season in 16 years. The Broncs were picked to finish eighth in the 11-team MAAC and finished third. Rider led the entire nation with 40 goals scored during the regular season.

Povia returned to his alma mater as a member of the Rider University men's soccer coaching staff in 2011.

The head coach of the 2010 Mercer Community College Region 19 Champion soccer team, Povia had served with Rider head coach Charlie Inverso at Mercer. 

"For 24 years at Mercer I always felt as if I had the best assistant coaches in the country," said Inverso, who was named the Rider head coach in January 2011. "Larry was a huge part of what we were able to achieve and it is great to have him back at his alma mater."

Povia is a 1977 graduate of Rider, where he was a four-year letter winner as a goalkeeper and team captain for the Broncs. As a junior he played in 16 of the 17 games and compiled 9.4 saves per game. As a senior captain he shutout Hofstra, Saint Peter's, Drexel, Rutgers and Kean.

Povia served under Inverso for 24 years as the MCCC assistant coach and goalkeeping coach. Under Inverso and Povia, the Vikings earned a record of 434-46-14 and won five National Junior College Athletic Association titles (of the program's eight championships).

Povia helped Mercer advance to the NJCAA Final Four 12 times and has trained a long list of All-Region and All-American players. "Working with Charlie again is great, and to be at my alma mater is a dream come true," said Povia.

Povia was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2008, one of only two assistant coaches ever to be selected and in April, 2015, Povia was inducted into the Mercer County Soccer Hall of Fame.

"He has a passion that is second to none and I know he is really proud to be coaching the team that he once captained," Inverso said.

Before attending Rider Povia attend Steinert High School, where he played goal, and after Rider he played professionally with the Trenton Extension.