Canisius College Director of Athletics Bill Maher announced Dermot McGrane as the 14th coach in the men's soccer program's history. A two-time MAAC Coach of the Year, McGrane spent the last nine seasons turning Niagara University into one of the top programs in the league.
"I'd like to thank President John Hurley, Bill Maher and the soccer search committee for the opportunity to become the head men's soccer coach at Canisius College," McGrane said. "I am very impressed with the direction of the Golden Griffin athletic department and feel privileged to become a part of it. I look forward to building a championship program within the MAAC here at Canisius."
"We are very excited to have Coach McGrane leading our men's soccer program," Maher said. "Dermot has a proven track record as a successful Division I head coach and has done a wonderful job in recruiting and developing the young men in his program. I am confident that he will help us achieve our goals of a MAAC Championship and I look forward to him building an elite program at Canisius."
The winningest head coach in Purple Eagles history, McGrane took the Niagara program to new heights during his tenure. He inherited a team that won only 27 games in the 11 seasons prior to his arrival and then took the Purple Eagles to six MAAC Championship Tournament appearances, including the program's first title game in 2009. Overall, McGrane led Niagara to 61 wins in his nine seasons, including 39 conference victories and seven seasons of at least a .500 winning percentage versus MAAC foes.
His success with the Purple Eagles has not gone unnoticed by his peers. McGrane earned MAAC Coach of the Year accolades in back-to-back seasons following the 2005 and 2006 campaigns. His 2008 team also spent the entire season ranked in the top four of the North Atlantic Region and received votes in the national poll in numerous weeks. McGrane's 2006 and 2008 teams also finished the year ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense.
Under his leadership, McGrane has guided a number of players to individual success. McGrane coached and recruited the 2005 MAAC Player of the Year, the 2008 MAAC Rookie of the Year, 15 regional All-Americans plus 25 all-conference student-athletes at Niagara.
Performance away from the soccer pitch has been just as important during his tenure. His team has posted a GPA of 3.0 or higher every season and McGrane has mentored 53 MAAC All-Academic selections in addition to 10 NSCAA Scholar-Athletes.
Prior to his time at Niagara, McGrane spent five seasons as the top assistant coach at Coastal Carolina University. With the Chanticleers, McGrane helped build the program into a perennial power. He recruited three players drafted into the MLS, including the third overall selection in 2003, and six All-Americans. Coastal Carolina captured three Big South Championships and one NCAA Tournament appearance during McGrane's term.
McGrane's first collegiate coaching position was as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky from 1995 to 1997. He helped the Hilltoppers to their first Sun Belt Conference Championship in 1995.
A native of Leicester, England, McGrane has also held coaching positions on the Region III staff for the United States Olympic Development Program from 2000 to 2002 and as the head coach of South Carolina for the U.S. ODP from 1997 to 2002.
McGrane played four seasons at Elmira College, earning NCAA All-North Region honors, the Elmira College Booster Club MVP and the school's Male Athlete of the Year accolades
McGrane graduated from Elmira in 1994, receiving his bachelor's degree in psychology. He also earned his master's in recreation management from Western Kentucky in 1997.