University of Northwestern Women's Soccer

Danny Brandt is entering his 2nd year as the Head Women's Soccer Coach for the 2026 campaign. In his first season with the Northwestern Women's Soccer team, head coach Danny Brandt made an immediate impact on the Eagles program. Brandt guided Northwestern to a 9-1-2 conference record, earning the top seed in the UMAC Tournament and securing the program's first regular-season championship since 2017, and its sixth all-time. UNW lost 0-1 in the Championship to UW-Superior, but later received the At-Large bid to the NCCAA National Championships in Kissimmee, Florida. They went 1-2 in pool play, winning their first game against the No. 4 seed, Asbury University. Before joining the Northwestern squad, Brandt spent two seasons as the Men's Soccer Associate Head Coach at Division II Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, guiding the Flames to a Gulf South Conference Semifinal appearance, two wins over nationally ranked opponents, and a two-week stay in the top-25 national poll. Prior to his time at Lee, Brandt served as the Head Men's Soccer Coach at Olivet Nazarene University, an NAIA program in Chicago. In his one season at the helm, he led the Tigers to their best record in program history at 16-2-3. Under Brandt's leadership, ONU also won the CCAC regular-season and tournament championship and was ranked in the national top 25 every week of the season. The Tigers earned a bid to the NAIA National Tournament and finished the season ranked 17th in the country. From 2019-2022, Brandt spent time as the primary Assistant Men's Soccer Coach at Division III Carnegie Mellon University, as well as a brief stint at Division I Bucknell University, before Olivet Nazarene tabbed him as its head coach. His coaching career began in 2018 as an assistant with the Hope College men's program, where he helped the Flying Dutchmen to a 14-3-1 record in his lone season on campus. As a player, he graduated from DIII stalwart Messiah College in 2018 with a pair of NCAA National Championships to his credit (2013, 2017). A two-time First Team All-MAC Commonwealth Conference selection (2014, 2017), Brandt was also an All-Mid-Atlantic Region selection in 2014. After his college career ended, he appeared in seven games and made six starts for the Ocean City Nor'easters, a professional soccer team in USL League Two. In addition to his role leading the Women's Soccer team, Coach Brandt will also oversee UNW's intramural program.

Josh Niedermayer is entering his 12th season as a Northwestern Women's Soccer Coach. After 10 years as an assistant, he was named Interim Head Coach in 2024 before returning to his assistant role in 2025. Aside from his soccer duties, Niedermayer has been working as a Project Manager in the IT department on campus since 2012. Coach Niedermayer has helped guide the Eagles to two conference championships, two NCCAA National Tournament appearances and a NCAA DIII National Tournament appearance.  Coach Niedermayer graduated from Northwestern in 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems (MIS), as well as a Master’s in Business Administration in 2016. Niedermayer also played soccer at UNW from 2007 to 2010. He was named Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Academic All-Conference in 2008 and 2010. In 2010, he was second in the conference in goals against (9) and first in save percentage (.850). Niedermayer and his wife, Mara, reside in Champlin with their two sons and one daughter.