Coach Interview : Monroe College

Do you want to know what it takes to be recruited for a College Soccer Team in the USA? FirstPoint USA held a Soccer Showcase event in London and invited U.S Coaches along to scout for their teams.  We caught up with Monroe College Coach Marcus DiBernardo to find out why he was recruiting International players for his squad and what he looks for in a player. About Coach Marcus DiBernardo source : Monroecollege.edu Coach DiBernardo has been living and breathing the game of soccer his entire life and he brings an unbridled passion for the game to Monroe. He also brings a winning track record. Coach Di Bernardo's coaching career actually started while he was still a player at Central Connecticut State University and he's led successful programs ever since. He coached at his alma mater from 1995-1998 and eventually became a highly-successful high school coach. He was a coach at Martin Luther King High School in New York City when they won the 2006 PSAL Boys Soccer Championship. After starting the first-ever girls team at Brandeis High School and building it into the largest team in the city, he won two boys Manhattan league titles and made the New York City finals in 2005 and semifinals in 2004. At Truman High School, he coached both the girls and boys teams. His Girls’ team won the 2008 Bronx League Championship. Coach DiBernardo also has coached Platt HS Boys Varsity team, Portland HS Varsity Team, South-central Premier Boys U16, Southeast U16 Boys, Simsbury U16 Girls, FC Harlem U20 Elite Boys Team, Valley Regional HS and Coginchaug Soccer Club. He holds a United States Soccer Federation Coaches License, NSCAA National Diploma/Advanced Diploma and has learned his craft from some of the best soccer tacticians in the country. Coach D was also a solid player at the NCAA Division I level. Born and raised in Connecticut, in his senior year of college he won the Scholar/Athlete Award. After college his playing career continued in the First Division of the CJSL. Coach DiBernardo believes in an attacking style of soccer. "I like my players to have freedom on the field while fitting into the team concept,' he said. "Players who come with a positive attitude and great work ethic are always welcome here. They must understand that the team is the priority at Monroe, not the individual." For future coaches, Coach Dibernardo says, “soccer licenses, diplomas and credentials are all nice pieces of paper to have but it is important to find your own way and formulate what works best for you and your team. My staff and I try to think outside the box as much as possible. That’s one of the reasons our program stands apart.” In 2010 Coach Dibernardo led his team to a #2 NJCAA Division I ranking, an undefeated regular season, and a #4 finish in the national tournament . In 2011, the Mustangs reached the “National Championship” final. In the past three years the Mustangs have produced four All-Americans, won three league titles, two regional championships and two district championships. The team heads into the 2012 season ranked #1 in the country by the NSCAA.

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