Brandt will have his share of choices at big Pa. schools. Bob Warming has retired from Penn State: http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/111617aaa.html
I'd go way past Dave Brandt and his exceptional Messiah but mediocre Navy experience and look at Denver's Jamie Franks ..
I have a couple of ideas, but no comment ... other that to say that I myself have a few of these ties ... ;-)
Pennsylvania is the only state with teams in four of the biggest conferences in college soccer: ACC (Pitt), Big Ten (Penn State), Big East (Villanova) and American Athletic (Temple). There's a lot of competition for the best in-state talent that wants to stay in-state. Plus you're competing with all the schools in your respective conferences for the national talent. To win in the Keystone State, it's gonna take a coach with a proven track record of high-end success and/or a hot, young up-and-comer. Pitt got one of those and he's done wonders in a short time. It will be interesting to see what directions Penn State and Temple go. But I will be shocked if Dave Brandt doesn't end up at one of these jobs.
You could perhaps have a bit of a point there ... but as Springsteen knows: " ... We're runnin' now but darlin' we will stand in time To face the ties that bind The ties that bind Now you can't break the ties that bind You can't forsake the ties that bind ..."
Jamie Franks needs to strike while the iron is still warm. It was red hot last year but after missing the tournament this year, it's cooled down some. If he has another similar year next season then it will be tough to argue he wasn't winning with another coach's players. So best for him to leave now. Franks is a Jersey boy so the jobs in PA put him pretty close to home.
I wouldn't exactly call his Navy experience "mediocre." Inherited a team that wasn't very good. Had one losing season (1st one), two sub-.500 seasons in conference, and finished with 27 wins over last two seasons. He never lost a conference tournament game (2-0-2). Won the conference and finished 2nd. Last time Navy finished 2nd was 1999 and last time they won was 1991. They have completely fallen off the charts since Brandt left -- 5 wins and 2 wins in the seasons since. Tough place to win, and it's shown. I'd say his success was better than mediocre, even if his winning percentage is .565.
Made the playoffs three times in 7 years with one championship. Never lost a game because they only qualified three times. how about slightly above average ..
Navy is an interesting place for a college soccer coach ... seemingly there should be some advantage in terms of recruiting in that all your players are Midshipmen in the US Navy, and thus do not pay any tuition or any other costs for attending the Naval Academy, and Midshipmen actually get a small salary as sailors in the Navy. Of course, there is also a disadvantage in terms of having to recruit players that are willing to commit to 5 years of service in the US Military after graduating from Navy, and thus likely precluding any pro soccer possibilities (unless you allowed to follow in Joe Greenspan's footsteps -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Greenspan -- which has happened for a Navy soccer player just once, i.e., in Greenspan's case, as far as I know).
I agree with brandt to one of the 2. Indiana Assistant Brian Maissonneuve should be in conversation for Penn State job.
I'd venture to say that is way above average compared to many coaches in college, especially those at a service academy. I get what you are saying, but it's not like conference championships are easy to get and a national tournament is easy too. At Navy, it's been even harder, or there'd be more 1st/2nd place finishes in conference in last 25+ years.
I think the IU assistant is probably not going anywhere. You would think he would have left already for some pretty good jobs over the years. I agree he would be a great fit. How about Andy Fleming ?
Maybe Marlon at WVU, Aidan Heany from Wilmington all former Penn Starter's, Gorman from Albany has had a couple good years
Brandt would be a good fit coming with a lot of PA connections. Bo Oshiniyi was at Penn State before ETSU. UVA Associate Head Coach Matt Chulis has proven success and should be ready to take over a position like this. Duke Associate Head Coach Michael Brady. Speaking of Duke connections...Jay Heaps?
Erik Ronning at Colgate has five Championships in the last 11 years and Brendon Nash has four championships in the last 12 in the same league....and as of today each has won games in the NCAA Tournament.