NYU Athletics

The 2003 season marked Joe Behan’s eighth year as head coach of the New York University men’s soccer team. His squad finished the season with an overall record of 9-6-4 (2-4-1 in the University Athletic Association), and advanced to the ECAC Division III Metro Championship Tournament for the third consecutive season.

Several of Behan’s student-athletes were cited for their individual performances during the 2003 season. Senior midfielder Scott Gwartz earned CoSIDA District 1 First Team Academic All-America honors. Junior midfielder James Walkinshaw was selected Second Team All-UAA and All-Metro Region, and was twice named UAA Athlete of the Week. Senior midfielder Elliot Marquis received Third Team All-Metro Region and All-UAA Honorable Mention accolades, while senior goalkeeper Michael Bonacuso earned UAA Athlete of the Week honors. In addition, nine team members were awarded UAA Fall Sport All-Academic honors.

In 2002, Behan led the team to an 11-7-2 record, while his 2001 squad recorded a best-ever 14 wins and captured the program’s first-ever ECAC Division III Metro Championship.

Behan inherited a NYU soccer program in 1996 that had placed seventh three times and no higher than fifth in UAA competition during the seven prior seasons. Currently, his teams have posted winning records in three straight seasons and in four of the last five.

We have achieved our goal to instill a winning tradition at NYU,” Behan said. “Now we must focus on moving up in the UAA."

In 1999, Behan and his assistants earned UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors as his young squad began to re-establish a serious soccer program at NYU. For the first time since 1988, the Violets finished with a winning record (11-6-2). They also tied the NYU record for most UAA points in a season (10), while their fourth-place UAA finish (3-3-1) was second highest in school history. The squad also earned a berth in the ECAC Metro Championship.

A 1995 graduate of NYU’s College of Arts and Science with a bachelor’s degree in English literature, Behan was a standout player for the Violets. As a striker, he was named First Team All-UAA in 1992 and 1993, and earned Honorable Mention accolades in 1994.

Aside from his career at NYU, Behan has extensive playing experience with several area club teams, including the New York Rovers and the New York Shamrocks.

A native of Dublin, Ireland, Behan currently lives in Mineola, NY, with his wife Missy.

Behan’s year-by-year numbers