NYU Athletics

Entering his seventh season as the head women’s volleyball coach at New York University, Ed Caesar has firmly established himself as one of the top teachers in the Division III game and while helping the Violets maintain their place among the nation’s elite.

Sporting a career record of 201-61 (.767), Caesar is ranked 10th among active Division III coaches in winning percentage. In five of his six seasons on the Violets’ sideline, Caesar has piloted the program into the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Tournament Championship. NYU reached the Division III National Championship Final in 2003, and then earned a trip to the Final Four in 2004.

Since his arrival at NYU, Caesar has collected the University Athletic Association (UAA) Coaching Staff of the Year award (2003), and was cited as the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association (AVCA) Division III New York Region Coach of the Year in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

In 2007, Caesar’s team had a 19-19 record, as the young team advanced to the second round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III South Tournament. Erin Noonan captured the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association Division III New York Region Rookie of the Year award, while Noonan and captain Stacy Goto earned Honorable Mention All-UAA notice.

With a veteran squad in 2006, Caesar’s squad notched a record of 33-7, captured four in-season tournament titles, won its fourth straight New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) Championship, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

In addition to his coaching acumen, Caesar also deserves kudos for the quality of student-athletes he has recruited to NYU. This is especially true when looking at the honors and awards received by his top players in 2006. Senior Elena Drinka was selected as an AVCA First Team All-American and the NYSWCAA Player of the Year for the second straight year, while also collecting First Team All-UAA honors. Senior Natasha Boysaw and sophomore Caitlin Grundman both garnered AVCA Honorable Mention All-American accolades, while both players joined Drinka on the All-NYSWCAA First Team. Boysaw was also a Second Team All-UAA pick, while Grundman earned Honorable Mention All-UAA.

Caesar’s student-athletes have proven themselves to be equally talented off the court, as four Violets received UAA Fall Sport All-Academic honors in 2007.

Prior to becoming the women’s head coach, Caesar served as an assistant coach for the NYU’s men’s volleyball team for eight seasons (1995-2002). He assisted head coach Jose Pina in leading the squad to two Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Division III Championships (2000, 2002), and to three EIVA/NCAA Tournament appearances (1999, 2001, 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 standout (1990-93) at 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 resides in Manhattan.

+ - ECAC Semifinals
* - NCAA Second Round
** - NCAA Sweet Sixteen
*** - NCAA Elite Eight
**** - NCAA Final Four
***** - NCAA Championship Runner-Up