Give to the Edward and Gail Bradley Family Soccer Field Project

KINGSTON, R.I. - The legacy of Ed and Gail Bradley will be kept alive forever, thanks to a $1 million initiative to rename the URI Soccer Complex as the Edward and Gail Bradley Family Soccer Field.

The family and friends of Edward and Gail Bradley recently announced a $250,000 gift to kick off the campaign. The funds will go toward the Rhode Island Athletics Complex Renovations Fund for Soccer.

As the head coach at Rhode Island, Ed Bradley led the Rams to 192 wins, the most in program history. URI won 10 Atlantic 10 titles and made six NCAA Championship appearances during his 17 years at the helm. His 1995 squad won a program-record 19 matches, going 19-2-2 with a 16-match unbeaten streak to start the year, all of which are program records.

"To know that our parents will forever be a part of Rhode Island soccer in this way is a tremendous feeling of pride for our entire family," said Michael Bradley, who along with his brother Brian played for their father at URI. "Rhode Island soccer was a big part of our parents' lives. It was more than the games. It was all the players and families who became part of our family through the years."

While Ed Bradley coached the program, Gail Bradley was the surrogate mother for many players over the years. A 1968 URI graduate who went on to a long career in special education, she was the consummate host and party planner for events.

"This is special for our entire family," said Jill (Bradley) Arnold, daughter of Edward and Gail. "It is a proud feeling to know your parents made the kind of impact that people want to remember."

Ed and Gail Bradley both left lasting impacts on the Rhode Island men's soccer programs.

"This is an opportunity to forever remember the incredible impact Ed and Gail Bradley had at Rhode Island," URI Vice President and Director of Athletics Pat Lyons said. "They defined what greatness looked like, beyond the field of play. The Bradley name is one we want forever associated with Rhode Island soccer."