Email coach
Brad Ruzzo
Hired at Mercer: June 24, 2008
Ruzzo at a Glance:
Coached Trevor Martineau to being named SoCon Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, becoming the first freshman since 1977 to win SoCon Player of the Year
Coached Will Bagrou to the 2017 & 2018 SoCon Male Athlete of the Year
Guided Bagrou to the 2018 MLS Combine as well as being selected in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft
2018 and 2014 Southern Conference Coach of the Year
2014 College Sports Madness SoCon Coach of the Year
2012 Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year
Two-time MVC Coaching Staff of the Year (2006, 2007)
2003 College Soccer News – One of the nation’s top assistants
USSF “A” License
Collegiate Coaching Experience:
2008-Present – Mercer University
Head Coach
2000-07 – Bradley University
Associate Head Coach
1999-00 – Xavier University
Assistant Coach
Coaching Accolades at Mercer:
115-97-26 overall record (.538 %)
40-19-4 in SoCon regular season play
7-2-4 in SoCon Tournament play
106-75-19 overall record since 2010 (.575 win %)
Highest winning percentage in program history among coaches who have coached 20-or-more matches
Winningest Coach in Mercer history with 115 wins. He passed Tom Melville (107 wins) for the most wins on Oct. 1, 2019 with a 2-1 victory over Winthrop.
2019, 2017 & 2016 NCAA Tournament appearance
2019, 2017 & 2016 SoCon Tournament Championship
2018 & 2014 SoCon Regular Season Championship
Five SoCon titles in just six years in the league
2018 & 2014 SoCon Coach of the Year (including 2014 College Sports Madness Coach of the Year)
2012 Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year
Six conference championship appearances (ASUN: 2009, 2012; SoCon: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019)
Mercer ranks No. 30 out of all NCAA Division I institutions based on wins since 2010
Mercer ranks No. 12 out of all private NCAA Division I institutions based on wins since 2010
In 2018, guided Mercer to an 8-0 true-road record, leading the NCAA in true road wins
Set program-record of 14 wins en route to winning 2014 SoCon regular season championship in Mercer’s first season in the league
Tied the program record with 14 wins en route to winning the 2019 SoCon tournament championship
Received votes by NSCAA for National Ranking in 2014, 2016 and 2018
Mentored 69 All-Conference players (27 All-Conference First Team selections), 13 NSCAA/USC All-Region selections & one NSCAA All-American
Earned 11 consecutive NSCAA/USC Team Academic awards and still counting
Coached Jake Mezei, JR DeRose and George Iakovidis to claiming the SoCon Pinnacle Award
Two CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, three Atlantic Sun Scholar Athletes of the Year, seven NSCAA All-Region Scholar Athlete selections
Ashani Samuels named to 2014 Capital One Academic All-America Second Team
Will Betts named to 2012 Capital One Academic All-America First Team
Guided 2016 NSCAA All-American, SoCon Player of the Year and MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist Will Bagrou
Bagrou was also named a 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List candidate
Bagrou finished with 37 career goals, 16 assists and 90 points.
Bagrou is a four-time All-SoCon First Team selection & former SoCon Freshman of the Year and SoCon Player of the Year
Mentored Jeremy Booth in claiming two SoCon Tournament MVP Awards, a spot on the College Soccer News Team of the Week and a goals against average of 0.98 which ranks first in program history.
Coached JR DeRose to the 2019 Southern Conference Tournament MVP honors.
Mentored 2014 SoCon Goalkeeper of the Year and current Orland City SC goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh
Guided 2012 A-Sun Defender of the Year Josh Shutter
Other Coaching Experience:
2008-Present – Mercer Boys Soccer Academy
Founder & Director
2011-13 – Olympic Development Program
Georgia state head coach
2010 – Olympic Development Program
Region III Staff Member
2000-07 – Central Illinois Soccer Academy
Co-Director
Past Coaching Accolades:
Bradley University
Named one of the “Top Division I Assistant Coaches” by College Soccer News (2003)
The Braves posted an overall record of 101-53-23 (.636) during Ruzzo’s tenure
2007 NCAA Tournament Elite 8 appearance
Four NCAA Tournament appearances (2000, 2002, 2005, 2007)
2007 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament Championship
Three consecutive MVC Regular Season Championships (2005, 2006, 2007)
Two consecutive MVC Coaching Staff of the Year honors (2006, 2007)
Ranked as highly as No. 8 in the national Top 25 poll (2007)
Ascended to No. 1 in the NSCAA Midwest Regional Rankings (2007)
Helped program to eight of its 10 winningest seasons all-time
Set program record for single-season wins (16) in 2007
Mentored six All-Americans, five MLS players, six MLS Super Draft selections, three A-League players, 38 All-MVC selections, one MVC Player of the Year, two MVC Defensive Players of the Year & two MVC Freshmen of the Year
Guided four Academic All-Americans, 11 ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA District V & NSCAA All-Region scholar-athletes & 26 MVC scholar-athletes
Helped seal two Top 15 recruiting classes by College Soccer News (2001, 2002)
Served as the Chair of the NSCAA Midwest All-Region/All-America selections committee
Xavier University
Served as staff’s No. 1 assistant
Assisted in the growth of three Holland Amateur League & United States A-League players
Was responsible for developing & scheduling training sessions in conjunction with head coach; maintained off-season training & conditioning program
Was involved with recruiting, scouting, planning of team travel, budgeting, academic monitoring, among other administrative duties
Central Illinois Soccer Academy (CISA)
Responsible for development and training of advanced players ages 17-23
Oversaw 10 tournament championships with an overall 102-45-30 record
Program was designed to meet the needs of advanced senior-aged players, allowing them to continue training, developing and competing in a highly competitive, collegiate atmosphere
Mercer Bears in the Pros:
Active Players:
Greg Ranjitsingh – Louisville City FC (USFL)
Conner Antley – Tormenta FC (USL League One)
Former Professional Players:
Carl-Oscar Andersson – New York Cosmos (NASL), Falkenbergs FF (SPDA)
National Team Participation:
Ian Cameron – U-16, U-17, U-18 Scotland National Team
Richie Edmonson – U-20 Jamaican National Team
Arkenson Neckles – Grenada Men’s National Team
Ashani Samuels – U-20 Jamaican National Team
Ehjayson Henry – U-20 Saint Kitts National Team
Greg Ranjitsingh – Senior & U-20 Trinidad & Tobago National Team
Coaching Certifications & Memberships:
United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National “A” License
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Member
U.S. Soccer Member
Education:
University of Cincinnati, 1999 (B.A., Economics)
Collegiate Playing Experience:
1995-98 – University of Cincinnati
Started 77 career matches
1998 All-Conference USA Second Team selection
1998 Team Captain
1998 NCAA Tournament appearance (first in program history)
1997 Team MVP
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