Saying farewell to a legend

This is about a week old, but it happened right before I went home for the holidays, and I just couldn't let it go without comment.

Last Tuesday was a sad day for Messiah College soccer. I'm sure most of you already know, but for those who hadn't gotten the news, Messiah's head coach of 12 years, Dave Brandt, announced his resignation, and accepted the job at Division I Navy. (Story here) Now, there is absolutely no bitterness here - Coach Brandt has proven beyond all doubt that he has mastered D-III, and if he desires a different challenge, I wish him all the best. I'm a Navy soccer fan as of last week, and I have no doubt that Coach will do many, many positive things there.

Still, I can't help but feel saddened for what Messiah just lost. I don't know Coach Brandt personally (other than as my racquetball instructor the fall semester of my senior year), and I only know his coaching from a fan's perspective, but what he did in his 12 years at Messiah is the stuff of legends, and it was made even more special by the way he did it. His early departure from Messiah, which keeps him from racking up the kind of career victory numbers that others have, is likely the only thing that will keep any discussion about who the best D-III soccer coach ever from immediately ending with him.

Let's do some quick rundowns, shall we: Messiah compiled a 246-26-12 record during Brandt's 12 years at the helm, averaging 20.5 wins a game. I don't believe any single Messiah team had won 20 games prior to his arrival. His winning percentage is the highest among any coach in NCAA men's soccer history. Messiah never missed the NCAAs in his 12 years, went to 8 Final Fours, and won 6 national championships, the most of any single school in D-III history. This is where it gets crazy, however. Often, in college circles, coaches aren't really evaluated until they've gone through 4 years, at which point every player on the team was recruited by the coach and the seniors have had 4 years in the system. Brandt's 4th year at Messiah? 2000 - the year Messiah won it's first title. So, in the 9 years that the team was "fully" Brandt's, they won 6 titles, and went to the Final Four 8 times. The most impressive stretch in there would have to be 2002-2006, in which they won 4 of 5 titles, including 3 straight from 2004-2006, and had a 5 year unbeaten streak in NCAA tournament play (the only time they didn't win the tournament, they were eliminated on penalty kicks in 2003, which goes in the books as a tie). Twice in Brandt's tenure, the team reeled off 31 consecutive victories, the 2nd including a perfect 24-0 season in 2005. By my quick math, Brandt's teams were a staggering 42-4-3 in NCAA tournament play. (Did you catch that? Brandt won more NCAA title games in his Messiah career than he lost NCAA games, period).

What made this all the better was how Brandt's teams racked up these amazing numbers. As a rabid sports fan of a variety of professional and college teams, I'm used to having to root for teams that exhibit behavior I don't particularly approve of, basically just conceding that to be part of the reality of sports. With Messiah, there was no such problem. I can probably count on a couple fingers the times that I was dismayed by the conduct of a Messiah player or team. Brandt's teams were crazy talented, but they were also disciplined, passionate, and sportsmanlike. They demonstrated that you could play hard, tough, and physical, but do so (largely) within the rules, and without dirty intent, even in the face of dirty intent from the opposition. Brandt coached an attractive, flowing, team-oriented system that is rather uncharacteristic of college soccer in this country, at any level.

I have little doubt that whomever takes over the helm of the Messiah men's soccer team will carry on all of these traditions, and do so with success, though likely not as much success as Brandt had. (Let's be realistic, even Brandt was unlike to match his first 12 years over the next 12 years, but who knows, really?) Coach Brandt's imprint will no doubt be on the program for as long as it continues. However, there is no question that the program has suffered a loss, and only time will tell us just how big it was.

So, Coach Brandt, thank you for the memories, and the best of luck in your new challenge. Go Midshipmen, and of course, Go Falcons!