Michael Behonick is entering his third season on the sidelines for Pitt soccer in 2018. Behonick joined the Panthers coaching staff in January of 2016 shortly after the hiring of current head coach Jay Vidovich.
Following his first year on the staff, Behonick assisted Vidovic 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.