MICHAEL BEHONICK | ASSISTANT COACH

Michael Behonick enters his seventh season as assistant coach for the Panthers in 2022. Behonick joined the coaching staff in January of 2016 shortly after the hiring of current head coach Jay Vidovich.

Behonick, who works primarily with the goalkeepers, recently coached and led Nico Campuzano to All-ACC Third Team honors in 2021 in a season that saw the Panthers clinch a share of the ACC Costal Division crown and make an appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight for the second-straight year. Behonick helped Campuzano leave his mark in Pitt’s record books, as he finished his two seasons ranking first in career goals against average (1.11), sixth in shutouts (12), fourth in wins (29), second in minutes played (3,641) and 10th in save percentage (.720).

Campuzano recorded 52 saves, six shutouts and a .693 save percentage in the fall of 2021 and stepped up his play in postseason play, stopping 13 shots in total in the ACC Championship and NCAA Tournament. He registered five games with four or more saves including four in the NCAA Elite Eight match at Notre Dame.

Behonick and the Panthers endured a record-breaking 2020-21 campaign that saw Pitt achieve new program heights with a 16-4 overall record, an ACC Coastal Division Championship and a NCAA College Cup berth. Working directly with Campuzano, the goalie set a school record for wins in a single-season with 16. Campuzano finished third in the country in saves (66) and sixth in shutouts (6). He tallied a .742 save percentage and 3.30 save per game mark that was good for third and fourth in the ACC, respectively.

During Pitt’s record-breaking NCAA College Cup run, the Panthers allowed just two goals in four games. Campuzano shutout nationally ranked No. 18 UCF and No. 7 Washington and tallied four games with six or more saves. The goalkeeper earned United Soccer Coaches First Team South All-Region, All-ACC First Team, All-ACC Tournament Team and All-ACC Academic Team.

In 2019, his fourth year on the staff, the Panthers earned a 10-8-2 record and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament for the first time since 1965. Along with the NCAA Tournament appearance, Behonick helped lead the Panthers to the ACC semifinals for the first time in program history.

Notable wins for Pitt that season included a 2-0 victory at No. 1 Virginia, a 4-3 come from behind victory at home over Duke and a 2-1 overtime win against NC State in the ACC quarterfinals.

During his third year at Pitt in the 2018 season, Behonick helped Vidovich lead the Panthers to wins over two ranked opponents in No. 12 NC State and No. 7 Virginia in the ACC Men’s Soccer Tournament. The victory over the Cavaliers marked the Panthers’ first ACC Tournament win in program history. Pitt collected its first conference win on the season against the Wolfpack and picked up another ACC victory over Clemson on Oct. 5.

Following his first year on the staff, Behonick assisted Vidovich in leading the Panthers to wins over No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 13 Columbia and No. 21 Syracuse in the 2017 season. The win against Syracuse would be the Panthers’ first win over a ranked opponent since the 2008 season. The victory over the Orange was also the first conference win for Pitt since moving into the ACC at the start of the 2013 season, and they would add their second conference win against the Fighting Irish on Oct. 13. The Panthers would also capture victories against rivals Penn State and West Virginia throughout the season.

Prior to arriving in Pittsburgh, Behonick spent the previous two years at in-state rival Penn State, while also spending five years at ACC foe Virginia.

During his tenure in Happy Valley, Behonick helped Penn State secure its first top-20 recruiting class in program history while signing all three high school All-Americans in the state of Pennsylvania that year. During his two seasons at Penn State, the Nittany Lions spent six weeks as the No. 3 team in country, while having one of the stingiest defenses in the entire country. Under the tutelage of Behonick, goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton was selected by the LA Galaxy in the MLS Superdraft.

In his five years at the University of Virginia, he helped guide the Cavaliers to five straight NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the 2013 NCAA College Cup. UVA also reached the ACC semifinals or better in his five years with the program. Behonick helped bring some of the best players in the country to Charlottesville during his tenure. With each recruiting class he was involved in ranked in the top 15 in the country and having the No. 2 overall recruiting class in the country three times in that stretch. The Cavaliers compiled 31 shutouts with Behonick on the sidelines, with his tutelage also helping numerous players secure professional contracts in Major League Soccer and around the world.

On top of his duties with Pittsburgh, Behonick has served as an assistant coach with US Soccer’s U16 Boys National team for multiple camps in 2017. Prior to his time with the U16 National Team, Behonick has also been an assistant coach in recent years with US U17 National Team as well as the US Paralympic National Team, helping them qualify for the 2016 Paralympic games in Rio.

As a player, Behonick was a 2003 MLS Superdraft pick of DC United. Behonick went on to play professionally for 7 years as a Goalkeeper. He spent time with MLS clubs DC United and New York Red Bulls, NASL side Puerto Rico Islanders and USL side Charleston Battery, winning a USL championship with Charleston in the 2003 season. Behonick also has a number of caps internationally as a member of the Puerto Rico National Team from 2008 -2010.

Behonick earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from American University in 2003. During his collegiate career with the Eagles, American University made two NCAA sweet sixteen appearances and won a 2001 Patriot League title. He was the only player from the Patriot League to be drafted in the 2003 MLS Superdraft.