Staff Directory
Brian Dunleavy
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
Brian Dunleavy, a former coach at Michigan and Mississippi State, was named associate head coach with the Syracuse women’s soccer program in February 2026.
In addition to his tactical expertise, Dunleavy has established a reputation as an accomplished recruiter and player developer. He has helped build nationally competitive rosters through both traditional recruiting and the transfer portal while mentoring players who have advanced to professional soccer, including the NWSL and top European leagues, such as Italy's Serie A, Germany's Bundesliga, and Sweden's Allsvenskan.
Dunleavy came to Syracuse after two seasons at Michigan. A member of Coach Jennifer Klein’s staff, Dunleavy was hired in 2024 as an assistant and promoted to associate head coach the following year. Dunleavy helped prepare Michigan for a schedule that featured five Top 20 teams each season. The Wolverines improved three spots in the Big Ten Conference standings over the past two campaigns. In 2025, Dunleavy oversaw the team's tactical approach, defensive organization and opponent preparation. The result was significant statistical improvement across many categories. Michigan reduced its goals conceded from 36 to 27 and lowered its goals-against average from 2.11 to 1.45.
Dunleavy played a key role in turning around the Mississippi State women’s program as a member of Coach James Armstrong’s staff 2019-23. He guided the team's defensive organization, opponent scouting and match preparation. After three rebuilding campaigns, the Bulldogs were 12-6-4 and 12-6-5 in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The Bulldogs achieved unprecedented success, including the program's first NCAA Tournament victory, consecutive NCAA Tournament berths, its first NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2023, a third-place finish in the rugged SEC, Mississippi State's first SEC Tournament victory, its highest national ranking (14th) and the program's best goals-against average. The Bulldogs also earned United Soccer Coaches Southeast Region Staff of the Year in 2023.
Dunleavy was head coach at Georgia Southern 2013-18 and helped the Eagles make the significant transition from the Southern Conference to the Sun Belt Conference. Georgia Southern made three conference postseason appearances, including Sun Belt semifinal spots in 2014 and 2017. His 2014 squad was 11-6-2, accumulating the most program wins since 2002. The Eagles finished the season in the top 75 of the RPI, Georgia Southerns highest ranking to that point. Dunleavy's team also picked up the first win over a Power Five opponent in 12 years. Georgia Southern's student-athletes earned six all-conference selections and five conference player of the week honors.
He was promoted to head coach at Georgia Southern following two seasons as an assistant coach. In 2012, the Eagles captured the Southern Conference Tournament Championship and earned the program's first NCAA Tournament invitation.
After one year as men’s coach at Division III College of Mount Saint Vincent (N.Y.), Dunleavy was hired as an assistant men’s coach at Saint Leo (Fla.), where he served for two seasons at the Division II level.
Dunleavy earned a bachelor’s degree from Hofstra. He was a four-year student-athlete with the Pride soccer team. He joined the Hofstra men’s staff as an assistant coach in 2003. Dunleavy helped the program to back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association Championships, which secured NCAA Tournament berths in 2004 and 2005.
He holds a United Soccer Coaches National Coaching Diploma.
A native of Levittown, N.Y., he and his wife, Janine, have two sons, Owen and Cole, and a daughter, Mara.
In addition to his tactical expertise, Dunleavy has established a reputation as an accomplished recruiter and player developer. He has helped build nationally competitive rosters through both traditional recruiting and the transfer portal while mentoring players who have advanced to professional soccer, including the NWSL and top European leagues, such as Italy's Serie A, Germany's Bundesliga, and Sweden's Allsvenskan.
Dunleavy came to Syracuse after two seasons at Michigan. A member of Coach Jennifer Klein’s staff, Dunleavy was hired in 2024 as an assistant and promoted to associate head coach the following year. Dunleavy helped prepare Michigan for a schedule that featured five Top 20 teams each season. The Wolverines improved three spots in the Big Ten Conference standings over the past two campaigns. In 2025, Dunleavy oversaw the team's tactical approach, defensive organization and opponent preparation. The result was significant statistical improvement across many categories. Michigan reduced its goals conceded from 36 to 27 and lowered its goals-against average from 2.11 to 1.45.
Dunleavy played a key role in turning around the Mississippi State women’s program as a member of Coach James Armstrong’s staff 2019-23. He guided the team's defensive organization, opponent scouting and match preparation. After three rebuilding campaigns, the Bulldogs were 12-6-4 and 12-6-5 in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The Bulldogs achieved unprecedented success, including the program's first NCAA Tournament victory, consecutive NCAA Tournament berths, its first NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2023, a third-place finish in the rugged SEC, Mississippi State's first SEC Tournament victory, its highest national ranking (14th) and the program's best goals-against average. The Bulldogs also earned United Soccer Coaches Southeast Region Staff of the Year in 2023.
Dunleavy was head coach at Georgia Southern 2013-18 and helped the Eagles make the significant transition from the Southern Conference to the Sun Belt Conference. Georgia Southern made three conference postseason appearances, including Sun Belt semifinal spots in 2014 and 2017. His 2014 squad was 11-6-2, accumulating the most program wins since 2002. The Eagles finished the season in the top 75 of the RPI, Georgia Southerns highest ranking to that point. Dunleavy's team also picked up the first win over a Power Five opponent in 12 years. Georgia Southern's student-athletes earned six all-conference selections and five conference player of the week honors.
He was promoted to head coach at Georgia Southern following two seasons as an assistant coach. In 2012, the Eagles captured the Southern Conference Tournament Championship and earned the program's first NCAA Tournament invitation.
After one year as men’s coach at Division III College of Mount Saint Vincent (N.Y.), Dunleavy was hired as an assistant men’s coach at Saint Leo (Fla.), where he served for two seasons at the Division II level.
Dunleavy earned a bachelor’s degree from Hofstra. He was a four-year student-athlete with the Pride soccer team. He joined the Hofstra men’s staff as an assistant coach in 2003. Dunleavy helped the program to back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association Championships, which secured NCAA Tournament berths in 2004 and 2005.
He holds a United Soccer Coaches National Coaching Diploma.
A native of Levittown, N.Y., he and his wife, Janine, have two sons, Owen and Cole, and a daughter, Mara.
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