Former Rhode Island head coach Ed Bradley returned to the URI men's soccer program as director of operations in July of 2013. The 2016-17 academic year marks his fourth season working under Gareth Elliott, who was both a student-athlete and assistant coach for Bradley.
Inducted into the Rhode Island Hall of Fame in 2011, Bradley is the winningest coach in URI men's soccer, compiling a record of 192-127-22 over 17 seasons with the Rams. He coached Rhode Island to a total of 10 Atlantic 10 titles - five in the regular season and five at the conference championship - and guided URI to six NCAA Tournament appearances.
Bradley's career record of 219-146-36 at the collegiate level includes his mark of 27-9-14 at Rhode Island College over three seasons from 1980-82. He led the Anchormen to a berth in the ECAC playoffs in 1982.
Following his final season at Rhode Island in 2005, Bradley moved to Naples, Fla. He began coaching again at the Community School of Naples, where he compiled a record of 58-18-12 from 2008 through February of 2013. He twice earned Class A Coach of the Year honors, and in his final season he led CSN to its first district title and a run to the state quarterfinals. Before Bradley arrived, CSN had never won a playoff game.
Bradley retired from Rhode Island following the 2005 season, when the Rams clinched the A-10 title by winning a 4-3 penalty kick shootout at Saint Louis in the A-10 championship game. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, URI lost a heartbreaking 2-1 decision in overtime at Brown.
Bradley picked up his 200th collegiate win in a 3-0 victory over Saint Joseph's on Oct. 3, 2004 in Philadelphia. On the Rams' next trip to Philadelphia for a game with La Salle on Oct. 22, Bradley picked up win number 176 as head coach of the Rams, moving ahead of former Rhody coach Geza Henni as the winningest coach in URI soccer history.
Upon his arrival at Rhode Island in 1989, Bradley steadily increased the standard by which the Rams had been held. After sub-.500 records from 1989-94, Rhode Island reeled off winning campaigns in 10 of the next 11 seasons, including a stretch of eight straight seasons.
URI enjoyed a breakthrough in 1995, going 19-2-2 and winning the A-10 tournament and regular season titles. That season, the team made the NCAA field for the first time, beginning an 11-year run in which the Rams went 148-71-12, made 11 Atlantic 10 tournament appearances, earned six NCAA tournament bids and 10 conference titles, including five A-10 tournament championships and five regular season crowns.
A Providence, R.I. native, Bradley was a standout midfielder for Rhode Island during his playing days for coach Bob Butler, earning All-Yankee Conference honors in 1967. Bradley went on to receive his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1968, and in 1972, he earned his masters in guidance and counseling from Rhode Island College.
Bradley began his coaching career at Barrington High in 1973. He had two separate stints at the school, leading the program from 1973-79 and 1983-88. During his time there, Bradley won three state championships and seven league titles while establishing Barrington as a nationally-ranked program.
Bradley has held an A-License from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and an Advanced National License from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. He also has been involved with administering the State Licensing program. He has conducted the Goal-4-Rams Youth Soccer Camps through the South County region. He was a 1989 inductee into the New England Hall of Fame and a 1991 inductee into the Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame.
Bradley and his wife Gail reside in Narragansett, R.I. Bradley's two sons are both products of Rhode Island soccer. Brian, a 1994 graduate, finished his career as the ninth leading scorer in Rams' history. Michael, a graduate from Brown Medical School, finished his career as a Ram after transferring from Dartmouth and played with Everett (Seattle, Wash.), New Hampshire and Vermont of the USISL. Bradley also has a daughter, Jill.
THE BRADLEY FILE
Coaching
Head Coach, Barrington (R.I.) High, 1973-79, 1983-88
Head Coach, Rhode Island College, 1980-82
Head Coach, Rhode Island, 1989-2005
Head Coach, Community School of Naples, 2008-13
Career Collegiate Record: 219-146-36 (.591)
Record at URI: 192-137-22 (.578)
Rhode Island College
1980 8-2-5 .533
1981 10-4-4 .555
1982 9-3-5 .529 ECAC Playoffs
1983 8-2-0 .800
Total 27-9-14 .540
Rhode Island
1989 7-11-1 .368
1990 8-10-2 .400
1991 8-9-2 .421 Atlantic 10 Tournament
1992 5-10-4 .263
1993 7-11-1 .368 Atlantic 10 Tournament
1994 9-10-0 .474
1995 19-2-2 .826 Atlantic 10 Champion*, NCAA Tournament
1996 16-6-0 .727 Atlantic 10 Champion^, NCAA Tournament
1997 6-12-2 .300
1998 10-8-1 .526 Atlantic 10 Tournament
1999 17-4-1 .772 Atlantic 10 Champion*, NCAA Tournament
2000 17-6-1 .708 Atlantic 10 Champion%, NCAA Tournament
2001 13-4-1 .722 Atlantic 10 Champion^
2002 11-8-1 .550
2003 13-10-1 .542 Atlantic 10 Champion%, NCAA Tournament
2004 12-8-1 .571 Atlantic 10 Tournament
2005 13-8-2 .609 Atlantic 10 Champion%, NCAA Tournament
Total 192-137-22 (.578)
* - Regular Season and Tournament
^ - Regular Season
% - Tournament
Updated: 8/18/16
