New Jersey City University Athletics

Last Updated: Aug. 7, 2024
 
The all-time winningest coach in program history, Carlo Edra ’07 is the only coach to serve at the helm of the New Jersey City University men’s volleyball program on two occasions. Edra returned as the head coach of his alma mater in the Fall of 2019. Prior to his reappointment, Edra was the head coach on a part-time basis for NJCU men’s volleyball from 2008-11. He was the ninth and is now the 14th head coach in program history – which dates back to the 1990 season.
 
2024: After a tough start to the season, which saw the squad start 1-7, including dropping its first five matches, Edra's team put things together at a point when they were 3-8. The Gothic Knights rattled off a program-record-tying 14 straight victories, improving to 17-8 at the time before finishing the regular-season with a 20-9 overall mark, including an outstanding 17-1 Skyline Conference record to earn the #2-overall seed in the tournament. For the fourth consecutive season (every season eligible), NJCU earned an invite to the Skyline Tournament and, for the third time in four years, played in the championship game, finishing as the runner-up. The Green and Gold also played in its third straight ECAC Tournament, notching a runner-up finish. The 22 wins ties for the third most in program history, as well as the most under Edra.

Individually, Edra and his staff was named Coaching Staff of the Year by both the Skyline and NJAC, while Brandon DaSilva became the first AVCA All-American (Honorable Mention) in program history. He was named NJAC Player of the Year — the first in program history — and First Team by both conferences. James Bajor was also a First Team selection in the NJAC and Skyline, while Marcus Pardasie swept Rookie of the Year honors in both conferences (First Team All-NJAC, Second Team All-Skyline). Alex Casais was also a Second Team All-Skyline pick as a setter.

2023: Edra's eighth season on the bench saw him guide NJCU to the first ECAC Championship in program history, including the second-most wins (19) under his guidance. The Gothic Knights earned the #3 seed in the Skyline Conference tournament and went 10-4 in the regular season, which are the second most conference wins under Edra. He also produced four All-Conference players, who totaled 11 honors overall, including two Rookie of the Year nods and two Defensive Player of the Year honors.

2022: His seventh season at the helm of the Gothic Knights’ program was arguably one of the most successful in program history. Edra guided NJCU to back-to-back conference final appearances for the first time ever and nearly captured back-to-back Skyline Conference championships. Jersey City reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2009 – Edra’s second season of his first stint as head coach – and the 22 wins tie for the third-most in program history. Edra also finished the season with 102 career victories, just six behind the program record of 108 (Frank Cella, 1996-2000).
 
Individually, the 2022 Skyline co-Coach of the Year and New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) co-Coach of the Year helped produce seven All-Conference honorees, including the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year (DaSilva) and five First Team All-Conference selections. His team ultimately earned the #1 overall seed in the ECAC Division III Men’s Volleyball Tournament and closed the year as semifinalists.
 
2021: Edra’s sixth season in charge of the Gothic Knights WAS the greatest season in program history. NJCU finished the shortened season with a 7-4 overall record, including 5-1 in Skyline play, and earned the #2 seed in the Skyline Tournament. There, Jersey City upset top-ranked St. Joseph’s College-Long Island in five sets to capture the first Conference Title in program history, as well as the first bid to the NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Championship ever. Edra, who squad finished its season in the First Round of NCAAs, was named Coach of the Year by both the Skyline and NJAC and helped produce seven All-Conference selections, including five First Teamers.
 
2020: In his return to the Gothic Knights’ bench, Edra saw the first season of his second stint cut short due to COVID. Despite that, the Gothic Knights played 16 matches and he helped guide the seasons of six All-Conference honorees, including the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year, the Skyline Rookie of the Year (both DaSilva) and three First Team All-Conference selections.
 
2007-11: Edra’s first season as the head coach was in 2008 and the squad went 14-17 overall, including a 4-5 mark in the tough Northeast Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Metro Division, featuring various nationally-ranked programs. His second season saw marked improvement, with Jersey City winning 20 games and finishing the year as ECAC Division III South Tournament semifinalists. 2010 was more of the saw as the 18-win Gothic Knights advanced to the finals of the finals of the ECAC Tournament, falling in a dramatic fifth set. NJCU also qualified for the NECVA Tournament as the #16 seed. His final season before stepping down so the Green and Gold win 13 matches – the program did not win at least 20 matches following his departure until his return.
 
Individually, he produced five All-NECVA performers during his first stint as head coach, including his brother, Chris (2009 Second Team, 2011 First Team), current William Paterson University women’s head coach, Kevin Rodgers (First Team in 2008, Second Team in 2009) and Kenny Lisk (2011 Second Team. Edra joined the collegiate coaching ranks as an assistant on the 2007 staff. That year NJCU went 17-13 and finished as a finalist in the ECAC Tournament.

 
Other Coaching:
Edra returned to coaching after several years off as an assistant coach in 2016 with Garden State Alliance of USA Volleyball. In 2017, he worked with the Garden Empire Volleyball Association (GEVA) and took over as head coach of Team Freedom in 2018, leading them to a national runner-up finished at the USAV Open National Championships. In 2019, that team placed fifth.
 
Team Freedom officially became a founding member of the National Volleyball Association (NVA), the premier men’s volleyball professional league in the United States. Founded in 2017, the NVA now has 12 teams. The regular season takes place in the Spring and the playoffs (NVA Cup Championship) takes place in August. With Edra as one of the league’s figure heads, the NVA partnered with ESPN3 to broadcast the 2022 NVA Cup. He coached Team Freedom to history in 2022 as the team went undefeated in the regular season – the only time in league history that has been accomplished.
 
Edra also volunteered as the boys and girls assistant coach at his alma mater, John P. Stevens High School in Edison, N.J., from 2002-06. During that stretch, the boys team reached three straight state tournaments (2004-06), including the quarterfinals in 2005 and 2006. In 2004, the program was ranked as high as #9 in the state, as has as #7 in 2005 and #14 in 2006.
 
Playing Career:
Edra earned his B.S. in health sciences from NJCU in 2007. During his undergraduate career, he was also a three-year starter at libero and finished his career with 759 digs (2.41/set) over 315 sets and 95 matches. He helped the Gothic Knights to back-to-back 20-win seasons in 2005 (22-14) and 2006 (20-9), as well as the 2005 and 2006 ECAC Tournaments – his team finished as finalists in 2006. Edra also helped the squad earn the #10 seed in the 2005 NECVA Tournament and the team was ranked as high as #14 nationally during his tenure. At JP Stevens, he captained the Hawks as a senior – the program’s first year of existence at the school – and led them to the first round of the state tournament.
 
Other Facts:
Edra spent 2011-18 as a safety professional with PSE&G for seven years and one year as a production scheduler and environmental health & safety consultant with RR Donnelley.
 
Edra’s later father, Ceferino, was a member of the National Volleyball Team in the Philippines and his mother, Annette, was a youth standout. He and his brother, Chris, played together and won the 2005 Atlantic City Open. They were also featured in February 2008 on NCAASports.com – entitled “Family Ties” – and a March 2011 feature on NJ.com.
 
A native of Manila, Philippines, Edra currently resides in Bloomfield, N.J., with his wife, Nicole, their daughter, Elle, and son, Collin.