After five years in one of the top soccer coaching positions in America, Bob Bradley has been able to take only a short breath as foreign clubs and national teams have come running for his services.
Bradley graduated from Princeton University before continuing his education in sport management at Ohio University. He began his coaching career with the Ohio men’s team in 1981 at age 22. He coached through 1982 and went on to be an assistant under former U.S. Men’s National Team coach Bruce Arena. He also coached Princeton, a few Major League Soccer teams and eventually, the U.S. National Team.
Current women’s soccer coach Stacy Strauss does not know Bradley professionally but recognizes his accomplishments in coaching that began with the Bobcats.
“It’s great,” Strauss said. “He went to OU for a graduate degree when he was a coach, so credit to the university.”
Since being replaced by Jürgen Klinsmann in the U.S. national job, Bradley has been linked to several open positions. Reports have surfaced that Bradley is in the running for the Egyptian national team’s head coaching job, but recent reports indicate that Bradley might go to Mexican club Santos Laguna in Primera División Profesional.
Bradley is in serious talks with Santos executives about the position and
could have a decision made sometime this week.
BOBCATS BACK FROM RESPITE
The women’s soccer team had yesterday off because NCAA rules require one day off after each game.
The Bobcats begin regrouping today by emphasizing possession and playing under pressure during practice. Sunday, the Bobcats lost a difficult road game to Cleveland State 3-0 and will face Morehead State Friday.
“We are going to work on our possession, specifically between our backs and forwards and the interplay between our forwards once they receive the ball on the offensive end,” Strauss said.
Ohio (2-3) has allowed five goals so far this season, but the team’s two wins have been shutouts. The defensive side of the game is something the team repeatedly focuses on.
“Defensively, we need to do a better job of starting pressure higher up the field and defend as a team from our forward to all the way to the back,” Strauss said.
mb832409@ohiou.edu
