Colorado University Athletics
Brunner Joins CU Soccer Staff
June 15, 2015 | Soccer
BOULDER – University of Colorado soccer alumna Annie Brunner has been named the coordinator of performance analysis and camp operations, head coach Danny Sanchez announced Monday.
Brunner, a standout goalkeeper for the Buffaloes from 2010-13, returns to her alma mater after most recently serving as a back-up goalkeeper for the Western New York Flash and a Graduate Assistant Coach at Troy University.
“We couldn't be happier that Annie is coming back to Boulder,” said Sanchez. “She is a true Buff through and through. Annie's passion for our university and soccer program is obvious to anyone she meets. She has a great soccer mind and is a tremendous addition to our staff.”
The newest member of the CU soccer staff will be responsible for managing camp logistics and collaborating with the coaching staff to organize and edit video while also monitoring and analyzing player performance.
Brunner worked as the graduate assistant goalkeeper coach from 2014-2015 for Troy's women's soccer team, while pursuing a Master's degree in international business administration, which she will complete next summer. During her tenure, she created curriculum and trained the goalkeepers. In addition to coaching, she helped with recruiting and the team's residential, ID and summer day camps.
Prior to her time spent at Troy, Brunner also played on an international stage when she signed a professional contract with FC Neunkirch of the Swiss Women's National League A at the beginning of 2014.
She was also an assistant goalkeeper coach with the Goalkeepers Union for four years, assisting in the development of youth keepers (U7-U18) in the Denver metro area.
The Arvada, Colo. native proved herself as one of the program's greatest goalkeepers of all-time during her career at CU. Brunner played two years under Sanchez from 2012-13 and as a co-captain during the 2013 season, she helped lead the Buffs to the NCAA Sweet 16 – matching the best finish in program history as she concluded her senior year ranked in the nation's top 100 in saves and shutout percentage.
Brunner is only one of only two Buffs in school history to have at least nine shutouts in a single season and record at least seven in back-to-back seasons. She ranks second all-time in saves, wins, ties and shutouts. Her stellar 1.22 goals-against average and 6, 956 minutes played rank fifth, while her 75 starts and 77 games played also rank in CU's all-time top 15.
Her impressive performance on the field earned her several awards, including CU Freshman Female Athlete of the Year and Team MVP in 2010 along with Defensive MVP honors in 2013. She excelled in the classroom as well being named a Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable mention her junior and senior year.
“I am so happy to be back at CU,” Brunner said. “I have a long history as a Buff. My grandparents were here, my parents graduated from here so I've always had pride in the University. When Danny and [Assistant Coach] Jason [Green] called me, it was the biggest thrill of my life.”
Her career as a student-athlete went beyond the playing field and classroom as well as she was involved with various community service projects throughout her four years on campus, including Buff Hugs, Read with the Buffs, Healthy Kids Day, the Special Olympics and the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless and was a team representative on the CU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee during her senior year.
A CU graduate in December 2013, Brunner earned her Bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in operations and information management. She also has a National Soccer Coaches Association diploma in goalkeeping (level one) and a USAW Certification (level one).
