RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Manhattan College has named Brendan Lawler head women's soccer coach as announced by Director of Athletics Robert Byrnes on Monday. Lawler brings seven years of coaching experience to the Lady Jaspers' program, including collegiate coaching stints at the United States Military Academy and Marist College. A graduate of Saint Peter's College, Lawler was a goalkeeper for the Peacocks' men's soccer program.
Lawler comes to Riverdale from Marist College where he served as an assistant for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons under head coach Elizabeth Roper. The Newburgh, N.Y., native was responsible for assisting with the coordination of training sessions, recruiting student-athletes and scouting opponents. During his time with the Red Foxes, Lawler mentored a goalkeeping unit which recorded eight shutouts and he helped develop four All-MAAC Rookie Team selections in his two seasons. Lawler also worked with the Marist men's soccer team's goalkeepers last season.
In three years at West Point working with former men's head coach Kurt Swanbeck, Lawler primarily trained the goalkeepers and defensive unit from 2006-2009. In 2007, the Black Knights posted their highest win total in over 10 years.
Lawler has been a member of the goalkeeping coaching staff for the United States Soccer Federation Region I Olympic Development Program since 2007. Working within the Town of Wallkill Soccer Club in Middletown, N.Y. for five years, Lawler was the head coach of the girl's under-18 Red Devils premier team. Since 2005, Lawler also served as a girls Olympic Development Program head coach within Eastern New York Youth Soccer.
At the high school level, Lawler was the head girls varsity coach at Pine Bush from 2003-2005. In 2005, he led the program to the school's first-ever Section IX Championship.
"We are thrilled to welcome Brendan to the Manhattan College community," emphasized Byrnes. "Brendan has a track record of success coaching at the college, high school and club levels. His familiarity with the MAAC, as a coach and student-athlete, commitment to academics and knowledge of the game will continue to uphold the traditions this program has always taken pride in."
Lawler played Division I soccer and graduated cum laude from Saint Peter's College earning a bachelor's of arts in political science with minors in secondary education and history in 2002. Lawler was a teacher at Pine Bush High School for four years before pursuing a master's degree in political science.
Lawler holds a United States Soccer Federation A License and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) advanced national goalkeeping diploma with distinguished pass. He currently serves as an instructor for the NSCAA Goalkeeping Academy.
