Coaches
Dan Dolan
Head Coach
ddolan@daemen.edu
(716) 566-7859
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Dan Dolan, the longest-tenured and winningest coach in the history of the Daemen women's soccer program, is entering his 15th season at the helm in 2023. He has overseen the program’s transition from National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II.
Dolan inherited a program that had posted just one winning season in its first nine years and quickly established Daemen as one of the top programs in the Northeast. Dolan has guided the Wildcats to postseason play in eight of the previous 13 seasons (excluding the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season) and has developed numerous all-conference players.
The Wildcats went 11-6-1 in his second season as head coach in 2010 and in 2011 he guided Daemen to a program record 15 wins (15-4-0) and the American Mideast Conference (AMC) regular-season championship—the program’s first ever conference title. During the 2011 season Dolan's veteran squad won eight consecutive games in an undefeated month of October, including victories against ranked opponents such as Point Park (4-3 in double overtime), Roberts Wesleyan (4-3 in double overtime), and Houghton (1-0), the latter of which was ranked No. 15 in the NAIA national poll at the time. Additionally, Daemen gained NAIA national poll votes for the first time in team history during that stretch. As a result, Dolan was named AMC Coach of the Year, and six of his players earned all-conference honors, including AMC Player of the Year Lindsay Miller, who also garnered honorable mention All-American status, along with teammate Samantha Engel.
Daemen began transitioning to NCAA Division II in 2012 and over the next three seasons the Wildcats averaged nine wins per season and advanced to the championship game of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) championship tournament each year—claiming the national title in 2012. The 2012 season included three victories over NCAA Division II opponents, which helped Daemen earn the No. 6 seed in the USCAA tournament. The team went on to win three successive games against higher seeds, defeating No. 3 Penn College (2-0), No. 2 Carlow (2-1), and No. 1 Maine-Fort Kent in overtime (1-0) to capture the USCAA National Championship. Daemen's win in the title game snapped the two-time defending champs, Maine-Fort Kent's 33-game winning streak.
The 2015 season marked Daemen’s first as a full NCAA Division II member. The Wildcats won seven games overall and finished in fifth place in the East Coast Conference (4-5-0), narrowly missing out on a bid to the four-team ECC Championship tournament in their first season of eligibility. The program’s first ECC Tournament bid came in 2018 and the Wildcats have qualified for the conference tournament three of the past four years.
The 2019 season was Daemen's most successful overall since transitioning to NCAA Division II. The team finished with an impressive 11-4-3 overall record, a 4-2-2 mark in ECC play and earned its first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II tournament. Four players from the 2019 team were recognized for their outstanding performances, earning spots on the All-ECC teams. Among them was senior forward Jamie Boyar, who capped off her career as Daemen's all-time leader in goals, with an impressive total of 55.
Dolan skillfully guided the program through the challenges and uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the disruptions, Daemen managed to have a shortened 2020 season played during the Spring 2021 semester. Dolan led a young Wildcats squad to an even 2-2 record, achieving his 100th career victory with a 4-0 shutout of D'Youville on April 11.
With the team returning to somewhat normal operations in the fall of 2021, Dolan led the Wildcats to a 9-6-1 overall record and a 7-1-1 mark in conference play--the program's best ECC campaign since joining the league. The 2021 season also included the program’s first-ever win over a nationally ranked team since gaining full NCAA stats, as they posted a 3-1 victory over No. 24 Molloy. A record seven players earned All-ECC honors, including freshman Alyssa Diaz, who was named the ECC Rookie of the Year.
The 2022 season presented Dolan with yet another challenge. Picked to finish third in the preseason ECC coaches’ poll, the Wildcats went winless early in the year while playing a very challenging non-conference schedule. Daemen rallied late in the year and went 5-1-1 over its final seven games and earned a bid to the four-team ECC Championship tournament. Six players would earn All-ECC honors.
Dolan was appointed as the third women's soccer coach in Daemen's history on March 6, 2009. Prior to joining the Daemen staff, he served as the lead assistant coach at Niagara University in 2008, contributing to their successful 12-6-1 season. Before his tenure at Niagara, Dolan spent six years as the head coach of the boys' varsity soccer team at Cardinal O'Hara High School, where he also coached the girls' varsity team in 2004.
Dolan currently holds the position of Chair of the East Coast Conference and serves on the East Region Coaches Ranking Committee. He has earned multiple coaching certifications, including the National "C" License and National Youth License from U.S. Soccer Federation, as well as the National, Advanced National, and Premier Diplomas from NSCAA. He has also obtained the English FA Psychology for Soccer - Level 1, NYSW Intermediate certificate, and various other minor certificates. In addition, Dolan has coaching experience at the Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2009-2018 and has been coaching with the premier club Empire Buffalo Stallions since 2004, where he currently holds the position of Girls Director of Coaching since 2018. He also briefly served as Daemen's head men's soccer coach in 2015 alongside his duties with the women's program. In 2012-14, he also worked as the Director of Facilities for the Daemen Athletic Department.
Originally from North Tonawanda, N.Y., Dolan currently resides in Amherst.
Career Timeline
Year
Position
School
Location
Level
Overall Record
Conference Record
Accomplishments
2008
Assistant Coach
Niagara University
Niagara University, N.Y.
NCAA Div. I
12-6-1
5-4-0 MAAC
2009
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NAIA Div. II
7-8-1
5-5-1 AMC
2010
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NAIA Div. II
11-6-1
5-4-1 AMC
2011
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NAIA Div. II
15-4-0
11-1-0 AMC
AMC Regular Season Champions
2012
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NAIA Div. II / USCAA
11-9-0
N/A
USCAA National Champions
2013
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NAIA Div. II / USCAA
10-10-0
1-8-0 ECC
USCAA National Runners-Up
2014
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NCAA Div. II / USCAA
6-14-1
0-8-1 ECC
USCAA National Runners-Up
2015
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NCAA Div. II
7-10-1
4-5-0 ECC
2016
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NCAA Div. II
4-10-2
1-6-1 ECC
2017
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NCAA Div. II
9-7-1
3-5-0 ECC
2018
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NCAA Div. II
8-8-1
5-4-0 ECC
ECC Tournament
2019
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NCAA Div. II
11-4-3
4-2-2 ECC
NCAA Tournament
2020
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NCAA Div. II
2-2-0
N/A
2021
Head Coach
Daemen College
Amherst, N.Y.
NCAA Div. II
9-6-1
7-1-1 ECC
ECC Tournament
2022
Head Coach
Daemen Univ.
Amherst, N.Y.
NCAA Div. II
5-10-2
5-3-0 ECC
ECC Tournament
Career Head Coaching Record
School
Years
Overall Record
Win Pct.
Conference Record
Win Pct.
Daemen
2009-Present
115-108-14
.515
51-52-7
.495
TOTALS
14 SEASONS
115-108-14
.515
51-52-7
.495
Dolan vs. Opponents
Opponent
Conference
Region (or national affilation)
Record
Pct.
Streak
Albany Pharmacy
HVIAC
(USCAA)
1-0
1.000
W-1
Alderson Broaddus
GMAC
Midwest
2-0
1.000
W-2
Alfred
Empire 8
(NCAA III)
3-0
1.000
W-3
Alfred State
AMCC
(NCAA III)
1-0
1.000
W-1
Allegheny
NCAC
(NCAA III)
0-2
.000
L-2
Assumption
NE-10
East
0-0-1
.000
T-1
Bentley
NE-10
East
0-1
.000
L1
Bloomfield
CACC
East
2-0
1.000
W-2
Bridgeport
ECC
East
1-7-1
.167
T-1
Brockport
SUNYAC
(NCAA III)
0-1
.000
L-1
Buffalo State
SUNYAC
(NCAA III)
0-1
.000
L-1
California State-San Marcos
CCAA
West
0-1
.000
L-1
Carlow
RSC
(NAIA / USCAA)
6-0
1.000
W-6
Cedarville
GMAC
Midwest
0-3
.000
L-3
Chestnut Hill
CACC
East
1-0
1.000
W-1
Clarion
PSAC
Atlantic
3-0-1
.875
W-2
Cleary
WHAC
(NAIA)
1-0
1.000
W-1
Davis & Elkins
GMAC
Midwest
2-1
.667
W-2
Dowling
ECC
East
1-2
.333
W-1
D'Youville
ECC
East
4-0
1.000
W-4
Edinboro
PSAC
Atlantic
0-1
.000
L-1
Elmira
Empire 8
(NCAA III)
0-1
.000
L-1
Findlay
GMAC
Midwest
1-0
1.000
W-1
Fisher
NIAC
(NAIA)
3-0
1.000
W-3
Goldey-Beacom
CACC
East
2-2
.500
L-1
Grove City
PAC
(NCAA III)
0-1
.000
L-1
Houghton
Empire 8
(NCAA III)
1-3
.250
W-1
Lake Erie
GMAC
Midwest
1-3
.250
W-1
Le Moyne
NE-10
East
1-4-1
.250
T-1
Lincoln
ECC
East
5-0
1.000
W-5
LIU Post
ECC
East
0-6
.000
L-6
Maine-Fort Kent
Independent
(USCAA)
3-5
.375
L-1
Malone
GMAC
Midwest
1-1
.500
L-1
Mansfield
PSAC
Atlantic
1-2-1
.375
W-1
Medaille
AMCC
(NCAA III)
2-0
1.000
W-2
Mercy
ECC
East
1-10
.091
L-4
Mercyhurst
PSAC
Atlantic
1-6
.142
L-1
Molloy
ECC
East
3-6
.333
L-1
Mount Vernon Nazarene
Crossroads
(NAIA)
0-2
.000
L-2
Muskingum
OAC
(NCAA III)
1-0
1.000
W-1
New York Tech
ECC
East
3-4-1
.438
T-1
Notre Dame (Ohio)
MEC
Atlantic
1-1
.500
W-1
Nyack
CACC
East
1-0
1.000
W-1
Ohio Mid-Western
Independent
(USCAA)
1-0
1.000
W-1
Paul Smith's College
YSCC
(USCAA)
1-0
1.000
W-1
Penn Tech
NEAC
(NCAA III)
1-0
1.000
W-1
Pitt-Johnstown
PSAC
Atlantic
1-0
1.000
W-1
Point Park
RSC
(NAIA)
4-0
1.000
W-4
Queens
ECC
East
3-5-1
.389
L-1
Rio Grande
RSC
(NAIA)
2-1
.667
W-1
Roberts Wesleyan
ECC
East
7-6-3
.531
W-2
Rochester (Mich.)
WHAC
(NAIA)
1-0
1.000
W-1
Saint Anselm
NE-10
East
0-2
.000
L-2
Saint Michael's
NE-10
East
0-1-1
.250
T-1
Saint Rose
NE-10
East
0-4
.000
L-4
Saint Thomas Aquinas
ECC
East
7-2-1
.750
W-3
San Diego Christian
GSAC
(NAIA)
1-0
1.000
W-1
Seton Hill
PSAC
Atlantic
2-0
1.000
W-2
Shawnee State
Mid-South
(NAIA)
0-1
.000
L-1
Shepherd
MEC
Atlantic
4-0
1.000
W-4
Sheridan
OCAA
(Canada)
2-0
1.000
W-2
Slippery Rock
PSAC
Atlantic
0-1
.000
L-1
Southern New Hampshire
NE-10
East
0-1
.000
L-1
Spring Arbor
WHAC
(NAIA)
0-1
.000
L-1
Staten Island
ECC
East
2-0
1.000
W-2
Stonehill
NE-10
East
0-1
.000
L-1
SUNY-Canton
NAC
(NCAA III)
2-0
1.000
W-2
SUNY-ESF
Indpendent
(USCAA)
3-0
1.000
W-3
Tiffin
GMAC
Midwest
2-0
1.000
W-2
Urbana
MEC
Atlantic
1-0
1.000
W-1
Ursuline
GMAC
Midwest
2-0
1.000
W-2
Walsh
GMAC
Midwest
4-1-1
.750
T-1
Warner University
The Sun
(NAIA)
1-0
1.000
W-1
Washington Adventist
Independent
(NAIA / USCAA)
1-0
1.000
W-1
Westminster (Pa.)
PAC
(NCAA III)
0-1
.000
L-1
West Virginia Tech
RSC
(NAIA)
1-0
1.000
W-1
Wilkes
MAC
(NCAA III)
0-1
.000
L-1
Wilmington (Del.)
CACC
East
0-2
.000
L-2
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