Bella DeFabbo joined the Duquesne coaching staff as assistant coach in February of 2025.
DeFabbo returns to the Bluff as an assistant coach after a four-year playing career for the Dukes as a goalkeeper from 2018 to 2021. She will tutor the Duquesne goalkeepers after spending the last two years in goalkeeper training at the development stage for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of Duquesne women’s soccer once again,” DeFabbo said. “I’m incredibly grateful for the role Duquesne has played in my growth as both a player and a person. I look forward to joining this amazing coaching staff and helping coach the next generation of Dukes.”
During her career with the Dukes, DeFabbo, a native of Cranberry Township, Pa., appeared in five matches, including two starts, and registered 10 saves. She is a 2022 graduate of the Duquesne University School of Nursing and is a registered nurse at UPMC.
“I’m excited to have Bella come back to the Bluff,” head coach Jessica Giegucz said. “She has knowledge of Duquesne women’s soccer as a former successful member of the goalkeeper core during her collegiate career. Bella will work primarily with the goalkeepers and the backline and will work to elevate the success of the goalkeepers with her coaching background, relatability in that position and her IQ of the game from the defending side of the field. Most importantly, Bella has a great ability to create trust and professionalism within relationships and I am confident that our team will benefit from her experience.”
