Coaches

Ed Caesar

Head Coach

Having completed five seasons 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 has helped the Violets maintain their place among the nation’s elite.

Sporting a career record of 182-42 (.813), Caesar is ranked third among active Division III coaches in winning percentage. In each of his seasons on the Violets’ sideline, Caesar has piloted the program into the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Tournament Championship. In 2003, NYU reached the National Championship Final and again earned a trip to the Final Four in 2004.

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.

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 addition to his coaching talents, 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 earned 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.

Throughout his tenure, Caesar has continued to develop young talent. Grundman became an All-American in her first season at setter after coming to NYU as an outside hitter, while freshman Jourdan Ellis showed plenty of promise as one of the Violets’ top offensive options.

Caesar’s student-athletes have proven themselves to be equally talented in academic settings. Five Violets received UAA Fall Sport All-Academic honors in 2006, while Boysaw was cited as an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award recipient.

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 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.

Ed Caesar Record
Year
W
L
Pct.
UAA
Finish
Record
2002**
34
15
.694
3rd
7-5
2003*****
40
5
.888
2nd
10-2
2004****
40
7
.851
3rd
7-5
2005***
35
8
.814
3rd
8-4
2006*
33
7
.825
3rd
8-4
Totals
182
42
.816
40-20

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

Jennifer Gardikas

Assistant

Jennifer Gardikas is in her second season as an assistant coach with the New York University women’s volleyball program, one she helped lift to national prominence during her playing days.

In her first season as an assistant coach, Gardikas helped the Violets finish 33-7 and capture their fourth straight New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) Championship. The Violets also placed third in the University Athletic Association (UAA) and qualified for the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships for the fifth consecutive season.

Gardikas helped produce three American Volleyball Coaches’ Association (AVCA) Division III All-Americans in 2006: Elena Drinka (First Team), Natasha Boysaw and Caitlin Grundman (Honorable Mention).

Before joining the NYU coaching staff, Gardikas was a three-year member of the Violets’ volleyball team (2003-05) and an integral part of the Violets’ rise to national prominence. The Violets advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen all three years of her career, reached the Final Four twice (2003, 2004), and finished as National Runner-Up in 2003.

Gardikas earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honors and was selected to the NCAA All-Tournament Team in 2003. As a senior, she earned AVCA Third Team All-America honors and was voted CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Second Team Academic All-American.

A 2006 graduate with a degree in marketing from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Gardikas earned First Team All-UAA honors in 2003 and Second Team honors in 2004 and 2005. She also garnered All-Tournament honors six times during her career.

A two-time team captain, Gardikas established the team’s single-season mark of 115 service aces in 2005.

Prior to enrolling at NYU, Gardikas played one season at Golden West Community College in Huntington Beach, California, where she earned Orange Empire Conference honors and helped lead the team to its 10th consecutive California State Championship. Additionally, Gardikas earned a gold medal with her 2001 Junior National Championship club team.

A native of Huntington Beach, Gardikas resides in Manhattan.

Becca Segal

Assistant

Becca Segal is in her first year as an assistant coach with the New York University women’s volleyball team. Her primary duties will include assisting with practices and handling day-to-day in-season operations.

A 2005 graduate of Brandeis University with degrees in politics and American studies, Segal was a four-year starter with the Judges’ volleyball team. She led the squad and finished fourth in the University Athletic Association (UAA) with 121 total blocks as a team captain her senior year, while also averaging 2.78 kills per game. She also led the team in blocks as a sophomore and junior.

In addition to her responsibilities at NYU, Segal also works as a field manager and volleyball referee with ZogSports, a co-ed social sports club for young professionals in New York that focuses on charitable donations. She has also served as a coach with the Smash Volleyball Club in Newton, Massachusetts, where she conducted drills and assisted with improving fundamentals.

A former employee of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Segal worked as an employment services analyst and as an assistant counselor for the Parks Opportunity Program.

A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Segal resides in Manhattan.