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Mercer University

Mercer Athletics
 1400 Coleman Ave Macon, GA 31207
Division 1 Georgia Southeast
Private Small National competitor
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Coaches

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Brad Ruzzo

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

Guided Ousman Jabang to be selected in the 2023 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:

140-115-15 overall record (.549)

42-22-10 in SoCon regular season play

13-3-5 in SoCon Tournament play

132-93-33 overall record since 2010 (.587)

Highest winning percentage in program history among coaches who have coached 20-or-more matches

Winningest Coach in Mercer history with 125 wins. He passed Tom Melville (107 wins) for the most wins on Oct. 1, 2019, with a 2-1 victory over Winthrop.

2021, 2019, 2017 & 2016 NCAA Tournament appearance

2021, 2019, 2017 & 2016 SoCon Tournament Championship

2018 & 2014 SoCon Regular Season Championship

Six SoCon titles in just nine 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

Seven conference championship appearances (ASUN: 2009, 2012; SoCon: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021)

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 2022, had five players named All-SoCon, one First Team and four Second Team

In 2022, had one player named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Second Team

In 2022, had one player named to the Freshmen All-SoCon Team

In 2022, had three player named to the Academic All-District Team

Went 1-0-1 against ACC teams during the 2022 season with the win coming at Virginia Tech

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 70 All-Conference players (28 All-Conference First Team selections), 14 NSCAA/USC All-Region selections & one NSCAA All-American

Earned 12 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.

Guided Dylan Gaither, College Soccer News' National Player of the Week in early November 2021

Gaither ranks fourth in program history with 79 career points

Coached JR DeRose to the 2019 Southern Conference Tournament MVP honors.

Mentored 2014 SoCon Goalkeeper of the Year and Orlando City SC goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh

Guided 2012 A-Sun Defender of the Year Josh Shutter

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JR DeRose

Mercer Men's Soccer Coach Brad Ruzzo has announced the hiring of JR DeRose as the New Assistant Coach for the Bears on May 1, 2023.


Prior to returning to Macon, DeRose spent the 2022 season as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. During his time with the Tar Heels, DeRose helped organized and execute goalkeeper training, and conducted video analysis and scouting of the goalkeeper position. DeRose also organized and execute team logistics and operations which included video compliance requirements, meals, travel, and managing equipment and gear for the Tar Heels. DeRose also helped organized UNC Soccer Camps by being the main point of contact with the Protection of Minors office, supervising all camp counselors and helped set up the camp itinerary.


Prior to joining the Tar Heels staff, DeRose was a volunteer Assistant Coach at Bradley University. During his time with the team, DeRose organized and participated in goalkeeper training sessions and organized training sessions for substitute, reserve, and injured players. DeRose assisted with field maintenance for gameday, this included field lining and setup, game kit laundry, and training setup and clean up.


Prior to starting his coaching career, DeRose graduated from Mercer University in December 2019 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. DeRose would return for his fifth year and graduate Magna Cum Laude with Master of Business Administration in 2021. While at Mercer, DeRose played soccer for the Bears where he was a standout goalkeeper and was named to the All-Southern Conference Second-Team in 2018 and was named the SoCon Tournament MVP in 2019. DeRose was awarded the Pinnacle Award Winner, which goes to the student-athlete with the highest GPA on Championship winning team.


DeRose helped lead the Bears to three SoCon Tournament Championship titles and three NCAA tournament berths. DeRose would graduate as the fourth-best career goals-against average and had the fourth-most shutouts in Mercer Soccer history.

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