Staff Directory
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- 336-758-3744
Dane Brenner completed his 14th season with the Wake Forest men's soccer program in 2023 after being hired onto the staff prior to the 2011 season. He was elevated to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2018 campaign.
At Wake Forest, Brenner works primarily with the team's defensive unit and goalkeepers while also serving as the program's recruiting coordinator.
Over his last 10 seasons, Wake Forest has made six trips to the NCAA quarterfinals and two trips to the NCAA College Cup. The Deacs have won the ACC Atlantic Division five times, as well as back-to-back ACC Championships in 2016 and 2017 and a third during his tenure in 2024.
Brenner was a key part of the coaching staff which has earned United Soccer Coaches Region Staff of the Year in the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Over the last 10 years, the Deacs won 152 matches, more than any other Division I program over that span. The Deacs have sent 26Â players to the MLS as well, including 20 MLS SuperDraft selections and 11Â homegrown signees.
The 2016 Deacs conceded just 11 goals, fewest in program history.
Brenner has helped Andreu Cases Mundet become a standout between the posts early in his career. He broke the program record for goals-against average with a mark of 0.49 in 2017, and his mark of 12 shutouts was one off the school record.
Brenner also oversaw the development of keeper Alec Ferrell, who finished his career with a 0.89 goals-against average and .797 save percentage en route to becoming the first goalkeeper selected in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by Minnesota United FC.
After the 2015 season, Brenner was named the NSCAA's Glenn "Mooch" Myernick National Assistant Coach of the Year and the organization's South Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
Before joining the Demon Deacons, Brenner served as an assistant coach at Connecticut for four years. During his time with the Huskies, the program posted at 54-14-17 record. While at UConn, Brenner aided the development of Josh Ford, an All-American and All-BIG EAST goalkeeper for the Huskies. Ford ultimately recorded 50 shutouts and was selected No. 11 overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Seattle Sounders FC.
While at UConn, Brenner also worked with student-athletes on and off the field, as well as assisting in ticket sales with local youth clubs, team travel and game promotions. He also helped with goalkeeper training after a successful Division I collegiate career at South Florida.
All in all, Brenner's teams in 11 seasons as an assistant coach at Wake Forest and Connecticut have never missed the NCAA Tournament. His best runs in the tournament came in a 2016 College Cup runner-up finish, Elite Eight runs in 2007, 2015 and 2017, and Sweet 16 appearances in 2008 and 2013.
Brenner graduated from South Florida in 2006 and went on trial with the Chicago Fire in the spring of 2007. At USF, he was a four-year starter and a three-time captain for the Bulls. Brenner was chosen as an All-Conference USA goalkeeper in 2004 and led USF to the BIG EAST regular season championship title in 2005 in the Bulls' first year in the conference.
Brenner posted a career-best 0.80 GAA in 2006 with 74 saves while ranking No. 24 in the nation in save percentage (.822). In 2005, he started and played in a career-best 20 games and recorded a 1.36 GAA while notching a 13-6-1 record.
During the 2004 season, Brenner was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Third Team and earned a spot on the All-Conference USA Second Team.
A native of High Point, North Carolina, Brenner played club for the PSA Stars before playing at South Florida. He graduated in 2006 with a degree in Sociology. In 2010, he received his Master's in Kinesiology-Sport Management from UConn.Â
