April 30, 2008

Gordon Bradley, the most successful men's soccer coach in school history and the man who led the Patriots to six NCAA Tournament appearances, died on Tuesday in Manassas. He was 74 years old. Bradley suffered from Alzheimer's disease for several years.

Bradley came to Mason in 1985 and he led Mason to an 18-4 record and the NCAA Tournament in his first season. The Patriots returned to the NCAA Tournament in 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1996. The Patriots had nine straight winning seasons under Bradley and when he left after the 2000 season, he had compiled a 183-113-35 record, more than twice as many wins as any other coach in school history. He also brought home three CAA titles. In 2006, he was part of the inaugural class inducted in the George Mason Men's Soccer Hall of Fame.

"Gordon was an icon, not just in the soccer world, but in the George Mason community as well," George Mason Athletics Director Tom O'Connor said. "Everywhere he went, he left a legacy, and that's certainly true here at Mason."

Mason was the final stop in a long and storied career for Bradley. Bradley is best known for coaching the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League in the 1970s. That's when international superstar Pele helped bring the sport to America. Bradley also coached the Washington Diplomats of the NASL and later, the Washington Stars, a Fairfax-based semipro team in the American Professional Soccer League. A 1996-inductee into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame, he also served as a TV analyst for D.C. United.

Born in Sunderland, England, Bradley began his career playing for the Carlisle United as a defender. He also played in Canada before eventually playing in the NASL. He was hired by the Cosmos in 1971 as a player-coach and he won the league title in his second season.

Bradley is survived by his wife of 49 years, Vera; his sons Paul and Doug; and five grandchildren. The Bradley family has established The Gordon Bradley Scholarship Endowment in association with George Mason University. To contribute, call (703) 993-3215.

For more details on Gordon Bradley's life, click here to read today's obituary in The Washington Post.