A standout player at Peoria Notre Dame High School and Aurora University, Brian Barnett joined the Bradley Soccer staff as an assistant coach in 2009 and is now in his eighth year with the Braves.
“Brian is as passionate a young coach as I have come across,” said Bradley Soccer head coach Jim DeRose. “He has great aspirations and his work ethic and success to date are indicators that he is a rising star in our profession. He is involved in all facets of our program and is a wonderful ambassador for Bradley Soccer in the community.”
In his first seven years at Bradley, Barnett has helped the Braves win two Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles, play in three NCAA Tournaments (2010, 2011 and 2013) in a four-year span, win two NCAA Tournament games and knock of the top-ranked team in the nation on the road.
Recognized as a rising coaching talent, in the summer of 2013 Barnett was selected for the inaugural "30-Under-30" class - 30 young coaches who participated in a year-long mentorship program through the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Barnett, who has worked at DeRose’s Central Illinois Soccer Academy summer camps since 2006, was a four-year starter in the backline at NCAA Division III Aurora. After helping the Spartans to the 2006 NCAA Tournament, Barnett captained the 2008 squad to a 14-8-1 record while earning first-team All-Northern Athletics Conference honors. He started 66 of the 73 games he played in four seasons, helping the Spartans to a 44-21-11 record and a 1.17 team goals against average.
Barnett graduated from Aurora in 2009 with his bachelor’s degree in business administration. Boasting a 3.5 grade point average, he was a three-time (2006-08) Northern Athletics Conference Scholar-Athlete and earned the Aurora University Ivy Leaf Award in 2006 and 2007. In addition to his traditional academic and athletic responsibilities, Barnett was the president of the Aurora University Student-Athlete Advisory Council during his final two years of school.
The owner of a United States Soccer Federation National Diploma, Barnett began his coaching career at the club level for the Strikers Fox Valley Soccer Club. Having served as a staff head coach since 2005, Barnett was responsible for technical and tactical development of youth players between the ages of 14 and 18, as well as schedule and travel coordination.
Barnett and his wife, Brittany, are the proud parents of two young children.