Nicholas Deren
Assistant Men's Soccer Coach
Phone: 313-595-4467
Email:
derennj@udmercy.edu
After six seasons on the Titan men's soccer staff as the lead assistant coach, Nicholas Deren was named head coach at his alma mater, the University of Detroit Mercy, on Dec. 8.
After the resignation of former head coach Morris Lupenec, Deren took over as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2009 season. He guided the Titans to a 4-4 record to end the year. During that stretch the Titans scored 17 goals, and won two of their last four conference games.
Throughout his tenure on the UDM staff, Deren’s main responsibilities included running training sessions, conditioning, recruiting, match preparation, as well as scheduling and fundraising.
Deren’s first season as an assistant coach was in 2004. The team was very successful during his first two years with the program. The 2004 team tied the school record with 14 wins. They were able to rattle off eight straight wins, another UDM record. The 2005 team was also successful as they ended the year with 12 victories.
Deren has worked with numerous recruiting camps across the state of Michigan. He left the corporate world to follow his passion in soccer, and started coaching club soccer in 2001 with the Vardar Soccer Club. Nearly a year later, Deren created a soccer school and provided training for individuals, small groups, and teams as a camp director.
Deren has attended multiple symposiums, and special topic courses. He worked with the Troy Soccer Club from 2003 to 2006, and he was also on the Olympic Development Program coaching staff for the state of Michigan for four years (2005-09). Deren still works as a director of coaching for the Michigan Rush. He began working with the Rush in 2006.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with young players because I feel like a part of their technical foundation,” Deren said. “I believe that coaches can have a big impact on young players. A positive influence can play a large role in the development that occurs. Good coaching will give players the fundamentals that they need to make the transition to the next level.”
Deren had a successful career as a player. He left Livonia Stevenson High School as the second leading goal scorer in the program’s history. He also finished third in the voting for Mr. Soccer in the state of Michigan as a forward in 1995. Deren’s playing career also includes winning a club national championship with Vardar at the U-18 level.
Deren enrolled at Oakland University after a stellar high school career, but transferred to Detroit after two seasons. He was the leading goal scorer for Oakland during his freshman season with 13 goals. Deren also played for the Detroit Dynamite and the Michigan Madness during this time. The Dynamite and Madness were formerly in the USISL, but now they are recognized in the PDL.
Deren transferred to Detroit in 1997, but suffered an injury that forced him to take a medical redshirt for the 1998 season. He bounced back however and was named as a team captain in 1999. While with Detroit, Deren netted seven goals, while dishing out five assists at the midfield spot.
Deren graduated from UDM in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He holds a USSF "A" License, as well as an Advanced National Diploma from the NSCAA.
Deren and his wife Jeanne (a former UDM assistant track coach) reside in Northville, MI, and have two daughters, Evelyn and Amelia, and a son Eli. Deren’s hobbies away from soccer include golf and running.
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