Dannie Merida

Stony Brook University Athletics

Stony Brook Seawolves

Title

Associate Head Coach
Email

daniel.merida@stonybrook.edu
Phone

632-4390

Dannie Merida is currently in his eighth season as an assistant coach for the Stony Brook men's soccer team. Merida was promoted to associate head coach by Ryan Anatol on March 23, 2017, after serving as an assistant coach for his first six years with the Seawolves' program.

Merida helped guide Stony Brook to a 7-6-5 record in 2017, including five wins in the program's first seven contests and another postseason conference tournament appearance. The Seawolves' coaching staff helped forward Vince Erdei earn America East Second Team honors, after the senior tallied a team-high eight goals during the regular season.

In 2016, Stony Brook achieved its highest RPI ranking in program history (43). The Seawolves were the top seed in the America East Tournament, (one of the top conferences in the country for the season) going 4-2-1 in conference play, to earn a No. 9 ranking in the NSCAA East Region.

Merida has coached five first-team All-America East selections, 11 second-team selections and nine members of the America East All-Rookie team in his six seasons with the Seawolves. One of those players, Leo Fernandes, went on to become Stony Brook's first ever men's soccer All-American, now starring with the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. Merida helped shaped Fernandes into the America East Conference Midfielder of the Year in 2011 and 2012 as well as mold Fernandes's teammate, Berian Gobeil Cruz, into the America East Striker of the Year in 2011.

Merida, who played collegiately at Florida International University after transferring from Elon University, served as the top assistant coach at Lewis University in Chicago in 2010, and helped them to a GLVC Regular season Championship. Prior to his time at Lewis, he served as the associate head coach at Lincoln College in Lincoln, Ill. In his short time was able to help the JUCCO program to top 15 national ranking.

Along with his collegiate coaching experience, Merida has also worked with the South Kendall Soccer Club and was the associate head coach at Miami Killian High School and Miami Palmetto High School.

Merida holds a Premier Diploma from the NSCAA.