Tiffin University Head Coach Rudy Brownell

Phone: 419-448-3286
Email: rbrownel@tiffin.edu

Rudy Brownell recently finished his third season as Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Tiffin University. He has a 38-16-2 record since taking over in 2007 from long time Men's Soccer Coach Ian Day.  

Brownell, who also holds a 84-39-16 career mark as Head Women's Coach, helped lead the Dragons to their second consecutive GLIAC Tournament Championship in 2009.

In just seven seasons at the helm of the women’s program, Brownell has made his mark with the Dragons women’s soccer program. In 2008, the Dragons women’s soccer program earned admission to the NCAA National Tournament after reaching a ranking of 4th in the Midwest Region. The men's squad, meanwhile, was ranked 6th in the region and just missed an at-large berth to the NCAA tourney despite winning the GLIAC postseason championship.   

In 2004 the Lady Dragon program posted an 11-6-1 mark while finishing 2nd in the American Mideast Conference and making it to the Region IX final four. In his initial campaign, after losing nine seniors and starting nine new players, he led the 2003 Dragons women’s soccer program to an 8-6-6 record, a 3rd place finish in the American Mideast Conference and also finished Runner-up in the Region IX Tournament.

Brownell earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Tiffin University and also obtained a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Tiffin University . He competed as defender for the Dragons from 1992-1995. Brownell also helped the Dragons capture the 1992 & 1995 AMC titles. Tiffin posted a 65-24-3 record during his career. The 1992 team also made it to the NAIA National Tournament.

After graduation, Brownell played professionally for the Cleveland White Caps of the USISL in 1998. He was also assistant coach for the women’s and men’s soccer programs. He helped the women’s soccer program to four American Mideast Conference Championship crowns and to an 84-33-4 overall record. The Dragons went 45-2-1 in the AMC. The team was also ranked nationally from 1998-2000. The women’s team advanced to the region final four and also made it to the national tournament in 2000 and 2002. As the assistant coach for the men’s soccer program, he helped the team win the American Mideast Conference title in 1999, and take second place in 1996 and 2004. From 1996 to 2004 the team also posted a 116-62-13 overall record and made it to the region Final Four two out of the last three years.

 

Coach Brownell Men's Soccer Year by Year

2007 - 10-6-1

2008 - 13-6, GLIAC Tournament Champions

2009 - 15-4-1, GLIAC Tournament Champions

Overall Record - 38-16-2 (.703)

 

Coach Brownell Women's Soccer Year by Year Record

2003 - 8-6-6 (Reg.Finals)

2004 - 11-6-1 (2nd AMC)

2005 - 13-5-2 (1st AMC)

2006 - 17-4-2 (Reg. Champ, NAIA Sweet 16)

2007 - 11-6-1

2008 - 13-5-2 (NCAA National Tournament qualifier)

2009 - 11-7-2


Career women's record: 84-39-16 (.682)
ICAA Coach of the Year 2007
Finalist-NAIA Coach of the Year 2006
NAIA Region IX Coach of the Year 2006

          

 

Assistant Coach Luis Cortell

Phone: 419-448-3373
Email: tiffinsoccer@aol.com

Luis Cortell enters his second year of coaching for the Dragons. Cortell most recently served as Men's and Women's Assistant Coach since 2003 for the University of Findlay, where he also served as Recruiting Director. He was a four-year player for the Oilers from 2000-2003, scoring 45 career goals with 10 assists over 63 games. As a player he helped lead
the Oilers to a ranking of 5th in the nation and the NSCAA II Final Four at Virginia Beach while earning All-American honors.  Cortell is a three time All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player and two time All-Great Lakes Region standout. He holds a USFF National D Soccer coaching license as well as a referee eight license. He also holds a NSCAA Advance Regional Diploma.  Cortell earned a Bachelor of Science in International Business and Sports Management from the University of Findlay as well as his Master's degree in International Business in 2006.  He is currently the Liberty Benton Soccer Club Coaching Director for the Boys and Girls programs.  He has been part of the On The Ball Soccer Camp coaching staff since 2001, having been the Camp Assistant Director from 2003-2007.   

  

 


 

           

 

Assistant Coach Mircea Handru

Mircea Handru enters his first year coaching with the Dragons. Recruited from Romania, he came to the United States to play college soccer for Tiffin University. In his four years at Tiffin University, Mircea earned numerous honors, including All-Conference Awards, All-GLIAC South Division Honorable Mention, NSCAA Scholar All-Region Team, Second Team All-Great Lakes Region, All-Independent Honors, Academic All-ICAA, and All Conference Academic awards. He also played semi-professionally for the Toledo Slayers in 2005. His academic achievements earned him a place on the Tiffin University Dean’s List in 2006, 2007, and 2008. He graduated in December of 2007 with a degree in Managerial Studies.

Shortly after graduation, Mircea worked for Pacesetter Soccer Club in Sylvania, Ohio as the Director of the Youth Program. Mircea received a Professional Competences Certificate as a Sport Instructor in 2004, USSF National “D” License in 2006, National Youth Diploma in 2007, State League Diploma in 2008 and the Referee Grade 8 License in 2009. He is also on the Ohio North Olympic Developmental Staff. He is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Sports Administration. 

 

 

 

 


Student Assistant Ryan Kiekbusch

Ryan Kiekbusch enters his first year coaching with the Dragons.  Recruited from Sterling Heights, Michigan, he transferred from Macomb Community College to finish his academic and soccer career.  During his two years at Tiffin, his team won the 2008 GLIAC Championship upon their first year in GLIAC play.  He is currently finishing up his requirements for graduation in May and plans to attend graduate school.  He is coaching the Men’s and Women’s JV programs.