Tiffin University Head Coach Rudy Brownell
Phone: 419-448-3286
Email: rbrownel@tiffin.edu
In just six seasons at the helm of the women’s program, Brownell has made his mark with the Dragons women’s soccer program. Last season, the Dragons women’s soccer program posted an 13-5-2 mark and a Top 4 Midwest Region ranking in their first year in the GLIAC. They earned an at-large berth in the NCAA National Tournament, the first Tiffin University team to earn an NCAA postseason berth.
Coach Brownell was named Independent Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 2007 after leading the Dragons to the ICAA Championship. He also earned the honor in 2006 while also earning Region IX Coach of the Year and being a finalist for NAIA Coach of the Year in 2006. In 2006, the Dragons won the Region IX Championship for the third time. The Dragons finished their NAIA history by reaching the NAIA Sweet 16 for the first time in their history.
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 Year by Year
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)
Overall record: 73-32-14 (.695)
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
Luis Cortell enters his first 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.
Graduate Assistant Coach Rachel Garofolo
Rachel Garofolo enters her second year as an assistant coach for the Dragons after an outstanding four-year career in the field. She is a native of Columbia, Ohio where she attended Columbian High School. Rachel earned her Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Sports Management from Tiffin University and is currently pursuing her Master's degree at TU. She is a three-time NAIA All-American who also earned four All-Region and First Team All-Conference honors. She was also named Division II Independent Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, and is currently second in career goals and points in Lady Dragons history.