“It’s been an incredible honor to coach the national team and carry the baton for people across the country,” Bradley said. “In the end, [we’ve got] an excellent opportunity [this June].”
Jesse Marsch ’96, one of Bradley’s current assistants who played under him first at Princeton and later professionally as a member of the Chicago Fire, agreed that Bradley is capable of inspiring the national team to the kind of success that saw the team reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 2002.
“The spotlight’s on him like it’s never been before, but Bob is all about playing on the big stage and getting his players to play on that stage,” Marsch said.
But for many years, Bradley was far removed from the national, let alone international, spotlight.
Bradley first came to Princeton in 1976 as an undergraduate. He played on the varsity soccer team all four years, led the team in scoring in 1979 and received the David S. Hackett Memorial Cup, an award given to “the Princeton player demonstrating outstanding enthusiasm, discipline and leadership.” His senior year, the team made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
“That experience that you get playing at a high level and the bond that you share competing goes a long way towards what college is about,” Bradley said.
Faced with the difficult double life of a student and athlete, Bradley came to learn a variety of lessons in his undergraduate years that would serve him well in his subsequent career as a coach.
“The academic and athletic challenge taught me what it means to work, how to make tough decisions, how to read people,” he said. “I wasn’t the smartest guy, but it’s all about how you handle the challenges you face. There were days when I said I wouldn’t make it, but I did.”
After majoring in history and graduating in 1980, Bradley found himself still attached to the game, and he played on a number of teams while working. In 1981, Bradley enrolled at the University of Ohio to pursue his master’s degree in sports administration and, at 22, became the head coach of the varsity program.
“Their team had some international guys, and there were four or five players older than me, the coach,” he said. “You think you know a lot when starting, but you find you don’t know as much as you think you did.”
After a two-year stint at Ohio and one year as an assistant coach at the University of Virginia, Bradley returned to his alma mater, where, over the course of 12 seasons, he won two Ivy League titles in 1988 and 1993, led the team on its famed run to the Final Four of the NCAA championships in 1993, and was named National Coach of the Year that same year.
Unsurprisingly, Bradley sees the highlight of his Princeton coaching career as the 1993 season.
“It was especially nice [that year] because we came together as a team — so many different guys kept raising the bar,” he said. “Becoming strong, becoming a team, learning how to compete — that’s what it’s all about. Everyone was proud of us, not just people on the team. Seeing how much that meant was important to me.”
Marsch, who was named first-team All-America in Bradley’s final season in 1995, believes that Bradley’s success as a coach can be attributed to his management skills off the field.
“In college, he was more about creating a well-rounded experience for the student athlete,” Marsch said. “It was important for him to see all the players becoming good young men.”
Under Bradley’s regime, Jim Barlow, current coach of the men’s varsity team, flourished as a player, winning Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 1987 before being named Ivy League Player of the Year in 1990.
“I had a great experience playing under Bob — it was really competitive, but also really fun,” Barlow said. “As coach, I’ve tried to continue the tradition [of Princeton soccer] that he started.”
In January 1996, Bradley left his position as men’s head coach to start his professional coaching career as an assistant at D.C. United in MLS.
“I have strong connections with what goes on [at Princeton], but at a certain point, you have to move on and keep trying to grow,” Bradley said. “You need new challenges to get better yourself. [My departure] opened the door for other people [like Jim Barlow] to step in.”
For the next decade, he spent time in MLS as the head coach of three different teams — the Chicago Fire, the New York/New Jersey Metrostars and Chivas USA — watching as the league expanded to 16 from 10 teams and soccer became an increasingly visible sport in the United States.
Then, in 2006, following Bruce Arena’s firing after a disappointing World Cup campaign in which Team USA finished at the bottom of its group with one point from three matches, Bradley was named interim coach of the U.S. national team. After a successful series of opening games, he was given the full title of manager in May 2007.
Since then, he has won the Gold Cup in 2007, led the team to the finals of the Confederations Cup last year and, most recently, qualified the team for the 2010 World Cup.
“I think he’s the best man for the job,” Barlow said.
“Our team and players are in great hands; every detail is being taken care of,” Bradley said. “The World Cup is so tough and challenging. There’s tons of pressure playing against the world’s best, but I’m confident we can do well and get past the group stage.”
Indeed, Bradley believes his team is capable of a strong performance at the world’s top soccer competition.
“The three games don’t go perfectly but I think we’ve got a really good opportunity to advance, and I hope that our experiences [at the Confederations Cup] come into play,” he said.
Bradley will make one more stop at his alma mater, holding a training camp for the national team at Roberts Stadium from May 17–23, before the team heads to South Africa. Before he embarks on the challenge of a lifetime, perhaps he will use those seven days to remember where his soccer career began and consider how far he has come since then.
Read More
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals after 19–18 loss to No. 5 Syracuse
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
With the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.