Bio

Twitter: @coachsimonbrown, @WmPennMSOC

Simon Brown is in his fifth year as Head Men’s Soccer Coach.

Brown currently owns a 48-29-7 record and has guided three All-Americans, 13 all-Heart performers, and one Heart Freshman of the Year.  He has also coached 17 Heart Scholar-Athletes and 13 NAIA Scholar-Athletes.  He has led WPU to four NAIA National Championship appearances.

In his first campaign, Brown guided the Statesmen to a 12-9 record (8-4 Heart of America Athletic Conference) and a return trip to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. WPU returned to the Opening Round in 2021, where it collected its first-ever postseason win in program history.  The navy and gold reached the NAIA Opening Round in 2022 as well, but in 2023, the Statesmen broke through and, for the first time ever, they advanced out of the Opening Round weekend to the Round of 16.

Brown was promoted from associate head men's and women's soccer coach, a position he had served in for three seasons. In his three years as associate head coach, Brown helped the men's squad to a 39-18-2 mark (23-11 Heart), highlighted by a record-breaking 2019 campaign. WPU finished 15-5-1 overall, took second in the Heart at 9-2, was ranked inside the top 10 in the NAIA, and earned its first-ever berth to nationals. The squad broke numerous records, mostly notably for wins and goals. The Statesmen women owned a 23-30-2 mark (9-24-1 Heart) those last three seasons as well.

Brown started his collegiate coaching career at Hastings College (Neb.) where for two years he served as a graduate assistant on the women's team and a volunteer assistant on the men's squad.

In his first year at Hastings, he was the goalkeeper coach and helped the women's keeper earn Great Plains Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year laurels. In his second season, he was the forwards coach and guided three players to first-team all-conference recognition, including one being named GPAC Offensive Player of the Year.

While at Hastings, the women's squad won two GPAC regular season titles (perfect 21-0 league record) and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament. Brown also helped the men to the 2016 NAIA title. Academically, Brown received his Master's of Physical Education from Hastings in 2017 as well.

Brown's coaching background also includes time at alma mater Ashford University (volunteer assistant coach) as well as with the Bettendorf Soccer Association (head coach of U-13 girls and U-14 boys teams) and with Pleasant Valley HS (assistant varsity and head JV coach). He coached the U-18 Lincoln Maroon squad as well, guiding the team to a third-place finish in the Nebraska State Cup and a first-place finish in the Nebraska U-19 league.

A 2013 graduate of Ashford with a degree in Finance and Business Administration, he was a team captain of the 2013 team that reached the NAIA national semifinals. Brown was also a member of the 2012 team that also advanced to nationals. He was named a Capital One Academic All-American.

Prior to being at Ashford, Brown was a captain for North Iowa Area CC and led the team to a conference title. An Honorable-Mention All-American, he collected a Second-Team Academic All-NJCAA accolade as well. Brown also played for the Quad City Eagles while in college, helping the squad to two division titles.

A native of Dublin, Ireland, Brown owns a USSF Coaching C license and NSCAA Goalkeeping Level 1 and 2 certificates. He is also a current Olympic Development Program Coach with Iowa Soccer.

Brown's Coaching Career at WPU

2023 12-5-4 (6-2-3 HEART) (NAIA Round of 16)
2022 11-7-3 (6-4-2 HEART) (NAIA Opening Round)
2021 13-8 (8-4 HEART) (NAIA Opening Round)
2020 12-9 (8-4 HEART) (NAIA Opening Round)
CAREER 48-29-7 (28-14-5 CONF) (.613)