Lee University

Lee University Athletics
PO Box 3450 1120 North Ocoee Street Cleveland, TN 37320

Division 2 Tennessee Southeast

Private Small Competitive team

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Coaches

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Derek Potteiger

Coach Potteiger enters his eighth year as head coach of Lee men’s soccer. During the past seven seasons his Flames have never encountered a losing campaign. Potteiger’s program is highly respected in the powerful GSC and NCAA Division II. The Flames finished the 2023 season at 8-6-4 overall and 5-4-2 against league foes. His seven-year Lee record stands at 58-34-20.

Said Potteiger, "One of the great aspects of college coaching is that every team is quite unique and never the same as the previous season. The challenge is always building on the foundation of the program that has been laid by previous teams but recognizing it is a new season and a unique group and embracing that new challenge.”

The 2023 season was marked by rugged, low-scoring battles. Four of the Flames’ six defeats were by one goal. It was the same type of result in the semifinal round of the GSC Tournament. Coach Potteiger’s men saw the season conclude with a 2-0 loss to a West Florida team that only lost once the entire year and would advance to the DII Nationals.

It was an outstanding year for Eamon McLaughlin. The senior posted a 3.33 GPA in business administration. He was a DII CCA All-South Region member and First Team All-GSC. McLaughlin led the attack for the Flames. His seven goals lead the team and tied for fourth best in the GSC.

In 2022 the team finished second in the GSC regular season at 9-4-2 (back-to-back seven-win GSC seasons), but then lost a heartbreaker 2-1 in the GSC quarterfinals, giving up a 1-0 lead in the final four minutes to eventual GSC tournament winner Christian Brothers.

After the 2020 season was also completely wiped out due to the COVID-19, the 2021 Flames came burning back with a 13-5-1 record and recorded several team high-water marks. It became the first team to post 13 wins since Lee moved forward to DII, also added the most conference wins (7), most goals scored - with a full DII schedule (36), fewest goals conceded (10), highest goal differential (26). The season ended with the heartbreaking loss to rival West Florida, 2-1 in the GSC Tournament finals.

The 2019 team placed fourth in the Gulf South Conference regular-season standings, then the Flames defeated top-seeded Mississippi College in the semi-final round of the GSC Tournament and whipped rival West Florida 1-0 to earn its first-ever GSC Tournament Championship. Potteiger’s club made its first trip to the NCAA DII National Tournament and fell to Queens University (Charlotte, N.C.) in the opening round after two overtimes and a 5-4 decision in penalty kicks.

Potteiger was a two-time All-American at Penn State University and former first assistant for the United States Naval Academy (2009-13). During his tenure at Penn State, Potteiger was selected as All-Big 10 four times and captained the soccer team for three seasons, graduating with a 3.5 GPA.

He played professionally in the USL for several years and served as the top assistant under legendary coach Dave Brandt at the Naval Academy. Navy was a bottom 10 program in 2008 and rose to a Top 25 program by 2013 under Brandt’s leadership.

Coach Potteiger began his head coaching career at NCAA Division III Gordon College (Wenham, Massachusetts) and for four years his teams posted an impressive 61-18-3 record. He took over a Gordon team that won only six games prior to his arrival in 2012 to 19 wins in 2013 and was named conference coach of the year. He directed the Gordon squad to its first two NCAA tournament wins.

Derek, and his wife Jennifer have four daughters, Alexis, Rylee, Abigail, Reese and a son Myan.

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Danny Brandt

Coach Brandt begins his first season as the associate head coach for Head Coach Derek Potteiger and the Flames. He comes to Lee after serving as the head coach at Olivet Nazarene University (Illinois) in 2022. He guided the Tigers to a 16-2-3 record, a conference championship, and a national championship tournament appearance.

Prior to his stint at Olivet, Brandt served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for NCAA DI Bucknell University (2021) and NCAA DIII Carnegie Mellon University (2019-21). Brandt's first-ever coaching opportunity came in 2018 as an assistant with NCAA DIII Hope College. He helped guide the Flying Dutchmen to an impressive 14-3-1 record and a national ranking.

"When the job here opened, there was one guy at the very top of my list to pursue and that was Danny Brandt. Danny not only has years of experience at multiple schools and multiple levels, but he is just a flat-out talented coach – both with individuals and the collective team – and an elite recruiter," said Potteiger. "I'm so grateful to the leadership of the athletic program and the institution here at Lee that supported the entire process of getting Danny here."

A 2018 graduate of NCAA DIII soccer powerhouse Messiah College, Brandt was a part of NCAA Championship teams in 2013 and 2017. He was also a two-time First Team All-MAC Commonwealth Conference selection (2014, 2017) and an All-Mid-Atlantic Region pick in 2014.

"I have known Danny for a long time and that relationship is something that goes a long way on a college athletics staff. It has been a joy to watch him have such success as a college player – he won two National Championships at that level – and then to track his progress and success as a coach, most recently his run to the National Tournament at Olivet Nazarene. And now, to be able to bring him to Lee and partner with him in pushing this program to new heights is a real joy and something I'm looking forward to doing together," noted Potteiger.

The Potteiger and Brandt connection runs deeps as he served as the lead assistant under Danny's father, Dave Brandt at the Naval Academy from 2009-2013.

"I have known Coach Potteiger for a while but at the same time coaches know across the country how great of a coach and person that Coach Potteiger is and the opportunity to learn from him was something that attracted me to Lee," said Brandt. "The energy of Lee from the students to the staff is great and it is one of the top D2 soccer programs to be a part of. I feel fortunate to be given this opportunity."

Coach Brandt makes his home in Cleveland.