Having been living and breathing the game of soccer for his whole life, Coach DiBernardo brings an unbridled passion for the game to Monroe. He also brings a winning track record.
Over the past four years under Coach DiBernardo, the Mustangs have put together an impressive 57-8-3 record. They have appeared in two National Tournaments, have won three consecutive Region XV championships (2010, 2011 and 2012), two District Titles (2010 and 2011), and have produced numerous All-Americans as well. The Mustangs have been ranked in the national top twenty each of the past three years, earning a number #1 ranking in 2011 and have had
over 40 student athletes advance to the NCAA. The program has also turned out some excellent professional players and expects more to come in the future.
In 2011 Coach DiBernardo was named the “NJCAA College Coach of The Year”.
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 MLK HS when they won the 2006 PSAL Boys Soccer Championship. After starting the first-ever girls team at Brandeis HS and building it into the largest team in the city, he won two boys Manhattan league titles and made the NYC finals in 2005 and semifinals in 2004.
At Truman HS he coached both the girls and boys teams. His Girls team won the 2008 Bronx League Championship. Coach DiBernardo also has coached the 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, Advanced and Premier Diploma.
Coach 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."
“Soccer licenses, diplomas and credentials are all nice pieces of paper to have,” expresses Coach DiBernardo. “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.”
