Greg Kenney has served as an assistant coach of the New York University men’s soccer team since 2015. Initially his main responsibility was working with the Violets’ goalkeepers, but has since transitioned to a senior advisor to Head Coach Kim Wyant. His role includes helping formulate game strategies, as well as offering improvement ideas for individual players and team development.

The Violets’ 2023 squad notched an overall record of 5-6-5, 3-2-2 in the University Athletic Association (UAA). The team garnered awards from the UAA and the College Sports Communicators (CSC) for accolades on and off the field.

Arkan Tahsildaroglu earned First Team All-UAA recognition, while Joss Cohen received All-UAA Honorable Mention. Both players, along with Chaz Bond, also earned UAA Player of the Week accolades during the season. Tahsildaroglu, a four-year team member, graduated as NYU’s all-time leader in goals per game (.55), points per game (1.45), shots per game (4.8), assists (17), and shots (235).

The Violets posted a 9-5-3 overall record in 2022, 4-1-2 in the UAA, as NYU earned an at-large-bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row.

On October 30, the Violets faced the University of Chicago. The contest ended in a 0-0 draw, the only game all season in which #1-ranked and eventual NCAA Division III Champions Chicago did not win.

There were plenty of accolades for the players in 2022. Arkan Tahsildaroglu was named UAA Men’s Soccer Co-Offensive Player of the Year. He and Alex Rovirosa-Illa were named All-UAA First Team, while Joe Leslie was selected Second Team and Nicholas Suter received Honorable Mention accolades. Tahsildaroglu (First Team) and Rovirosa-Illa (Third Team) earned United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Region honors, as well.

Tahsildaroglu and Rovirosa-Illa also set program records during the campaign. Tahsildaroglu ended the season #1 all-time in goals per game (.57), points per game (1.51) and shots per game (4.71), while Rovirosa-Illa set the standard in total career assists (16) and assists per game (.46).

In 2021, NYU posted an 11-6-1 overall record and went 4-3 in the UAA. The Violets earned an at-large to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Second Round. The campaign also included a seven-game unbeaten streak and a victory over then-#9 Washington University in St. Louis on October 15.

There were plenty of accolades for the players in 2021. Arkan Tahsildaroglu (Second Team) and Louis Meeks (Third Team) earned USC All-Region honors. Nathan Bennett was selected UAA Freshman Rookie of the Year, Tahsildaroglu and Meeks earned Second Team honors, while Bennett, Isaiah Boyd, Alex Rovirosa-Illa, and Pablo Vargas were awarded Honorable Mention. The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) also bestowed honors on the players with Bennett being tabbed Division III Rookie of the Year and Rookie of the Month in October, while Luca Mancuso (Goalkeeper of the Month) and Tahsildaroglu (Player of the Month) earned monthly accolades in September.

The 2021 season followed a season of inactivity for NYU, as the Violets did not compete in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.  

In 2019, the Violets reached the second round of the ECAC Championship Tournament, defeating Hood College before falling 1-0 to host Muhlenberg College. NYU finished the season with an 8-8-2 overall record and a 3-3-1 mark in the UAA. The campaign included a season-high six-game winning streak, which culminated with a 1-0 UAA victory over Washington University in St. Louis.

Several players flourished during the season, with a pair (Vargas, Sergio Monton) earning First Team All-UAA honors and another duo (Mancuso, Meeks) receiving Honorable Mention. Monton was also tabbed UAA Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-ECAC and USC Third Team All-East Region.

In 2018, the Violets finished with a 12-4-3 overall record and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, the first appearance for NYU since 2010. The Violets advanced to the second round by defeating Haverford College 5-4 in penalty kicks after a 110-minute, 1-1 deadlock. The squad was eliminated after losing to host Montclair State University also in penalty kicks (5-4) after a 1-1 tie

The Violets posted a 3-3-1 record in the UAA in 2018, the team’s best performance since going 4-0-3 in 2010. Six team members earned All-UAA honors (First Team: Vargas, Grant Engel; Second Team: Meeks; Honorable Mention: Monton, Maxi Rodriguez; Rookie of the Year: Oliver Kleban). Engel, a senior goalkeeper, allowed a league-low four goals in UAA play.

In 2017, Kenney helped lead the squad to a 9-8-3 overall record as the Violets advanced to the semifinals of the ECAC Championship. Rodriguez earned Second Team All-UAA honors while Nic Notaro received ECAC All-Tournament Team laurels for his postseason performance.

In 2016, Kenney helped guide NYU to a 9-8-2 overall record, including a 3-4 mark in the UAA as the Violets earned a postseason bid to the ECAC Championship. Four Violets received All-UAA recognition, including goalkeeper Lucas Doucette. Under Kenney’s tutelage, Doucette finished second in the UAA in saves (86) and was named Honorable Mention All-UAA.

The Violets posted a 6-12 record in Kenny’s inaugural season in 2015, with four of the team’s wins coming via shutout. Individually, Doucette, defensive midfielder and captain Petter Aasa and defender Robin Smith were all named Honorable Mention All-UAA while the entire team received the Sportsmanship Award from the New York Metro Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NYMISOA).

Prior to arriving at NYU, Kenney worked for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), where he helped develop and adjust the national goalkeeping curriculum. He also has been serving as the Camp Director and Athletic Director for the Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club in Manhasset, NY.

After a playing career in the American Professional Soccer League, Kenney coached a number of different teams at the collegiate, high school and amateur levels, including stints as the Head Coach of Hiram College and Clark University. He has also served as the goalkeeper coach for Harvard University.

A 1985 graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in health education, Kenney was a four-year member of the Nittany Lions’ soccer team, playing as a goalkeeper. He is currently the school’s all-time leader in shutouts and saves.

A resident of Williston Park, NY, Kenney went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in physical education from the University of Akron in 1993.