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Brett Surrency
Appointed head coach prior to the 2010 season, Surrency quickly orchestrated a Panthers’ turnaround from a losing season to their best finish in the Colonial Athletic Association since they joined the conference in 2005. The initial year laid the groundwork for his program’s philosophy going forward: High expectations, hard work and excellence on the field of play. Since then, Surrency has led Georgia State to nine or more wins in nine of his 12 seasons with the program and is currently the second winningest coach (123 victories) in GSU men's soccer history.
In a crazy off season which included a conference change to the Mid-American Conference (MAC), Surrency led the Panthers to their seventh consecutive trip to a Conference Tournament Championship Game in 2021. This would be Georgia State's first ever MAC Championship game, and despite falling to Northern Illinois in double overtime in the tournament final, the team received an at -large berth to the NCAA Tournament and traveled to take on Charlotte in Charlotte, NC. History was made in the Queen City when they secured their first ever NCAA postseason tournament win in thrilling fashion 1-0.
The history making season came to an end at Georgetown in the second round of the NCAA tournament, but not before receiving many individual accolades. George Proctor and Gunther Rankenburg earned All-MAC First Team honors, while Ross Finnie and Ethan Sassine garnered All-MAC Second Team recognition. Proctor, Rankenburg, and Finnie also were named to the 2021 United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Team.
Despite the challenges of a once in 100-year pandemic, Surrency led the Panthers to a 9-2-2 mark in 2020. Georgia State started the season 5-0 including a win at South Carolina, the first time defeating the Gamecocks since 1978. It marked the first time in school history winning the first five matches of the year.
In the opening round of the 2019 Sun Belt Tournament, Surrency guided the Panthers to a 4-0 victory over rival Georgia Southern, becoming just the second coach in school history to reach the century mark in career wins. During the regular season, he coached Georgia State to a 6-0-3 start to the year, setting a program record for most matches to start a season without a loss. Surrency also led GSU to an upset victory over No. 10 Charlotte in mid-October, the fourth time during his tenure the Panthers have knocked off a top-25 nationally ranked opponent.
Surrency has coached the Panthers to two NCAA Tournament appearances and helped the team earn its first ever Sun Belt Conference Championship in 2018.
In 2018, he guided GSU to capture its first Sun Belt Conference regular season and conference tournament championship in program history. During the regular season, his team put together a six-game winning streak -- a feat that had not been accomplished by the program in over 30 years. Surrency went on to be named 2018 Sun Belt Coach of the Year after leading the Panthers to an undefeated finish in conference play for the first time since 1989. He also finished a perfect 2-0 against the two-time defending Sun Belt Conference champions Coastal Carolina after GSU entered the year without a win over the Chanticleers since 1981.
2017 was another year of a high-powered offense, with the team outscoring its opponents 36-21. The team finished second in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the third year in a row, falling to Coastal Carolina for the second year in a row. Georgia State led the Sun Belt in players earning All-Conference honors for the second year in a row, with eight awards going to the Panthers.
The team's biggest win of the season came with its 2-1 overtime victory over then-No. 2 Wake Forest. The Panthers defeated the highest-ranked opponent in program history and tied the Georgia State record for highest-ranking opponent defeated, with softball defeating No. 2 Alabama in 2012.
In 2016, Surrency coached the Panthers to a season-high No. 11 scoring offense. The team finished 14-8, ending the season with a second-place finish in the SBC Tournament.
The season was highlighted by an explosive offense, with GSU outscoring its opponents 42-25. GSU was dominant on both sides of the ball, posting seven shutouts and eight student-athletes with more than two goals. The Panthers earned their first win in series history over powerhouse opponent Duke on the road, taking the Blue Devils into overtime to secure the victory.
In 2015, the Panthers produced a 9-8-1 (even though the "tie" was a shootout win over Georgia Southern). GSU ranked No. 10 in the final NSCAA Southeast Regional poll after nine weeks in the Top 10 and a highest ranking at No. 6.
The Panthers advanced to the Sun Belt Championship Match after a dramatic comeback semifinal win over Georgia Southern. Down, 3-0, GSU rallied to tie and then win on shootouts. For a second straight year, GSU fell to Hartwick for the championship.
GSU beat Brown 3-2 early in the 2015 season when the Bears were top 25 ranked, as well as No. 68 RPI North Florida. Georgia State was No. 5 in the NCAA in scoring in 2015 (2.28 goals per match) with a top match of six goals (vs. NJIT) that was the most in a game since 1994.
In April 2014, former defender Michael Nwiloh was selected with the second pick in the fourth round by Chivas USA in the MLS SuperDraft. He came to Georgia State in 2010 and thanks to the guidance of Surrency he became the first GSU men’s soccer player to sign a professional contract with a MLS franchise.
After a slow start in 2013, Surrency’s team built momentum that saw the Panthers finish the season 9-4-1 over the final 14 matches to finish the 2013 campaign with a 9-9-1 mark. GSU strung together a six-match unbeaten streak that included a 1-1 draw on the road against No. 6 Washington, which reached the elite eight of the 2013 NCAA tournament. The Panthers then had a three-match winning streak that began with a 2-0 win against No. 9 Furman. Victory was GSU’s first against a top-10 team since a 2-1 win over Clemson in 2001.
In 2012, Surrency pushed his players as they faced many elite teams including top-ranked Maryland and No. 15 Old Dominion. During a season when the Panthers played in 12 games decided by one goal, the team never stopped fighting, which was apparent in the back-to-back overtime wins to end the season.
In 2011, Georgia State accomplished many firsts including its first NCAA tournament and CAA tournament appearances in school history. The 2011 squad achieved the program’s highest RPI ranking in school history at No. 26 on the way to its most wins (13) since 1986. The team tied the school record for shutouts with nine and placed three players on the All-CAA team.
With a background as a two-time, all-conference defender, Surrency brought to GSU a system that is organized and disciplined on the back end. The 2010 men’s soccer team embodied the hard-working, disciplined approach of its new head coach. Surrency guided the team through difficult losses that forced several key members, including four-year starter Joe Castaldo and 2009 All-CAA third-team member Chris Peacos, off its back line. The Panthers fought to a 7-7-3 overall record and an eighth-place finish in the CAA.
The Gainesville, Fla. native saw his team accomplish many firsts in his initial year at the helm, including winning its CAA opener for the first time in school history and notching its first win over NCAA tournament participant Old Dominion in an emotional 4-3 decision. But Surrency holds higher expectations for his Panthers, mainly to contend for titles and NCAA tournament bids every season.
Before joining GSU in 2005, Surrency spent the 2004 season as a student assistant coach at his alma mater, Jacksonville University. He held multiple responsibilities with the Dolphins including daily training sessions, training non-traveling players and assisting with administrative work.
Surrency was a four-time Atlantic Sun All-Academic performer and a two-time All-Atlantic Sun Conference honoree at Jacksonville. He earned Atlantic Sun first-team honors in his senior year of 2003 and second team laurels as a sophomore in 2001. He was a four-year starter and three-year captain as a center back. He earned the Bill Coulthart Award as the Dolphins’ most valuable player in 2003.
Surrency received the 2003 Douglas B. Milne Award recognizing excellent sportsmanship by the Jacksonville athletic department and was a NSCAA/Adidas 2003 College Men Scholar All-South Region team member.
Surrency earned his bachelor’s degree in sports administration from Jacksonville in 2004 and added a master’s degree in sports administration from Georgia State in 2007. He has volunteered with the Special Olympics, Soccer in the Streets, After School All-Stars, Boys and Girls Club and organized various clinics in the soccer community.
He is married to the former Crystal Cantrell and they have a daughter, Grey, and a son, Rowen.
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