President's Blog: From the Heart

By Eric F. Spina

Dennis Currier’s UD men’s soccer teams are wildly diverse — and wildly successful.

That’s a winning strategy, on and off the field.

Last fall, the Dayton Flyers made history by reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 after being ranked as high as fifth in the nation during their storybook season. Two standout players, Geni Kanyane from South Africa and Joseph Melto Quiah from Liberia, helped lead the talented squad to back-to-back A-10 championships and were each selected in the 2025 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

While UD naturally wants to win soccer championships, we understand that doing athletics with integrity at the University of Dayton means focusing on shaping global citizens who reflect the values represented in the Marianist charism. I’m impressed by Coach Currier’s ability to do both. Over two decades, he’s recruited players from 35 countries, literally from A to Z (Australia to Zambia), blending international talent with top domestic prospects. His teams have won five A-10 regular season titles, six A-10 tournament titles and made six NCAA appearances. Thirteen players, including seven in the past five years alone, have been drafted.

Everyone knows talent alone doesn’t win championships, though. The best teams are united, playing as one. That’s the real secret to success — whether you’re seamlessly working with your soccer teammates to advance the ball up the field or collaborating with others at work on a complex project that requires a variety of skills. Diversity along multiple dimensions is always a strength.

Sitting across from Coach Currier in my conference room, I asked him his secret to recruiting talented players and creating a culture of inclusion on the soccer field that welcomes everyone’s diverse gifts. What’s his formula?

Armed with a scrapbook filled with clippings of his early days coaching soccer at Harris-Stowe State University, a historically Black university in St. Louis, he gave me the back story — one that illustrates both his tenacity and a Ted Lasso-like belief in the possibilities.

In 1993, before the Internet became a popular tool for recruiting, he turned to unconventional avenues to find talent. One of his notable recruits: a 27-year-old who had just been released from prison. Although the player had never competed in soccer before, his love for the game and natural talent led him to become a two-time NAIA All-American.

In another instance, Coach Currier met two former junior college stars working as bartenders. Recognizing their potential, he helped them apply for Pell grants to further their education.

“I also found kids who had lost their parents in tragic circumstances and were searching for a place to belong,” he said. “After a while, I realized I couldn’t recruit whole teams from prisons and bars, so I reached out to a friend in England to see if he knew anyone who might want to play soccer in the U.S.”

That connection proved invaluable. Coach Currier used the introduction to build a network, expanding his reach to talent on the world’s fields.

Over the seasons, he’s immersed himself in learning about different cultures. For team meals, he makes it a point to include a variety of non-American cuisines. Although he never envisioned introducing a Karaoke Night — “I’m here to win national championships!” — he discovered it to be an excellent way for his teams to bond, learning about the food and music and culture of places halfway around the world. So different, yet so much the same.

But there’s nothing like the coveted “Red Jersey.” During the preseason, the players compete in a variety of drills and activities, including Karaoke Night, for the chance to have their name emblazoned on a red jersey that hangs proudly in the locker room. It symbolizes leadership.

Coach Currier, the winningest soccer coach in Dayton Flyer history, teaches his players more than soccer skills. He imparts lessons in leadership.

And his universal language? Winning.

(Photo by Erik Schelkun. The team will participate in the Spring Collegiate League, starting with a 3 p.m., Saturday, March 8, game against Akron on Baujan Field.)