Iona University Athletics

Rubeo enters his fifth season with the Gaels in 2025-26 and his second as associate head coach after joining the staff ahead of the 2022 campaign. Serving as defensive coordinator and camps and clinics director, he has established himself as an integral member of hoead coach Lauren Kahn’s staff.
 
During Rubeo’s tenure, the program has broken 15 school records and tied the program mark for wins twice. The Gaels have produced the MAAC Co-Midfielder of the Year in 2023 and the MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2022, while three players have finished seasons ranked among the Top 20 nationally in various offensive categories.

In his first year as the associate head coach Rubeo led the Gaels to the third post-season berth since 2016, the other being in 2024 when the Gaels hosted Mount St. Mary's, the season did not end their as they kept writing the history book, Gaels went on to win their first even postseason game at home over Rider. Gaels continued their post season run with a nail biting win 11-10 over the number one seed Mount St. Mary's clinching their first ever berth in to the MAAC Championship, where the Gaels would fall to Fairfield 12-7. The 2025 season also saw the third Gael in program history to record 200+ points. Kira Varada finished her career with 218 (second most). 
 
The 2023 season was highlighted by the program’s first-ever win over Canisius on Senior Day, a 19-14 triumph. Later that year, Iona set a program record for goals in a 24-17 victory over Marist to close the regular season. The team matched its record for wins with nine and recorded its highest MAAC win total to date.
 
The 2023 squad featured MAAC Co-Midfielder of the Year and First Team All-MAAC selection Kira Varada, who led both the team and the conference in caused turnovers per game and draw controls per game. She also paced the Gaels in goals and ground balls and ranked among the nation’s Top 10 in caused turnovers and ground balls per game. Second Team All-MAAC honoree Micaela FitzPatrick led the team and the MAAC in total points, points per game, total assists and assists per game, joining Varada in the national Top 20 in assists per game. Emily Stewart earned Second Team All-MAAC recognition, and three freshmen were named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team.
 
That historic 2023 campaign followed a strong 2022 season in which the staff guided the team to 13 program records, including marks for total wins and a seven-game win streak. The Gaels also set team records in total goals, total points and draw controls. Varada ’24 established a single-season program record with 79 draw controls. Three players earned All-MAAC honors, with Varada and Carly Young named to the Second Team, while Varada and Carly Linthicum were selected to the All-Rookie Team.
 
Prior to arriving in New Rochelle, Rubeo was deeply involved in club lacrosse, transitioning to the women’s game while coaching his daughter. A lifelong coach, he began his formal coaching career in California in 2008, founding both the boys and girls’ lacrosse programs at Dana Hills High School. He served as Co-Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the boy’s team, which reached the CIF Championship Tournament semifinals and earned a Top 10 ranking in Southern CIF in just its second year of existence.
 
Rubeo was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps in 2004 and retired as a Major in 2019. During his military career, he deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and the Arctic Circle, earning the Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Arctic Circle Service Ribbon and the Drill Instructor Ribbon. He also helped rejuvenate Marine Corps lacrosse teams in North Carolina and California.
 
A 2004 graduate of the University of Vermont, Rubeo earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. He later completed a Master of International Relations from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Leadership from Marshall University, and diplomas from the Expeditionary Warfare School and Command and Staff College. He also earned an MBA from Iona’s LaPenta School of Business in 2020.