Steve Schaack
ISU Athletics Media Relations
Idaho State Interim Director of Athletics Pauline Thiros has announced the hiring of Debs Brereton as the head coach of the Idaho State women’s soccer program. Brereton is the fourth head coach in program history and she comes to Pocatello after serving as the associate head coach at Ohio University.
“We are excited to announce Debs Brereton as the new leader of Idaho State University Women’s Soccer,” Thiros said. “Her background includes successful tenures as a Division I assistant and associate head coach, and a professional playing career. Her technical knowledge, demonstrated values and the vision she presented for ISU soccer impressed our department staff and players. We are pleased that among several opportunities available to advance her career, she chose Idaho State.”
“I am absolutely delighted and honored to be the Head Coach at Idaho State University,” Brereton said. “I am very grateful for Pauline Thiros and the confidence she has in me to lead the soccer program. I am so excited about this wonderful opportunity.”
Brereton is taking over a soccer program that has made seven appearances in the Big Sky Conference Tournament title game, winning five. Idaho State’s most recent appearance in the title game was in 2014 and its most recent championship came in 2012.
“Idaho State University’s Soccer program is full of potential and has experienced a lot of success in previous years,” Brereton said. “I am looking forward to being a part of the Bengal community and leading the program back to winning ways. I have been fortunate to work at some great programs under excellent mentors. Most recently at Ohio University, it has been a very rewarding experience working with Aaron Rodgers, who has taught me how to build a positive team culture and lead a program with integrity. All of my previous experiences have evolved me as a coach and person, I feel well prepared to take the helm of Idaho State University’s Soccer program.”
During Brereton’s three seasons at Ohio she was apart of a team that made improvement each year and this past year the Bobcats advanced to the MAC semi-finals and boasted a 6-3-2 mark in league play.
Prior to Ohio U, Brereton spent five seasons as an assistant coach at East Tennessee State. While there, the Bucs combine for a 50-32-4 record, including four postseason berths in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. In 2012, Brereton helped coach the Bucs to their second consecutive 12-win campaign, tying the program mark for wins in a single season for a second time straight season. In 2014, East Tennessee State topped that record by winning a program best 15 games.
Prior to joining the Buccaneers, Brereton spent three seasons as a graduate assistant on the women’s soccer staff at Middle Tennessee State University. While working on the Blue Raider staff, Brereton helped guide the 2010 team to the program’s first ever Sun Belt Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.
Brereton is well known in the soccer community. Over the course of her playing and coaching career she has earned many coaching licenses.
In 2001 she earned the Union of European Football Association Level 2 license. In March of 2006 she earned the United States Soccer Federation D License and three years later she earned the USSF C License. In June of 2012 she earned her B License with the USSF.
During the summer of 2013, Brereton was selected as a participant in the inaugural year of the NSCAA’s “30 Under 30” program. Brereton was selected from a field of more than 350 collegiate coaches as one of 30 individuals in the nation to participate in the year-long mentorship program aimed at fostering the growth of up-and-coming coaches.
In June of 2014 she earned her National Soccer Coaches Association of American Premier Diploma and in January of 2015 she earned her A License with the USSF. Brereton also participated in the Assistant Coach Immersion Program from June of 215 to June of 2016.
Before getting into coaching, Brereton was a member of the National Women’s Football Academy in Durham England from 1999-01 where she participated in the U-16 and U-18 National England team trials.
She then played at Northeastern State from 2001-03 where she was the Most Valuable Player in 2003, finished in the top five for all-time assists and holds the record for the fastest goal.
She played the 2004 season at Middle Tennessee State where she was the Sun Belt Conference Player of the year. She earned first-team all-conference, all-tournament and all-region that year. She finished the year ranked fifth nationally for goals scored with 19 and she was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Time Team as one of the Top 30 players from (1976-2006).
After her collegiate career, Brereton played in the Women’s Premier Soccer League from 2006-10. During this time she played for the Nashville Lady Blues, Hampton Road Piranhas, San Diego Sunwaves, San Diego United and Fort Wayne FC.
A native of Middlesbrough, England, Brereton completed her eligibility at MTSU in 2004, earning her B.S. in physical education in 2005. In the spring of 2011, she earned a Master of Science in Health and Human Performance with a concentration in Recreation from MTSU.
“I think Debs is extraordinary,” Thiros said. “She clearly articulated her strong commitment to excellence, and it is very much in line with the core values the department has embraced. Her coaching skill set and knowledge are very refined. She cares deeply about student-athletes and shares our goal to build the women of ISU soccer and fuel their growth as individuals and collectively and return the program to the top of the Big Sky.”
