Congratulations to our Mustangs Men's Soccer Coaches!

Congratulations to Coach Marcus DiBernardo and the Mustangs men's soccer coaching staff for being named the 2022 Men's Coaching Staff of the Year! 



As reported on the Mustangs' website:

After taking home the 2022 NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer Championship just a few weeks ago, Head Coach Marcus DiBernardo and the Monroe University Mustangs men's soccer coaching staff were named the 2022 United Soccer Coaches Junior College Division I Men's Coaching Staff of the Year, as announced by United Soccer Coaches on Friday.



DiBernardo, along with assistant coaches Jonathan Avila, Filip Kula and Massimo Gargiulo were recognized as the best of the best across the country at the Junior College Division I level with Friday's announcement. This is the fourth time that a Monroe Mustangs soccer coaching staff headed by Coach DiBernardo was named a United Soccer Coaches Coaching Staff of the Year. The Mustang staff most recently took home this award in 2019 after taking home the 2019 NJCAA Championship. DiBernardo and Avila were also recognized in 2018 after leading the Monroe Mustangs women's soccer team to the 2018 NJCAA Div. I Women's Soccer Championship. DiBernardo and his staff also won the Staff of the Year award back in 2011 after finishing as the NJCAA runner-up.



"This is the fourth time receiving the National Coach of the Year award. It is an award that is only made possible with the support of the entire Monroe University community, from President Marc Jerome, Chairman Stephen Jerome, AD Luis Melendez, the training staff, Sandy Rodriguez and the rest of the Monroe athletics support staff," said DiBernardo. "The award also showcases the achievements of the players and the entire coaching staff, including the athletic trainers. I am just grateful to play a small part in the program's success."



The Mustangs made history in 2022, taking home the program's second NJCAA Championship after defeating Arizona Western College in the championship finals back on Nov. 19. The Mustangs made the championship run by going 3-0-1 at the NJCAA Championship tournament in Melbourne, Fla. The Mustangs got through Pool B with a penalty-kick shootout win over Angelina College and a 3-2 victory over Jefferson College. They then beat Cowley College, 2-1, in the semifinals to advance to the championship, which they won with a 2-0 shutout win against Arizona Western.



Monroe had a phenomenal 2022 campaign, losing just one game the entire season and finishing 14-1-3. The Mustangs started 7-0 before a 1-1 draw against then-No. 17-ranked Eastern Florida State College halted the winning streak. A 2-1 win over No. 4 Daytona State College got Monroe back on track. Monroe defeated Div. II No. 12 Mercer County Community College before a road stalemate at Monroe Community College. A 6-0 win over Lancaster Elite closed out the regular season for Monroe with a 9-0-2 record.



The Mustangs advanced to the East District Championship tournament after settling the score with Monroe Community College with a 3-0 win in the Region 3/15 Championship. Monroe made it to the District Final with a 2-0 win over Harcum College, but was upset by Montgomery College in the East District Championship game for the team's only loss of the season. The Mustangs earned an at-large selection and the No. 2 seed in the NJCAA Championship tournament.



The Mustangs have taken home a number of awards since the final whistle of the NJCAA Championship game. Tony Yeboah was selected as the NJCAA Championship MVP, while Godwin Partey was named Most Valuable Defensive Player. Coach DiBernardo was picked as the Coach of the Tournament as well.



In addition to the NJCAA Championship tournament awards, the Mustangs have also had seven All-America selections. Thiago Jose da Silva, Diogo Bastos, Bruno Rosa and Shotaro Kino were all named NJCAA Div. I Men's Soccer All-Americans, while Diego Batista, Tony Yeboah and Felipe Jaime Arruda were all picked to the United Soccer Coaches Junior College Division I All-America Team. In addition, Batista was named the United Soccer Coaches Junior College Division I Player of the Year.

 

Congratulations on such well-earned recognition!