Instrumental in the recent success enjoyed by the New York University men’s soccer program has been assistant coach Nick Penze, who is in his eighth season with the Violets after joining the staff in 2002.
Penze’s efforts in helping to develop the Violets’ goalkeepers has enabled the team to go 34-18-8 over the past three seasons while making the first two NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship appearances (2006, 2007) in program history. In 2008, the squad went 6-9-3 as netminder Marek Urbanski earned Honorable Mention All-University Athletic Association (UAA) accolades after recording six shutouts and allowing one goal or less in 11 contests.
Strong goalkeeping also proved pivotal in 2006, as NYU advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championships. The Violets established school records for wins (15-4-4), longest winning streak (10) and longest unbeaten streak (12, 10-0-2) in large part due to the play of d3kicks.com First Team All-Metropolitan Region honoree Chris Wright, who helped NYU’s netminders notch 11 clean sheets and a 0.62 goals against average.
In 2007, the Violets finished 13-5-1 and climbed as high as #4 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division III Poll before bowing to Hamilton College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Along the way, NYU posted the second-longest shutout streak in school history, keeping opponents scoreless for 524:06.
Overall, the Violets have produced five postseason appearances in Penze’s seven seasons, including three Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Metro Tournament appearances (2002, 2003, 2005), while posting a 72-47-17 (.619) record. The Violet netminders spearheaded a school-best scoreless streak of 571:02 in 2005 as NYU earned its first-ever NSCAA/adidas poll appearance, ascending to #8 nationally during that scoreless streak.
A former goalkeeper at Western Illinois University, Penze majored in biology and played for the Leathernecks’ soccer team from 1989-93. A former All-Conference, All-Area and team MVP at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, IL, Penze also played for the Chicago Kickers and Chicago Sockers Football Clubs.
In addition to his duties at NYU, Penze also owns and operates a manufacturers representative agency.
A native of Brunswick, GA, Penze resides in Manhattan with his wife Paige, son Dylan and daughter Lauren.
