Head coach Joe Behan, who has led the New York University men’s soccer program to its first two NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championships appearances, is entering his 13th season.
The Violets returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2007, losing in the first round to Hamilton College. The team finished the season 13-5-1 and climbed as high as #4 in the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America)/adidas Division III Poll. Meanwhile, midfielder Jeritt Thayer became a two-time All-American (Third Team d3kicks.com), graduated as the program’s all-time leading goal scorer (35) and signed a professional contract with the Wilmington (NC) Hammerheads of the United Soccer Leagues’ Second Division. He is Behan’s second player to join the professional ranks, as former defender Nick Katsanos (2003-06) is playing in Greece.
Behan’s players were also successful in the classroom, as eight team members earned UAA Fall Sport All-Academic honors. In addition, Matthew Tier earned Second Team ESPN The Magazine/ College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American – District 1 accolades.
In 2006, the Violets advanced to the Final Four in their first return to the NCAA Tournament since becoming a Division III program in 1982. NYU earned its highest national ranking, finishing #4 in the final NSCAA poll, and set team records for wins (15-4-4), longest winning streak (10), and longest unbeaten streak (12, 10-0-2).
Behan’s 2006 squad also established new standards for success in the University Athletic Association (UAA), tying for an all-time best second place while establishing new standards for most wins (4-2-1) and points (13). Thayer became the Violets’ first-ever UAA Player of the Year and was named to the NSCAA/adidas Division III Men’s All-America Second Team and the d3kicks.com All-America Third Team.
In 2005, Behan’s Violets made their debut in the NSCAA/adidas Division III Poll at #24 on September 13. They climbed as high as #8 in the nation on September 27 while posting a school-record shutout streak of 571:02.
In 2001, his squad recorded 14 wins and captured the program’s first-ever ECAC Division III Metro Tournament Championship.
When Behan was hired as head coach prior to the 1996 season, the team had placed seventh three times and no higher than fifth in UAA competition during the seven prior seasons. Behan’s teams have now posted winning records in five of the past six seasons.
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) and earned a berth in the ECAC Metro Tournament.
A 1995 graduate of NYU’s College of Arts and Science with a 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 lives in Mineola, NY, with his wife Missy.
Joe Behan Record
|
Year
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
UAA
|
| 1996-97 |
3
|
13
|
0
|
0-7
|
| 1997-98 |
6
|
12
|
0
|
0-7
|
| 1998-99 |
7
|
11
|
0
|
3-4
|
| 1999-00e |
11
|
6
|
2
|
3-3-1
|
| 2000-01 |
7
|
8
|
3
|
3-3-1
|
| 2001-02E |
14
|
6
|
0
|
3-4
|
| 2002-03e |
11
|
7
|
2
|
2-4-1
|
| 2003-04e |
9
|
6
|
4
|
2-4-1
|
| 2004-05 |
7
|
9
|
2
|
1-5-1
|
| 2005-06e |
11
|
7
|
1
|
3-4
|
| 2006-07** |
15
|
4
|
4
|
4-2-1
|
| 2007-08* |
13
|
5
|
1
|
4-3
|
| Totals |
114
|
94
|
19
|
28-50-6
|
* - NCAA Tournament First Round
** - NCAA Final Four
E - ECAC Metro Champions
e - ECAC Metro Tournament
