Feb. 11, 2009

From Navy Sports Information

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Newly-hired Navy men's soccer coach Dave Brandt added another award to his resume recently, as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) named him as the NSCAA Division III Coach of the Year announced at its annual convention. It marks the fourth time that Brandt has won the award, also taking home honors in 2000, 2002 and 2004. Only legendary Indiana coach Jerry Yeagley (6) has won more NSCAA Coach of the Year honors.

Brandt led Messiah College to the 2008 NCAA Division III National Champiosnhip and a 22-2-2 overall record. The Falcons tied Stevens Institute in the title game, 1-1, but won on penalty kicks, 3-0, to capture their sixth national title in Brandt's 12 years in charge. During the penalty kicks, Brandt inserted seldom-used senior goalkeeper Nick Blossey into the game. Brandt had called Blossey "a great shot-stopper", and even though he had not played in a game in over a month and had been standing on the sidelines in the cold for over two hours, Blossey made three saves on the first three shots to give the Falcons the national title. Blossey was awarded the tournament's most outstanding player, despite not being credited with a single minute of action.

Brandt was hired at Navy on Dec. 23, after an amazing 12-year run at Messiah. He is the NCAA's leader in active and all-time winning percentage (.888) for all levels, boasting a 246-25-14 overall record. He led his alma mater (a 1985 Messiah grad) to six NCAA titles, the most of any Division III school. His six national titles are tied for the second most in NCAA history behind former Saint Louis and SIU-Edwardsville head coach, Bob Guelker. He was the fastest coach in NCAA history to win 200 games and his Messiah teams won at least 20 games eight times, including in each of the last five years, a span in which he led the Falcons to a 111-8-6 (.912) record.

Brandt inherits a team that went 4-11-3 a year ago, but returns 16 letterwinners for the 2009 season.