Haverford College Men's Soccer

Kevin Brenner will enter his third season as the Head men's soccer coach at Haverford College in the fall of 2025. Brenner arrived at Haverford College in March of 2023, originally named Interim Head Coach of the program before taking over as the permanent Head Men's Soccer Coach position in June of 2023.  In 2025, Coach Brenner led Haverford to a historic 10-0-10 campaign, a program-record 20-match unbeaten season and the program’s first undefeated season since 1945. The Fords delivered one of the nation’s elite defensive seasons, posting 12 shutouts, allowing just nine total goals, and finishing third nationally in both goals-against (9) and goals-against average (.448). Haverford’s consistency and quality were validated nationally, finishing regionally ranked in both the NCAA and United Soccer Coaches rankings, and ending the year inside the national top 50 in the NCAA National Power Index. The season included a statement upset win over No. 2 Rowan, a program-record 14-match unbeaten start, and a return to the postseason with the program’s first Centennial Conference Tournament appearance since 2019. Individually, the Fords earned major recognition with three United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections: Kieran Kunihiro (Second Team), Thomas Vanni (Third Team), and Grayson Benson (Third Team),  matching a program record for all-region honorees. The team also produced five All-Centennial Conference selections: Kunihiro (First Team), Vanni (Second Team), Jonathan D’Amour (Honorable Mention), Grayson Benson (Honorable Mention), Charles Sharp (Honorable Mention), plus Andrew Fritz (All-Sportsmanship). During his first full season at Haverford in the Fall of 2023, Brenner led the Fords to the brink of the Centennial Conference playoffs, as the Fords recorded their fewest losses since the 2018 Centennial Conference Championship season. From the outset, Brenner's leadership and tactical acumen have injected new life into the program, setting a strong foundation for future success. Prior to joining the Fords, Brenner compiled over 18 years of experience at all three division levels in college athletics. Brenner has additionally served in leadership roles as the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer National Chair from 2020 to 2021 and as the East Region Chair from 2018 to 2021. Prior to his time at the helm of Haverford, he served as an assistant coach at Division I La Salle University, where he contributed to the team's success, including an Atlantic 10 playoff berth in 2022. Before joining the staff at La Salle, Brenner was the head coach right up the road at Eastern University, leading the Eagles to a 2-2 record in the COVID-shortened 2021 spring season, before finishing 10-5-2 in the fall while increasing the roster to 50 players and instilling the program's first ever JV team.  In 2021, Eastern celebrated its second-best start in program history at 7-1-2 and earned a national ranking as high as 17th in the country during the fall campaign. Prior to his stint at Eastern, Brenner turned around a struggling Elmira College (N.Y.) program in just three years. The Soaring Eagles won nine games in 2019, marking the fourth best season in school history, as the team advanced to the Empire 8 Semifinals for only the sixth time in school history, while a program-record eight players were All-Conference selection and 26 players made the Dean's list in his final season there. Brenner came to Elmira after two successful years as a head coach at Division II Lake Erie College. Over his two-year stay at Lake Erie, Brenner coached 14 All-GLIAC honorees, including the 2016 GLIAC Goalkeeper of the Year  and 2015 GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year. He also developed two NSCAA All-Region players and helped the Storm end the year as the country's 39th-best scoring offense. Four of Brenner's players would go on to play professional ranks following their time at Lake Erie, including Hugo Fauroux (Loudoun United of the USL Championship), Samuel Mutemwa (Cleveland Legacy’s of the Premier Arena Soccer League), Anthony Novak (Ottawa Fury of the USL), and Joe Coombs (Michigan Star of the NPSL).  As Division I Buffalo’s top assistant, he developed the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Rookie of the Year. His recruitment and development of several key players were instrumental in setting the stage for back-to-back MAC Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2016. During Buffalo's playoff run, one of the key players was Russell Cicerone, drafted by Portland Timbers in the MLS SuperDraft and continues playing professionally with Sacramento Republic FC of the USL Championship.  Brenner also made stops as an assistant at Canisius College (Division I), and Buffalo State (Division III). Brenner's playing career began at SUNY Cortland before transferring to Buffalo State, where he served as a two-year captain and helped the team achieve its best record in 20 seasons. After completing his collegiate career, Brenner played for Queen City Football Club of the National Premier Soccer League from 2006 to 2008.  A member of the United Soccer Coaches Association, Brenner holds two USSF Licenses, while completing his USC Advanced Regional, National Diploma, Advance National and Premier Diplomas. He holds a NSCAA (now United Soccer Coaches) Premier Diploma.

Following an eight-year stint in the early 2000s, Don Norton Jr. returned to Haverford College as an assistant coach prior to the 2025 spring season. Norton Jr. comes back to the sidelines of Walton Field after spending the past 12 seasons at nearby Rutgers-Camden. Assisting 2013 NSCAA National Coach of the Year Tim Oswald, he coached numerous All-American, All-Academic, All-Region, and All-Conference players while helping lead the Scarlet Raptors to NJAC titles in 2013 and 2015. In 2013, Rutgers-Camden not only claimed the conference title but also advanced to the NCAA National Championship game. The Scarlet Raptors returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 and, under Norton Jr.’s guidance, also made ECAC Tournament appearances in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2021, winning the competition in 2014. Before his time at Rutgers-Camden, Norton Jr. served on the staff of two-time NCAA Champion Dan Gilmore at Rowan University, where he coached and recruited All-Conference, All-Region, and All-Academic players from 2009 to 2013. Norton Jr. previously spent eight seasons at Haverford College from 2002 to 2009, coaching under legendary head coach Joe Amorim. During that tenure, the Scarlet and Black became the first men’s college soccer program to record 700 wins, an achievement recognized by a feature in The New York Times. Prior to his first stint at Haverford, Norton Jr. was the head coach at Swarthmore from 2000 to 2002, where he helped elevate a struggling program. Under his leadership, the Garnet improved from three to seven wins within two seasons, won their first conference match in years, and posted a four-game winning streak in his second year. From 1998 to 2000, Norton Jr. was an assistant coach at Stockton University, where he helped guide the NJAC Champion Ospreys to the 1999 NCAA Division III Final Four. Stockton went on to win the NCAA Championship in 2001, with Norton Jr. playing a vital role in laying the foundation for the program’s success. During his tenure, the Ospreys broke multiple program records for wins and goals, and in 2022, the team was inducted into the Stockton University Athletics Hall of Fame. Earlier in his career, Norton Jr. also served as an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania, in addition to coaching roles at Swarthmore and Rutgers-Camden during the 1990s. Norton Jr. holds several prestigious coaching certifications including a UEFA "A" coaching license, USSF "A" license, USC Premier Diploma and USSF National Youth License. He is a NJ and EPYSA coaching school instructor and a US Soccer Grassroots instructor. In 2022 he was selected as the NJ Youth Soccer "Coach of the Year." Norton Jr. has written numerous coaching articles for the USC Soccer Journal and was a national convention speaker for US Youth Soccer at the USC convention.  Norton Jr. holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Gettysburg College and a Master of Arts Degree from Rowan University.    Don Norton’s Published Articles   Coaching A Youth Soccer Team When The Match Begins | Southern Soccer Scene | February 2004 Midfield Possession to Attack | Success in Soccer | July 2005 Coaching A Youth Soccer Team When The Match Begins | Soccer New England | January 2006 It’s All About The Players! | Success in Soccer | November 2008 Planning Your 12-month Season | NSCAA Journal | May 2011 Are Your Players Doing Their Soccer Homework? | NSCAA Journal | May 2012  Choose Words Wisely When Coaching Kids | Soccer America.com | December 2012  Assisting A College Soccer Professor | NSCAA Journal | January 2013 10 Tips For The Well-Organized Coach: presentation matters | Soccer America.com | March 5, 2013 Movement Off The Ball: The Key To Success | Success in Soccer | September 1, 2013 Evaluating Our Training Session | NSCAA Journal | November 1, 2013 Starting Your First Training Session | NSCAA Journal | February 2014 The Coachable Moment: Positive - Information - Positive | NSCAA Journal | December 2014 The Youth Soccer Parents’ Meeting | NSCAA Journal | January 2015 Small-Sided Games: A Key to More Technical Players | Soccer America.com | April 24, 2015 Building Your Attack From the Back | NSCAA Journal | March/April 2015 Training Two Strikers | NSCAA Journal | July/August 2015 Soccer On The Spectrum | NSCAA Journal | May/June 2016 Are Your Players Learning to Steal Real Estate? | NSCAA Journal | September/October 2016 Yelling At The Player With The Ball | NSCAA Journal | January/February 2017 Defending While Your Team Has The Ball | NSCAA Journal | March/April 2017 Training Players On The Spectrum | USC Soccer Journal | July/August 2017 Diversity in Attack: Attacking from the Flanks | USC Soccer Journal | September/October 2017 Defending For Younger Players | USC Soccer Journal | January/February 2018 Movement Off The Ball: The Key To Possession | USC Soccer Journal | March/April 2018 Rick Meana Director of Coaching for New Jersey Youth Soccer | USC Soccer Journal | March/April 2018 Dr. Terry Eguaoje Director of Coaching for Pennsylvania West Youth Soccer | USC Soccer Journal | Sept./Oct. 2018 Coaching in the Game: Individual and Team Tactical Decisions | USC Soccer Journal | March/April 2019 Interview with Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association Technical Director Mike Barr | USC Soccer Journal | May/June 2019 Interview with Kevin McCarthy, the Director of Youth Development for the Downtown United Soccer Club (NY) | USC Soccer Journal | September/October 2019 Interview with Giovanni Pacini, a United Soccer Coaches Academy staff member| USC Soccer Journal | January/February 2020 Interview with Tim Bradbury, the Director of Coaching Instruction for the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association | USC Soccer Journal | May/June 2020 Interview with Larry Mahony – Irish Coach, Educator and Author | USC Soccer Journal | May/June 2021 5 v 5 (Plus Keepers) One of My Favorite Training Sessions | USC Soccer Journal | May/June 2021 “Football with Future Stars, Tanzania” – Julian Light interview | USC Soccer Journal | March/April 2022 Are Your Players Learning to Steal Real Estate? | USC Soccer Journal | November/December 2022 Bob McNulty – New Jersey’s Early Coaching School Pioneer, College Coach and Mentor | Soccer Journal | Summer 2023 Interview with Derek Broadley – Technical Director, Charlestown Soccer Club (SC) | Soccer Journal | Fall 2023

Matt Heim '23 returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach for the Fords prior to the 2023 season. Heim appeared in 44 games for the Fords over four seasons (2019-22), logging 19 starts.  The West Windsor, N.J. native previously served as Operations Coordinator for Safe-Hub Philadelphia, a global nonprofit that uses soccer-foucsed youth development programming and holistic familial support to provide underserviced populations in Philadelphia with with better outcomes, a more stable living environment, and a brighter future. Heim graduated from Haverford with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He resides in Philadelphia.