Hicksville bachelor’s brutal year turned him into Long Island’s most wanted single guy

Job gone. Girlfriend gone. Dog gone.

That was Michael Nicosia’s 2025 in Dallas. And it’s just the kind of streak that sends a guy straight back to his childhood bedroom in Hicksville.

Nicosia, 31, spent four years building a life in Texas, working in investor relations, remaining in great shape and staying in love. Then it all came crashing down.

In a span of a few months, Nicosia’s dog Rocky, an Australian Shepherd, died; he broke his foot falling down a flight of stairs; got dumped by his girlfriend, and was laid off from Goldman Sachs.

By late June, Nicosia had packed up what was left of his Dallas life and pointed his rental car toward Long Island. Nicosia has called it his “drive of shame” — a 24-hour trek back to his parents’ house with his old life in the rearview mirror.

“I mean, it definitely felt like that in the moment,” he told Greater Long Island. “You plan your life or your next steps based on what’s going on in the present. And when something like this comes up, it throws a whole curveball into everything.

“Although I always knew things would get better, you’re allowed to have a little moment of weakness for yourself,” he added.

Once home, Nicosia decided to turn the low point into a pitch. He reached out to Hot and Single, a popular social media dating page, and asked to be featured — mainly, he said, to let people around New York know he was back on the market.

“I thought it would be a good idea to reach out to that page to maybe get featured,” Nicosia said. “I didn’t realize it would happen so quickly, but it was a good way to kind of put myself out there.”

Nicosia, who also loves to travel and attend EDM raves, said the attention from the ladies caught him completely off guard. He was even more surprised when the New York Post came calling with a funny, light-hearted take on Nicosia’s suddenly enviable situation.

The tabloid dubbed Nicosia Long Island’s real-life George Costanza, a nod to the “Seinfeld” character’s famous pickup line: “I’m unemployed and I live with my parents.” Nicosia said he saw the comparison coming and leaned into it.

“It was definitely hilarious,” said Nicosia, who’s in the final stages of landing a spot on a dating show set to film in October. “You have to have a sense of humor about this sort of thing.

“I think the comparison is pretty apt — although me and George don’t look completely similar. Things worked out for him on the show, so I’m sure things will work out for me in real life, hopefully.”

He also thinks there’s a lesson in why the openness about being back home with his folks has worked so well.

“Nowadays, there’s a lot of people out there pretending to be someone who they’re not,” Nicosia said. “If you’re just completely honest about yourself and forthcoming, people have more respect for you and look at you in a different light.”

Nicosia said his outlook got him through the worst of it. He credits his faith for keeping him grounded while he rebuilt.

“I put my trust into God’s hands, and whatever he has planned for me is what he has planned,” he said. “I try to worry less and put that pressure on myself, and just make sure that whatever I can do in the present. I have a positive outlook and stay motivated toward the future.”

What’s more, Nicosia said “It’s great being back home, being able to spend a lot of time with family, something that I haven’t been able to do for the past five years.”

As for what — and who – he’s actually looking for now and down the road, Nicosia said the viral moment hasn’t changed his standards. Even if his dating pool has widened considerably.

“Someone who is faith-driven, someone who is family-oriented, has a good relationship with their parents, someone who’s curious about the world, someone who is adventurous and someone who is caring and thoughtful,” he said, listing what matters most to him. “A lot of the core values still stay the same.”

The job search is moving too. Nicosia said he’s been fielding interviews almost daily since August, mostly with asset management firms, real estate companies and investment banks, along with smaller boutique shops in the investor relations and property management world.

Ask him where he wants to be a year from now, and the answer is simple.

“Definitely employed,” he said, “and hopefully in a relationship with someone special. Those are the two big things at the moment.”

This article was reported by Jayden Meadows. It was written by Brian Harmon.

_{Top: Michael Nicosia on vacation earlier this year (courtesy photo).}