Michael Bonacuso is in his third season as an assistant coach with the New York University men’s soccer team. Having joined the staff prior to the 2009 season, he is responsible for goalkeeper training sessions, game analysis, the team’s fitness program, and recruiting.
Last season, Bonacuso helped the Violets claim their first-ever University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship behind the stingiest defense in school history. Under Bonacuso’s tutelage, NYU broke the school records for goals-against average (0.47) and consecutive shutout minutes (754:40), while also tying the mark for shutouts (12).
The 2010 squad also became the first in UAA history to go all seven Association games without allowing a goal. First-year starter Matt Stieve broke Bonacuso’s record for career goals-against average (0.56), earned First Team All-UAA honors and was named NYU’s Senior Athlete of the Year.
For its efforts, NYU earned UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
A 2004 graduate of NYU’s College of Arts and Science with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, Bonacuso was a four-year mainstay between the pipes for the Violets.
As a freshman during the 2000 season, Bonacuso played every minute of every game, displaying the durability that became his goalkeeping trademark. He helped NYU earn three consecutive ECAC Division III Metro Tournament bids (2001-03), and the ECAC Metro title in 2001. Bonacuso’s 0.96 career goals-against average and his 0.49 single-season goals-against average as a senior in 2003 set the Violets' career and single-season records, respectively, with the single-season mark still standing.
Bonacuso also made an impact off the pitch, as he received NYU's President's Service Award from President John Sexton for his contributions to the university's students and families immediately following the acts of 9/11. Bonacuso was instrumental in the transformation of the Jerome S. Coles Sports Center into a makeshift Red Cross center that provided shelter, cots, food, and phones for students to contact their families.
After graduation, Bonacuso was commissioned as a United States Army Officer. He is a two-time Iraqi Freedom Veteran, deploying with the 10th Mountain Division to Baghdad from 2005-06 and then to Kirkuk from 2007-08. Bonacuso was promoted to the rank of captain before being honorably discharged from the active army. He still serves with the New York Army National Guard.
Prior to arriving at NYU, Bonacuso played with the Albertson Express Soccer Club, made the Long Island Junior Soccer League SELECT team three times and was a former New York State Olympic Development Program player. During his senior year at Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY, Bonacuso captained the Flyers to their first-ever Catholic High School Athletic Association state championship game.
As a coach, Bonacuso holds both an Advanced National Diploma and an Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
Bonacuso is a native and resident of East Williston, NY.
