Eastern University Athletics

Kevin Brenner brings a wealth of experience to Eastern Men's Soccer. He came to Eastern after serving three years as head coach at Elmira College. In his first year at the helm at Eastern, he led the Eagles through a COVID-restricted fall and a shortened spring season while recruiting a strong 2021 class. 

Brenner has coached at three divisions, (I, II & III). Brenner turned around a struggling Elmira College program in just three short years. 

• NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer – National Chair (2020 – 2021) 
• NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer – East Region Chair (2018 – 2021) 
• 2019 - Empire 8 Semifinalist (first time since 2015, 6th time in school history) 
• 2019 - 9 wins, (most since 2012, 4th in a season all-time) 
• 2019 – 8 players on the All-Empire 8 Conference Team (program record, tied for most in the league) 
• 2019 – Top 25 East Region Winning Percentage 
• Rodney Smith – signed professionally in the 3rd division in Sweden with Grythyttan IF
• John Mullan named Elmira College Man Scholar Athlete of the Year (2 years) with a cumulative GPA of 4.0
• Xavier Townsend name as the Elmira College Athletics Male Rookie of the Year (2019)
• Program record 3 years in a row Elmira College Men’s Soccer – United Soccer Coaches Association All-American Academic team.

He arrived at Elmira with a wide range of coaching experience at each level of NCAA men’s soccer (I, II & III), with his most recent head coaching responsibilities at Division II Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio. During his two-year stint with Lake Erie, Brenner amassed a 15-16-6 overall record and helped guide the Storm to back-to-back Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) postseason bids. 

In 2015, Brenner led Lake Erie to a third-place regular-season finish and the program’s first-ever GLIAC championship appearance. The 2016 season saw Brenner’s Storm open the year with team’s best start in program history at 5-1-0, before concluding the season with an 8-7-4 record, the second-most victories in single-season program history. Fueling the team’s run were its efforts on defense, as the Storm ranked inside the top-11 in the nation in several statistical categories, including shutouts (3rd), goals-against average (4th), save percentage (9th) and shutout percentage (11th). The 2016 season also saw Lake Erie set the school record for most single-season shutouts. That same year, six of his players received All-GLIAC and All-Tournament Team honors. Additionally, Lake Erie was the only institution to have a freshman receive First-Team accolades. 

Over his two-year stay at Lake Erie, Brenner coached 14 All-GLIAC honorees, including the 2016 GLIAC Goalkeeper of the Year and the 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. Accolades extended to the team level as well, as his 2015 squad received the NSCAA All-Academic Team Award with an impressive grade point average of 3.41. Three of Brenner's players would go on to play semi-professional ranks following their time at Lake Erie, including 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). 

Before to his time at Lake Erie, Brenner served as an assistant coach at Division I University at Buffalo from 2014-15. As Buffalo’s top assistant, he developed the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Rookie of the Year and placed eight players on the All-MAC Academic Team. His recruitment and development of several key players was instrumental in setting the stage for back-to-back MAC Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2016. One of the key players during Buffalo’s playoff run was Russell Cicerone, a recruit of Brenner’s. He was drafted by Portland in the MLS Superdraft and continues playing professionally. 

Brenner’s Division I coaching experience also includes a four-year stint as an assistant coach at Canisius College. The Golden Griffins reached several new heights during Brenner’s tenure, including the best start to a season in program history, the longest unbeaten streak and the longest winning streak in Canisius history, all of which took place during the 2012 campaign; the Griffs also received votes in the NSCAA National Coaches Poll during that season. Brenner was also responsible for recruiting and developing standout talisman Asani Samuels, who would later go on to play professionally for the Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League (USL). 

Earlier in his coaching career, Brenner served as the assistant coach for his alma mater, Division III Buffalo State, from 2005-10. His six-season appointment saw the Bengals produce their highest winning percentage in 23 years. During that time, Buffalo State qualified for two SUNYAC postseason tournaments, placed seven players on the All-SUNYAC Team and had 10 student-athletes earn All-SUNYAC Academic Team accolades. 

A member of the United Soccer Coach Association, Brenner holds two USSF Licenses, while completing his USC Advanced Regional, National Diploma, Advance National and Premier Diplomas. Brenner’s playing career began at neighboring SUNY Cortland, before making the switch to Buffalo State for his sophomore season. During his time with the Bengals, he was a two-year captain and helped the team to its best record to date in 2004 (11-5-2). That season, Brenner led the Bengals in game-winning goals and finished third in points, which helped Buffalo State receive a regional ranking from the NSCAA, as well as votes in the national poll. 

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in business management, Brenner was signed as a scout and reserve player for the Queen City Football Club of the National Premier Soccer League from 2006-2008.