Search

Lee University

Lee University Athletics
 PO Box 3450 1120 North Ocoee Street Cleveland, TN 37320
Division 2 Tennessee Southeast
Private Medium Competitive team
I'm interested in this program!

Coaches

Email coach

Derek Potteiger

Coach Potteiger enters his seventh year as head coach of Lee men’s soccer. During the past six seasons his Flames have posted nothing but winning records. Potteiger’s clubs have quickly become highly respected teams in powerful GSC and DII play, finishing the 2022 season at 9-4-2.


The Flames suffered a heart-breaking 2-1 defeat to Christian Brothers in the quarterfinal round of the 2022 GSC Tournament that ended the season. Eemeli Makela earned All-GSC, All-South Region and DII Third Team All-American honors, Jeremy Bischoff was All-GSC, All-South Region and an All-American Scholar while freshman Fabian Navarro was voted to the All-GSC team.


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 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 (1.7). 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 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.


Potteiger said, “Lee has been a great place for me and my family thus far, and a place that we have really felt a strong connection with right from the start. We have been able to build the program the right way over the last six seasons and were able to reap some of those rewards in 2019.


"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.”


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

show more
Email coach

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.

show more

College Bound Athletes

Showcase Tips

Are you ready for your next college showcase?
Soccer in College gave me a good point of reference for perspective coaches, somewhere I could direct them to see all of my data, in a well-organized, efficient manner. It was a good tool for my recruiting efforts.
- Thomas CurryWhat are others saying?