St. John's University Athletics
The Intensity Of The Storm
10/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 30, 2007
QUEENS, N.Y. - Since 1987 Dr. Dave Masur has roamed the sidelines as a men's soccer head coach and during those 20 years he has risen to become one of the most successful coaches in the nation. No stranger to success, Masur was a two-time All-American as a player at Rutgers and also demonstrated his propensity to lead as a three-time team captain. In his 20 seasons as a head coach, Masur has led his teams to 17 NCAA Tournaments, including 15 consecutive dating back to 1992. He has won an NCAA National Championship, seven BIG EAST Championships, one New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship and five BIG EAST regular season titles. His intensity and preparation have brought his teams to the pinnacle of success and now those traits have brought him to a milestone of his own--300 career wins.
After a short stint as an assistant coach at Rutgers, Masur landed his first head coaching job at Montclair State. In four seasons, he racked up a 53-21-6 record and took the Redhawks to two NCAA Tournaments. From there, he came to Queens to take the helm of the Red Storm and has posted a 251-75-49 record to date. A huge accomplishment for any head coach, reaching 300 wins is contingent upon having two primary factors--success and longevity. Many coaches find themselves with one or the other, but Masur has found both. Even more impressive is the fact that it took him just 447 games to gain his 300th win (300-95-52).
Associate head coach Marc Reeves has coached with Masur since 1999 and believes that there are four cornerstones to Masur's success. "His intensity, commitment to detail, focus on team preparation and attention to individual development are the traits that have given Coach Masur the formula for success," said Reeves.
This is also the formula that has helped Masur garner national coach of the year honors from the NSCAA in 1996 and from Soccer America in 2001. Of course, for the Red Storm, it helps that Masur was once a student-athlete himself.
"Having had the experience of being a student-athlete, I understand the demands that our kids face and I recognize what gets players to thrive," Masur said.
Masur also acknowledged the tactical awareness that he gathered during his playing days and his ability to translate this knowledge to his team. Naturally, every coach has a personality or style uniquely their own and senior Jason Landers was quick to describe his coach.
"He brings a high level of intensity everyday," said the goalkeeper. "He's a motivator and he focuses a lot on preparation."
Fellow senior captain Jeff Stepan had similar remarks regarding Masur. "Coach Masur is probably one of the most intense individuals that I have ever met. His ability to motivate his players is truly impressive."
But what has the path to 300 wins been like for Dr. Dave Masur? It starts with winning an average of almost 15 games a year and includes winning at least 16 games during ten seasons. Along the way, Masur has also beaten 70 different Division I schools. However, to get to 300 wins as quickly as Masur, it helps to get to the postseason. In fact, during his tenure at St. John's, nearly 50 of Masur's wins have come in the postseason. He holds a 26-8-2 record in the BIG EAST Tournament and a 21-14-1 record in the NCAA Tournament.
The demands Masur sets for his team, however, are not limited to the field of play. The coach stresses academics and demands that his players fulfill their responsibilities in the classroom. Stepan believes this academic emphasis has a positive impact on the team's performance, too. "We really develop great time management skills and get the chance to see our hard work pay off both in games and in the classroom."
Masur's coaching also has a lasting impact on his players beyond their college careers. The fact that eleven former Red Storm players have been selected in the MLS SuperDraft is not a surprise to Reeves.
"He strengthens the attributes of every player he coaches and finds a way to maximize their abilities," Reeves said. "He prepares them physically, mentally, technically and emotionally to play at the highest level." Masur, himself, looks at the goals of the program as an explanation for the success of Red Storm players at the next level.
"As a program, our goal is to create the most challenging Division I environment for our players," Masur said. "We want to provide them with challenges that will force them to use what they have learned to succeed."
While reaching 300 wins is an undeniable landmark and accomplishment, Stepan is confident that Masur did not reflect on the achievement for very long.
"Coach is always looking ahead and focusing on the season and the team's goals," the defender said. "I'm sure it won't be long before he reaches 400 wins."
A 2004 inductee into the St. John's University Hall of Fame, Masur's impact in the NCAA soccer scene has continued to grow with each and every season. Yet even as players graduate and programs in both the BIG EAST Conference and the entire NCAA continue to improve, Dr. Dave Masur's personality remains the same. He wields the same intensity and focus on preparation that undeniably defines him as a coach.
"The athlete in Coach Masur really comes out through his coaching," Landers said. "He is a competitor."
Yes, head coach Dr. Dave Masur is a competitor. He is a motivator. He is focused and he is prepared. But most of all, he is the intensity of the Red Storm.