Coaches

Bruce Haberli

Head Coach

The 2006-07 season marked Bruce Haberli’s 12th year as head wrestling coach at New York University, and he produced his fourth NCAA All-American as junior Nick Coleman finished sixth in the nation at 184 pounds.

Overall, Haberli’s wrestlers compiled a 15-9-1 dual-meet record in ’06-07, won the Oneonta Red Dragon Invitational, finished second at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship, took sixth at the Metropolitan Qualifier, and placed ninth at the New York State Championships.

In addition to Coleman, senior Gene Kobilansky, who was chosen the UAA’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, also qualified for the NCAA’s. Together, the duo lifted NYU to a 31st-place national finish. Both wrestlers also won individual titles at the Red Dragon Invitational, earned All-New York State honors, were selected to the UAA All-Association Team, and received UAA Athlete of the Week honors on several occasions.

Overall, Haberli has produced four NCAA All-Americans at NYU, six Metropolitan Champions and 26 UAA Champions. Additionally, his teams have had at least one National Wrestling Coaches’ Association Scholar All-American in 11 of his 12 seasons (Kobilansky and Coleman were selected in ’06-07).

The team’s accolades in 2006-07 were not confined to the mat, however, as nine of Haberli’s wrestlers earned UAA Winter Sport All-Academic honors.

In 2005-06, Haberli and his assistants were named UAA Coaching Staff of the Year as the “grapplers” posted a 16-2-2 dual meet record and won their first UAA title in six years. It was the most victories by NYU since Haberli’s 1999-2000 squad had 19 wins.

During his tenure at NYU, Haberli has led his teams to three UAA Championships (1999, 2000, 2006) and has complied a 131-115-3 career record.

Many wrestlers have flourished at NYU during Haberli’s tenure. Michael Oldham (1997-2001) set team records for most wins in a season (41) and career (141), won a Metropolitan Championship (157 lbs. in 2000), and was a two-time New York State Collegiate Championship Finalist. Tyras Bookman earned back-to-back All-America honors in 1999 and 2000. During the 2001-02 season, Jason Snow earned All-America honors. His fourth-place finish (174 lbs.) at the NCAA Championships was the highest of any of Haberli’s wrestlers. Snow also won the UAA 174-lb. weight class, and became NYU’s first-ever four-time individual UAA champion. In 2002-03, Stephen Hult earned UAA Rookie of the Year honors, while Kobilansky won the same honor in 2003-04. In 2004-05, Vinnie Russo was named UAA Co-Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Prior to joining the NYU staff in 1995, Haberli served as the head wrestling coach at Manhattan College, where he was also the school's Director of Recreation and Intramurals. He was named Metropolitan Coach of the Year in 1995 and New England University Wrestling Association Coach of the Year in 1992, 1993 and 1995. Under Haberli’s direction, Manhattan produced its first-ever Metropolitan Champion and its first finalist in the New York State Collegiate Championships. Two Manhattan wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Division I Championships during Haberli’s tenure.

A former captain of the Hunter College wrestling team, Haberli was an NCAA Championship qualifier who compiled a 67-20 career record. He went on to attend Lehman College, where he earned his bachelor of science degree in therapeutic recreation and physical education.

Haberli made the transition from wrestler to coach when he became an assistant at C.W. Post in 1985-86. He coached there for one year before taking the helm at Manhattan prior to the 1986-87 season. Haberli also coached the New York City region team in the Empire State Games from 1990-93.

Haberli has served as a member of the New York Athletic Club's Wrestling Committee and was president of the New England University Wrestling Association from 1991-95. He now serves as the treasurer for the New York State Coaches' Association.

A native of River Vale, New Jersey, Haberli resides in Montvale, NJ, with his wife Michelle and their two sons, Trevor and Roman.

Bruce Haberli Record
Year
W
L
T
Pct.
UAA
Finish
1995-96
4
9
0
.308
3rd
1996-97
4
11
0
.421
3rd
1997-98
8
11
0
.421
3rd
1998-99
12
8
0
.632
1st
1999-00
19
6
0
.760
1st
2000-01
14
11
0
.560
3rd
2001-02
13
17
0
.433
2nd
2002-03
10
12
0
.454
2nd
2003-04
5
13
0
.277
3rd
2004-05
11
7
0
.611
2nd
2005-06
16
2
2
.850
1st
2006-07
15
9
1
.620
2nd
Totals
131
116
3
.530

Corey Luce

Assistant

Corey Luce, who is in his second season as an assistant coach with the New York University wrestling team, works primarily with the team’s lower weight classes.

In his first season with the team, NYU compiled a 15-9-1 dual-meet record, won the Oneonta Red Dragon Invitational, produced a runner-up performance at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship, took sixth at the Metropolitan Qualifier, finished ninth at the New York State Championships, and placed 31st at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. .

Luce joined the NYU staff after four seasons as an assistant wrestling coach and recruiting coordinator at Hunter College. During his tenure with the Hawks, Luce helped produce four national qualifiers and two All-Americans, as well as the program’s first-ever New York State Champion.

Prior to coaching at Hunter, Luce served as an assistant coach for one season at Maritime College.

“Coach Luce has a real passion for the sport,” said NYU head coach Bruce Haberli. “He really enjoys teaching technique, running workouts, wrestling with the guys, and recruiting. Anything at all that has to do with the sport he loves to be involved in.”

A 2000 graduate of Wilkes University with degrees in elementary education and psychology, Luce wrestled for the Colonels for two seasons following his transfer from Lock Haven University. A scholarship wrestler for the NCAA Division I Bald Eagles, Luce was a placewinner at several tournaments (Penn State Open, West Virginia Open, Wilkes Open) during his career. Wrestling in the 118 and 125-pound weight classes, he was a member of Lock Haven’s squad that finished fourth in the nation at the NCAA Division I Championships during his sophomore season.

Luce went on to earn a master’s degree in physical education from Queens College in 2006.

Luce also has experience as a head wrestling coach, having served at both Dickey Elementary School (1996-97) in Lock Haven and at Dalton High School (2000-01) in Manhattan.

A native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Luce resides in Manhattan.

Brian Benson

Assistant

Brian Benson is in his first season as an assistant coach with the New York University wrestling team. He will work primarily with the program’s lightweights.

Benson enjoyed a solid career at NYU as a 125-lb. grappler, compiling a 58-42 overall record from 2001-05. He earned NYU Freshman of the Year honors and placed second at 125 at the Metropolitan Qualifiers in 2001-02. As a sophomore in 2002-03, Benson captured NYU Most Valuable Wrestler honors and took third at the Metropolitan Qualifiers.

Prior to returning to his alma mater, Benson was an assistant coach at powerhouse Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY, from 2005-07. He helped the program win a pair of Catholic High School Athletic Association Championships during his tenure.

Benson began his coaching career while grappling at NYU, working as a counselor at the J Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camp at the University of Minnesota in the summer of 2003.

A 2005 graduate, Benson earned a bachelor of science degree in sociology from NYU’s College of Arts and Science.

Benson, who also works as a commodities day trader at the New York Mercantile Exchange, resides in the East Village of Manhattan.

Mark McLean

Assistant

Mark McLean is in his first season as an assistant coach with the New York University wrestling program. His primary roles with the team will consist of working with the heavyweights and serving as a mentor, both on and off the mat.

A two-year wrestler for NYU, McLean posted a career record of 34-17. A captain and an National Wrestling Coaches Association of America Academic All-American as a senior in 2004, McLean took first place in the Brute-Adidas Invitational at 197 pounds.

In addition to his role with the wrestling program, McLean also serves as an equities trader for SMB Capital, where he trains new traders in various techniques of reading and deciphering various markets.

Prior to coming to NYU, McLean attended Middlesex County College (2000-01), where he was a Junior College All-American after finishing eighth at the Junior National Championships in the heavyweight division. He first attended the University of Virginia (1998-2000) on both an academic and athletic scholarship.

A former standout at Blair Academy, McLean is a native of Plainfield, New Jersey, and resides in Jersey City, NJ.

Vincent Russo

Assistant

Vinnie Russo is in his first season as an assistant coach with the New York University wrestling program. His primary roles will consist of drilling and wrestling with the team’s middleweights, working on their overall technique, and helping to mentor all of the team’s student-athletes.

Russo competed at NYU from 2002-06, posting a 67-41 career record. He earned University Athletic Association (UAA) Most Outstanding Wrestler honors at 149 pounds in 2005, and was also named the team’s Co-MVP that season. Russo served as a captain in 2005-06.

A 2006 graduate of NYU’s College of Arts and Science, Benson earned a bachelor of science degree in psychology.

Currently, Russo works with Beat the Streets, a Manhattan-based organization that fully funds and runs more than 60 different middle-school wrestling programs throughout New York City’s five boroughs. He also helps conduct summer clinics.

Prior to attending at NYU, Russo earned three top-three finishes in the New York Catholic High School Athletic Association Championships while wrestling for St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington, NY.

A native of Massapequa Park, NY, Russo resides in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.

Gregory Vicenty

Strength & Conditioning

Gregory Vicenty is entering his second season as the strength and conditioning coach with the New York University wrestling squad, where he will be primarily responsible for the team’s physical conditioning.

Vicenty is well known for his work with the NYU men’s soccer team the past two years. His training methods proved instrumental as NYU reached the Final Four in 2006, their first appearance in the NCAA Championship since becoming a Division III program in 1982.

A former Infantry Staff Sergeant in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Vicenty is a 17-year veteran of the United States Army. Vicenty also has an extensive background in boxing: he was part of the U.S. Army Boxing Team for nine years and is a two-time Golden Gloves Champion (1978, 1979).

Currently, Vicenty also works as a personal trainer. He also provides training at Mendez Boxing Gym for amateur and professional gym members, and acts as a second corner man at various professional boxing events in both New York and Washington D.C.

A New York City native, Vicenty resides in the Bronx.