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5/25/06 - "Kickin' It" with Dave Brandt
This week, D3kicks is �Kickin� It� with Dave Brandt, the head men�s coach at Messiah College. Brandt, an 85� graduate of Messiah, has spent the last ten years as head coach of the Falcons. During his tenure at Messiah, Brandt has led the Falcons to nine straight NCAA appearances, six Regional titles, five Final Fours, and four National Championships. After leading his team to a 24-0 record and winning the National Championship in 2005, Brandt's 10-year record at Messiah currently stands at 182-20-9, making him the winningest active men's college coach in the country. Coach Brandt will be looking to gather his 200th win during his team�s 2006 campaign. Coach Brandt lives in Grantham, Pennsylvania with his wife Diane, daughter Alexandra (15) ,and son Danny (12).
D3Kicks: With the 2006-2007 season rapidly approaching, how are things shaping up?
Dave Brandt: The 2006-2007 season feels for me the same as it does for just about every coach right now, there is a strong need to fill key spots lost to graduation, and for new players to step into those roles. With that comes a lot of questions and uncertainty but some excitement and anticipation as well. Recruiting was fairly typical for us. We are getting a good group of guys coming in that we think fit the school and soccer program well. I believe that we will need to do a good job in terms of integrating them quickly into the team and the style we play here.
D3K: At 182-20-9, you are the winningest active men's college coach in the country. Is there any specific game that sticks out in your mind more than others?
DB: There are lots of games that stick out. Although it would be hard to pick out one, I often think about our national semifinal match against Linfield in 2000. We were down 0-2 in the first half, and their top forward got in behind us, megged our keeper, and hit the post. We ended up scoring three goals in less than five minutes in the second half to win, and then won our first national championship the next night. It was a great story for us, but I'll never forget that we were one inch from being down 0-3, and I'm not sure we would have come back from an 0-3 deficet like we were able to come back from 0-2. Talk about a game of inches.
D3K: Like players, to be successful a coach must be constantly learning and getting better. What steps do you take in making sure that as a coach, you are also improving?
DB: I'm a huge fan of soccer in general, and I think that helps spur my development as a coach. I have Fox Soccer Channel and Gol TV and I am a big fan of all the major leagues and competitions around the world. It's fascinating to see what other teams are doing tactically and in terms of their playing styles, so it's constantly giving you new ideas as you watch.
Also, I am lucky in the sense that I really feel aligned with a certain direction in terms of playing philosophy. I have been attracted to the Dutch philosophy and style of play since the mid-90's, and that interest has led me to spend considerable time in Holland, watching how they teach and what they do. I have also talked to several Dutch coaches and developed relationships with them, and spent time with several clubs. All of these things have substantially improved my ability as a coach.
D3K: In 2005, both Messiah�s men�s and women�s teams were crowned division three champions, is there a close association between the programs that aid in the development of both teams?
DB: It was certainly a cool thing for both Messiah teams to win in '05. I wouldn't say the teams are particularly close, with the women busy doing what they need to do on a daily basis, and it's the same with us, but the two coaches, Scott Frey and myself, are good friends, and although the two of us have very different personalities and coaching styles, we do talk almost daily about tactics, our teams, and situations or problems we may be facing during that particular week. That may not be all that unusual, but I think it's a positive that we can be sounding boards for each other.
D3K: This is a question for the prospective division three players out there. As the head coach of a four time national championship team, you are constantly looking for new talent. In your opinion, what is the best way a prospective player can get your attention?
DB: I think the answer to the question of how a prospective player can get a coach's attention is probably slightly different for each coach, depending on that coach's recruiting style, practices, and the particular qualities of each school. The biggest thing for me is to find a kid who values Messiah, both the institution and the soccer program, and demonstrates that he wants to be here. All of our players, like many division three players, had cheaper options, but our players are a collection of guys who valued Messiah enough to maybe turn down some sort of scholarship offer or cheaper school to attend here. So while ability is obviously important, I also look for guys who fit our institution and program, and demonstrate that it would mean a lot to them to attend and play here.
D3K: As a coach and fan of the game, how do you feel about the launching of d3kicks.com?
DB: It's great for fans of D3 soccer to have a quality source of information like D3kicks.com. Good luck with the site!
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