Don Herlan joined Mike Ertel coaching staff at the start of the 2017 season and his expansive coaching and teaching back ground have been a big lift to the Hawks. Herlan began his coaching career at his alma mater, SUNY Geneseo, with the inaugural women’s soccer program in 1981 and has continued coaching at the college level ever since.
Herlan was the head coach at Saint Francis University (PA) and Juniata College and served as an assistant coach at the University of Buffalo, at Buffalo State College and Longwood University. Along the way, he taught Exercise Science and Physical Education at several of those institutions.
Currently Herlan coaches with the Empire Academy in Buffalo and is a Director of the Junior Academy, helping to develop new teams for the club. In addition, he is the Director of Strength and Conditioning at Sportsplex, an indoor arena located in North Tonawanda, NY.
The Tonawanda, N.Y. native attained the USSF National “C” License and a CSCS certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He has published six books on soccer since 2015 and his website “Smedley’s Soccer Site” was named one of the five best soccer websites in the United States.
Herlan earned bachelor’s degrees from SUNY Geneseo (Management Science) and UB (Exercise Science) as well as a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Akron.
