NYU Athletics

The 2003-04 season marked Richard Mueller’s fourth as the head golf coach at New York University. And, it proved to be his best year yet.

For the first time in team history, the Violets qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship. NYU finished 23rd in the nation, and senior Brian Berkey was the team’s top performer with a 44th-place individual finish.

It was a season of many highlights for Mueller’s team, as the Violets won the prestigious Williams College Invitational, the ECAC Qualifier, and finished a best-ever third at the ECAC Championship and second at the University Athletic Association Championship. For their season-long efforts, Mueller and his assistant Darryl Jack collected UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

Individually, sophomore Charles Kerecz earned First Team All-UAA honors, while junior Gabriel Lee and sophomore Kunal Rawal received Second Team All-UAA accolades. Berkey earned CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-America honors, as well as All-American Scholar honors from the Golf Coaches’ Association of America (GCAA). In addition, three Violets earned UAA Spring Sport All-Academic accolades.

In 2002-03, Mueller’s squad won three invitational championships: the Southern Maine Invitational, the ECAC Qualifier, and the East Stroudsburg Invitational.

A 1999 NYU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in music business, Mueller added a master’s degree in higher education administration from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education in 2004. A four-year member of the Violets’ golf program, Mueller received the team’s “Iron Horse” Award as a junior for his consistent play, and earned team MVP honors as a senior captain.

“We had one goal last year,” Mueller admitted. “NCAA’s or bustand we made it. It again proves that our location provides no excuse for us not to have one of the best programs in Division III. Yes, we may travel a little longer, be a little more creative, and be better managers of our time. But, these are all characteristics that make my program exciting and unique. I want student-athletes that like a challenge and have a desire to excel in less than ideal conditions.

"Our goals for next year are to take yet another step forward," Mueller continued. “We want to win the UAA’s and we want a top-10 finish at next year’s NCAA Championship.”

A member of the GCAA, the USGA, and a coaching member of the AJGA, Mueller also serves on the ECAC, GCAA All-America Scholar, and NCAA Division III Men’s Golf committees.

A native of Greenlawn, NY, and a current Manhattan resident, Mueller also serves as the Evening Operations Manager at NYU’s Coles Sports & Recreation Center. He enjoys being a member of the badminton club at NYU, and is also a musician who frequently appears in New York City nightclubs.

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