Coaching Staff

Monroe’s full-time coaching staff has years of experience both playing and coaching soccer in the United States at the collegiate level. They are passionate about the game and are students of the game themselves.

Marcus DiBernardo

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.

Jonathan Garbar

Coach Garbar has been involved in the game of soccer since the age of 5. Growing up in New Jersey, and Colombia South America, for Coach Garbar soccer was as much a cultural experience as it was an athletic one. From playing at the famous Columbia High School, to various club teams in Medellin, his knowledge and passion for the game goes far beyond textbooks.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Delaware, Coach Garbar moved to New York City to pursue a career in education and athletics. After earning his Master’s Degree from Pace University, Coach Garbar began coaching. His first experience as a Head Coach began at Benjamin Banneker Academy, where he coached the men’s and women’s program for three seasons. The women’s program went undefeated and were two-time division champions winning in both the ‘A,’ and ‘B’ divisions. The men’s program went on to enjoy its best record in school history and most importantly, graduated every student athlete.

Throughout his limited off-season time, Coach Garbar received his NSCAA license and spent time in the Caribbean and South America working with various youth academies.

After Coach Garbar’s final season at Benjamin Banneker Academy (2008), he joined the Monroe College men’s soccer coaching staff and became first assistant to head coach Marcus Dibernardo. Since then, the Mustangs have become a powerhouse.

Coach Garbar believes that men’s soccer at Monroe is a tradition in the making, and is growing into becoming a premier athletic and academic program.

“For every Mustang, soccer and education is more than a game, and more than a sport. It is a lifestyle, and one that we are extremely proud of and committed to,” he said.

Jay Myers

Coach Myers is the Director Of Coaching at The International Men's Academy at Monroe College. Myers recently served as the Assistant Women's Coach at Iona and Manhattan College. Jay has served as an Assistant Coach at Pace University, Dominican College (Men's and Women's Asst.), and as the Bard College Head Women's Soccer Coach. Prior to his time at Bard, Myers was also the Assistant Women's Soccer Coach at his Alma Mater, Marist College from 2003-04 and served as Interim Head Coach in 2005.

At the "Club Level" Coach Myers works for Manhattan Soccer Club as the Associate Director of Coaching. Previous to Manhattan Soccer Club, Coach Myers was with the Hudson Valley Quick Strike Lady Blues of the "W" League as an assistant coach.  The Lady Blues were the North East Regional Champions for two years in a row and placed third in the National Tournament Final Four. Jay has also guided the Black Watch U20 Women's Team team of the United Soccer League to the New England Regional Championship and National Tournament Finals.

Myers is a staff member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), and instructs the NSCAA State, Regional and Advanced Regional Diplomas. He also holds his Premier, Advanced National, National and Goalkeeping I Diplomas.  Myers enters his ninth year as a member of the New York State Olympic Development program Staff, and he has served as the Head Coach of the Hudson Valley Scholastic Team at the Empire State Games. He led the Hudson Valley to the Silver medal in 2007, Bronze medals in 2005, 2006, and 2010.