Athletics Directory
Joe Behan
Men’s Soccer
Head Coach
Telephone: 998-2072
Email: jmb1184@nyu.edu
The 2006 season marked Joe Behan’s 11th year as head coach of the New York University men's soccer team. And, in no uncertain terms, it was his (and NYU’s) best season ever.
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 (National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America)/adidas Division III Poll, and set team records for wins (15), 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). The Violets ended up in a tie for second place, their highest finish ever, while setting new marks for most wins (4-2-1) and points (13).
Under Behan’s guidance, the 15-4-4 Violets produced their first All-American in 37 years (junior midfielder Jeritt Thayer). The team’s scoring leader and co-captain was named to the NSCAA/adidas Division III Men’s All-America Second Team and the d3kicks.com All-America Third Team. Thayer, who became the first-ever Violet to claim UAA Player of the Year accolades, was also named First Team All-UAA and First Team All-Metro Region by both d3kicks.com and NSCAA/adidas.
Several other of Behan’s players also earned post-season honors. Senior defender Nick Katsanos garnered First Team All-UAA honors, as well as First Team All-Metro Region accolades from NSCAA/adidas. Sophomore goalkeeper Chris Wright, who converted the game-winning penalty kick in the Violets’ shootout victory over Stevens Institute of Technology in the NCAA regional semifinals, received First Team All-Metro honors from d3kicks.com, while also earning Honorable Mention All-UAA accolades. Sophomore forward Adam Dhanens, senior forward Max Sachar and senior defender Jon Simos were also named Honorable Mention.
Behan’s players were also winners in the classroom, as 17 team members earned UAA Fall Sport All-Academic honors. Sachar earned First Team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-American – District 1 accolades, while Simos was selected to the Second Team.
In 2005, Behan’s Violets made their debut in the NSCAA/adidas Division III Poll at #24 on September 13 and 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 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 bachelor's 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.