Dan Brower steps away from his role as USL League Two Head Coach after a highly successful tenure. Brower departs on positive terms, choosing to devote more time to his family.

First Team Tenure

Photo: Randy Warner

Brower joined the Men’s First Team staff in the 2020 season, and during that time transformed the program into one of the most consistent and competitive sides in the region. Officially taking on the Head Coach role in the 2022 season, he posted an overall record of (52-8-11), good for a 73.2% win percentage, and guided the club to four conference titles and four postseason appearances. Steel City won the conference in both the 2023 and 2024 NPSL seasons, and the 2025 and 2026 seasons in USL League Two.

Brower’s teams were known for their defensive organization, positional fluidity, and attacking flair. This year’s 2026 team was especially gritty on the defensive end, allowing just three goals across 12 regular-season matches and keeping nine regular-season clean sheets on the way to a second consecutive Great Forest Division title. The group continued its climb in the postseason, earning the first USL League Two playoff victory in club history under Brower’s leadership.
Player development has been a big part of Brower’s impact. Over his tenure, countless academy products have broken through and made meaningful contributions to the Men’s First team. Steel City has also produced two MLS SuperDraft selections in each of the past two years, a testament to the developmental standards Brower helped establish.
Beyond the numbers, Brower’s leadership and ability to build relationships elevated the program’s expectations and standards. His ideas and teachings with the First Team trickled down throughout the club, creating a sense of purpose and pride within the Steel City community.
After thoughtful consideration, Brower made the difficult decision to step away to better support his family. The club fully supports his choice and deeply appreciates all the time, care, and commitment he invested into Steel City. He will continue to coach and provide support within the Club.

 

Photo: Randy Warner

Quotes

Dan has fostered a close-knit, winning culture for these young men and the staff, which will serve them well for a lifetime. His knowledge, diligence and relentless pursuit of growth and improvement have made us all better professionals.

—  Mark Taylor – General Manager – Men’s and Women’s First Teams

Our vision for this program was to create a team that our academy can look up to and challenge them to want to be a part of.  Dan took that challenge with both hands, and his relentless will to win drove those players on and on; it was amazing to see, and I will always be grateful for what he has done for our club.  I’m excited to see where we can take this after he has built us such a solid foundation.

—  Tom Ovenden – Steel City FC Director/Owner

Dan Brower is an innovator and has a relentless commitment to pushing the game forward.  From day one with the Steel City Men’s FT, he injected his passion into the program and raised the standard for everyone involved. Not only did he win consistently, but he also created a player-centric culture that attracts and inspires the best players within Steel City and in the local Pittsburgh Community. The future of Steel City is bright, and Dan is a major reason why. For me, Dan has made me a better soccer leader and coach, and I can’t thank him enough for his commitment and guidance.

—  Jonathan Velotta – Steel City FC Director/Co-Owner

I’m proud to have been the Men’s First Team coach; this has been an amazing journey with the guys that I wouldn’t change for anything. I wish all the guys the best in their future and college careers. Finally, I’d like to thank the ownership and staff for all their support over the years; we could not have come this far without you.

—  Dan Brower – Men’s First Team Head Coach

 

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