Wilson (Junior) de Medeiros has served as an assistant for the Herons' soccer team since 2015. From 2019-2025, he also was placed in charge of the William Smith Soccer JV team.
Medeiros has helped the Herons to a 172-21-22 overall record. He has helped William Smith win eight Liberty League regular season titles and seven tournamenttitles. The Herons have made nine NCAA Championship appearances including the 2019 and 2024 National Championship final.Medeiros has worked with with 18 All-American players in that time. Medeiros has been a part of the William Smith coaching staff that earned the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year award in 2017, 2019 and 2021 and United Soccer Coaches Regional Staff of the Year in 2019, 2021 and 2024.
A native of Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Junior is one of the true pioneer's in soccer development, he is the the founder of the “Safe Zone” Method with he has developed through his experience playing and coaching with some of the biggest professional clubs and soccer programs in the world. The Herons have adopted many components of Coach Junior’s methodology.
Medeiros grew up playing on the streets and beaches of Brazil and was one of the original developers of world-wide beach soccer and FUTSAL in Rio de Janeiro.
His professional experience and licenses include:
Bachelor and Degree in Physical Education Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ) 1988
License A CBF/CONMEBOL/FIFA -2015
Football Federation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FFERJ)
CBF – Top Training Brazil Academy
Coach U20 – Southeast Asian Team – Nike Project – Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia
FCBEscola (F.C. Barcelona) – Head Coach
America Futebol Clube – Head Coach-Rio de Janeiro
In addition to his responsibilities with the Herons, Medeiros also serves as the Director of Coaching & Training for Full Circle Sports Clubs in Rochester and serves as a Head Coach for Rochester Futbol Club.
Medeiros lives in Rochester with his wife Monica and two sons Lucas & Caio.
