Veteran soccer coach Helio D'Anna concluded his sixth season at the helm of the Brevard College men's soccer program, qualifying for the postseason each of his first six seasons at Brevard.
Since his appointment at Brevard College, D'Anna has compiled a 49-32-17 record at BC. The program's early success under Coach L was kick-started with a trip to the 2018 ECAC DIII Men's Soccer Championships and a second-place regular-season finish in the USA South West Division in 2019. In COVID-shortened Spring 2021 season, the Tornados became the first program on campus to win a Divisin III-era USA South title by claiming the Spring 2021 USA South West Division Tournament title. BC men's soccer followed its early success under Coach L up with another postseason trip in the Fall of 2021, followed with back-to-back USA South Conference Tournament Championship titles (2022 and 2023) - making BC men's soccer the first program at Brevard to win consecutive conference crowns in the NCAA era. The Tornados finished second in the regular season in 2024 and hosted the program's first-ever USA South Conference Tournament Championship match, falling 2-1 in overtime to William Peace.
D'Anna, simply known as "Coach L" by the soccer community, arrived at Brevard College following 16 seasons as the Head Men's Soccer Coach at NCAA Division II Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. At Lincoln Memorial, D'Anna compiled a 175-84-32 record with three NCAA tournament appearances. In his overall head coaching career, D'Anna has won 416 games with 287 wins as collegiate men's coach to go along with 129 wins as a women's coach. Over his entire career, he has coached 22 All-Americans, seven conference players of the year, and a national player of the year. In addition, three of his former players have moved on to join Major League Soccer (MLS) teams.
While the Head Coach at Lincoln Memorial from 2003-18, D'Anna led the Railsplitters to three NCAA tournament appearances including trips to the 2007 national championship game and the 2006 national semifinals. As Head Coach of the men's program at LMU, D'Anna coached four first-team All-Americans, a National Player of the Year, two South Atlantic Conference Players of the Year and 14 different All-South Atlantic Conference First-Team selections.
From 2003-16, D'Anna also served as LMU's Head Women's Soccer Coach where he guided the Railsplitters to three NCAA tournament appearances as well as a two conference titles.
At Lincoln Memorial, D'Anna was named the Appalachian Region Men's Soccer Coach of the Year in 2007 and an NCAA National Coach of the Year finalist in 2006.
Prior to his tenure at Lincoln Memorial, D'Anna held the positions of Head Men's Soccer Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Union College (Ky.) from 1995-2002. At Union College, D'Anna led the Bulldogs to four Mid-South Conference titles and was named conference coach of the year four times. Additionally, he was named NCAA South Region Coach of the Year in 2004.
Additional experience for D'Anna includes a stint as Head Coach for the Professional Development League's Baton Rouge Capitals, Head Coach for the Kentucky Olympic Development Program as well as work as a columnist and talent recruiter for the Site University of Soccer.
A native of Campinas, Brazil, D'Anna holds a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education from the University of Campinas in Sao Paulo and a Master's degree in Physical Education and Health from Union College.
Overall Career Record (after Fall 2024): 452-273-80
Men's Soccer Career Record: 323-176-58
Women's Soccer Career Record: 129-97-22
Record at Brevard: 49-32-17
Ranks 37th Amongst All Active NCAA Men's Soccer Coaches
(Across All Divisions) in Career Wins (323)
2024: 8-4-3, 5-1-1 USAS (2nd Regular Season, USA South Tournament Runner-Ups)
USA South Conference Player of the Year: Ryan Lynch
USA South Conference Rookie of the Year: Vitor Razera
USA South Conference Goalkeeper of the Year: Matheus Rossi
United Soccer Coaches All-Region VI Third Team: Ryan Lynch
USA South All-Conference First Team: Ryan Lynch, Vitor Razera, Matheus Rossi, Wendel Lima
USA South All-Conference Second Team: Luiz Pontes, Luis Portillo
USA South All-Tournament Team: Ryan Lynch, Caue dos Santos, Tom Dussauge
USA South Player of the Week: Ryan Lynch (Four-Time)
USA South Defender of the Week: Matheus Rossi (Two-Time)
USA South Rookie of the Week: Vitor Razera (Two-Time)
USA South Defender of the Week: Emil Ramstroem
USA South Rookie of the Week: Enrique Sosa
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team: Colin McCabe, Dan Morgan
USA South All-Sportsmanship Team: Colin McCabe
2023: 7-9-4, 3-3-1 USAS (4th Regular Season, USA South Tournament Champs)
USA South Conference Men's Soccer Tournament Champions
NCAA DIII Men's Soccer Tournament Automatic Qualifier
USA South Conference Player of the Year: Ryan Lynch
USA South Tournament Most Valuable Player: Ryan Lynch
USA South Player of the Week: Ryan Lynch (Two-Time)
USA South Defender of the Week: Matheus Rossi (Two-Time)
USA South All-Conference First Team: Rocco Barbon, Ryan Lynch
USA South All-Conference Second Team: Igor da Silva, Matheus Rossi
USA South All-Sportsmanship Team: Sam O'Calaghan
USA South All-Tournament Team: Rocco Barbon, Caue dos Santos, Ryan Lynch, Adan Miller, Matheus Rossi, Marcos Silva
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team: Rocco Barbon, Igor da Silva, Daniel Morgan, Sam O'Callaghan
2022: 12-6-3, 4-2-1 USA South (4th Regular Season, USA South Tournament Champs)
2022 USA South Conference Men's Soccer Tournament Champions
2022 NCAA DIII Men's Soccer Tournament Automatic Qualifier
2022 USA South Tournament Most Valuable Player: Igor da Silva
USA South Defender of the Week: Matheus Rossi (Two-Time)
USA South Player of the Week: Ryan Lynch (Two-Time)
USA South All-Conference First Team: Ryan Lynch, Sam O'Callaghan, Rocco Barbon
USA South All-Conference Second Team: Luis Dos Santos, Igor da Silva
USA South All-Sportsmanship Team: Sam O'Callaghan
USA South All-Tournament Team: Rocco Barbon, Tom Dussauge, Igor da Silva, Rodrigo Garcia, Ryan Lynch, Matheus Rossi
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team: Rocco Barbon, Francesco Bonometti, Igor da Silva, Sam O'Callaghan
United Soccer Coaches All-Academic Team Award
Fall 2021: 9-4-3, 2-2-2 USA South (3rd, West Division)
2021 USA South Conference Men's Soccer Tournament Appearance
United Soccer Coaches All-Region VI Third Team: Sam O'Callaghan (First of DIII-Era)
USA South All-Conference First Team: Sam O'Callaghan
USA South All-West Division First Team: Sam O'Callaghan
USA South All-West Division Second Team: Adam Spencer
USA South All-West Division Second Team: Ryan Lynch
USA South All-West Division Second Team: Estevan Berto
USA South All-Sportsmanship Team: Adam Spencer
USA South Defender of the Week: Thiago Leopardi
Spring 2021: 6-2-1, 4-1 USA South (West Division Champions)
USA South Conference West Division Tournament Champions
USA South All-West Division First Team: Adam Spencer
USA South All-West Division First Team: Sam O'Callaghan
USA South All-West Division Second Team: Vinicius Giannaccini
USA South All-West Division Second Team: Wendel Lima
USA South All-West Division Second Team: Ryan Lynch
United Soccer Coaches Men's Scholar All-Region: Adam Spencer
USA South Player of the Week: Vinicius Giannaccini
United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award
2019: 7-7-3, 7-3-3 USA South (2nd, West Division)
2019 ECAC DIII Men's Soccer Championships Appearance
USA South Defensive Player of the Week: Patrick Hall
USA South Rookie of the Week: Lucas Campos
USA South All-Conference Second Team: Patrick Hall
USA South All-Conference Third Team: Joao Monteiro
USA South All-Sportsmanship Team: Joao Monteiro
NCCSIA All-State Second Team: Matheus Masukawa
