Long Island University Athletics

Brooklyn, N.Y. – Long Island University lost an all-time great when former men’s soccer coach Gary Rosenthal passed away recently. Rosenthal helped build the LIU soccer program into a national power and was inducted into the LIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.

Rosenthal guided the Blackbirds as head coach from 1957-65. In his final four years as head coach, Rosenthal took a team that never had a winning season and fashioned a 39-10-4 record. He led the Blackbirds to their first two NCAA Tournament appearances in 1963 and 1965 and laid the foundation for a squad that finished as the NCAA runner-up in 1966.

 

He led LIU to a pair of Metropolitan Conference championships and recruited and coached five All-Americans during his tenure.

 

Following his coaching career, Rosenthal continued to work at Long Island University and is a former Dean of Students, Dean of Admissions and most recently served as the director of the physical education program.