NYU Athletics

In only two seasons as the head women’s volleyball coach at New York University, Ed Caesar has already established his place in team history. After leading the Violets to the 2002 NCAA Tournament “Sweet Sixteen” in his first season, Caesar topped that by taking his team all the way to the NCAA Division III National Championship Final in 2003.

Named 2003 American Volleyball Coaches’ Association (AVCA) New York Region Coach of the Year, Caesar and his assistants (Mitch Kallick, Dominic Griffin), were also selected University Athletic Association Coaching Staff of the Year. Included in the team’s march to the NCAA Final was a victory over then-#1-ranked (and unbeaten) Juniata College in the East Region final. Overall, Caesar led the Violets to a 40-5 record, only the second time in school history that the team had won at least 40 matches.

Many of Caesar’s players received individual accolades in 2003. Sophomore Katya Khmelnitskaya was named AVCA Division III First Team All-American, as well as UAA Player of the Year. Sophomore Jennifer Gardikas and freshman Elena Drinka were selected to the AVCA Division III All-New York Region Team, while Drinka also earned AVCA Division III and New York Region Freshman of the Year honors.

Caesar’s athletes were also successful off the court, as five Violets earned UAA Fall Sport All-Academic honors.

Prior to becoming the women’s head coach, Caesar served as the assistant coach for NYU’s men’s volleyball team for eight seasons. He assisted head coach Jose Pina in leading the squad to four consecutive winning seasons, two EIVA (Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) Division III Championships, and to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1999, 2001 and 2002.

A 1993 NYU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in history, Caesar established himself as one of the Violets’ premier volleyball players. A four-year team member (1990-93) and middle blocker, Caesar established several team records, including most solo blocks in a match, most blocking assists in a season, and highest blocking average in a season. His one-season team record of 56 solo blocks, set in 1992, still remains intact.

Prior to his coaching career at NYU, Caesar served as head coach of the boys’ varsity and the girls’ junior varsity volleyball teams at Half Hollow Hills High School on Long Island. During his tenure, Caesar led the boys’ team to the Suffolk County Championship and to the New York State Championship Tournament. In addition, Caesar also coached men’s and women’s Junior Olympic teams in 1993 and 1994.

A native of Dix Hills, NY, Caesar currently resides in Manhattan.

Caesar’s Year-By-Year Records