Ange Bradley

16 Years at Syracuse: 246-82 (.750)
23 Years Overall: 381-143-2 (.726)
Delaware ’89
Northern Illinois ’91

Ange Bradley has turned the Syracuse Orange into a field hockey national power in her 16 seasons at the helm of the program, transforming Syracuse into one of the nation’s top programs. That success reached its peak in 2015, when Bradley led the Orange to the first National Championship in program history and first national title by any women’s program at Syracuse University, earning her NFHCA National Coach of the Year honors for the second time in her career.

Bradley’s Orange have become one of the nation’s premiere destinations for top-level talent and her teams have become a force in the nation’s best conference. ‘Cuse boasts the best record in ACC play – widely considered the best conference in America – since her team joined the league in 2013. Her teams also entered 2017 with the longest-active streak in the country of earning one of the four national seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

She has won 75-percent of her games at SU (246-82), running her career record to 381-143-2 (.726). In addition to the 2015 National Championship, Bradley has led the Orange to 13 NCAA Tournaments, including 10-straight from 2008-17, their only four Final Fours in program history (2008, 2012, 2014 and 2015), two national championship game appearances (2014 and 2015), an ACC regular season title (2015), four BIG EAST regular season titles (2008-10, 2012), and two BIG EAST Tournament Championships (2010-11).

Besides her 2015 ACC Coach of the Year honors, she won the BIG EAST Coach of the Year award four times (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012). Bradley amassed a 31-5 (.861) record in BIG EAST Conference play.

After going 4-2 in ACC play in 2013, Bradley guided the club to its first appearance in the ACC Tournament final and NCAA Tournament championship game in 2014. Following that success she led the Orange back to the ACC title game in 2015 after taking the regular season title, while coaching ‘Cuse to a perfect 16-0 regular season. The Orange once again reached the NCAA Title game in 2015, this time taking down North Carolina 4-2 to claim the crown. The Orange experienced national success in 2016, earning the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament after finishing second in the ACC before falling in the NCAA Quarterfinals – the third-straight season ‘Cuse has reached the quarterfinals.

In 13 seasons at Syracuse, Bradley has coached 43 NFHCA All-Americans, 84 Regional All-Americans, 27 All-BIG EAST selections, 37 All-ACC selections, 102 NFHCA National Academic Squad members, a Honda Award recipient (Alyssa Manley, 2015), an ACC Offensive Player of the Year (Alma Fenne, 2015), an ACC Defensive Player of the Year (Alyssa Manley, 2015), an ACC Rookie of the Year (Roos Weers, 2015), a BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year (Heather Susek, 2011), a BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year (Iona Holloway, 2012) and a BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year (Heather Hess, 2008).

Bradley’s 32-year tenure as a head or assistant coach includes stints at Richmond, Maryland, Iowa and Goucher (Md.).

2022
It was another trip to the Elite Eight for the Orange, the only team in the ACC to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament in both 2021 and 2022. Syracuse continued to accumulate wins, going 16-6 overall and a split 3-3 in a challenging ACC field. Syracuse responded well, going the entire season without dropping back-to-back games while going 8-6 against top 25 teams.

After beating Boston College 6-2 in the first round, the Orange reached the semifinals of the 2022 ACC Field Hockey Tournament, falling 2-1 against eventual national champion North Carolina. Syracuse carried strong play into the NCAA Tournament while picking up a revenge win, knocking out No. 7 Princeton 5-2 in the first round, becoming the only ACC team to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament in the last two seasons. The Orange battled No. 2 Maryland all the way to a shootout in a back-and-forth game before calling 3-2.

For the first time in program history, the Orange had a four-time All-American in Charlotte de Vries. Quirine Comans joined de Vries on the First Team while Eefke van den Nieuwenhof was a Second Team Selection, the eighth player in ‘Cuse history with at least three All-American honors. The trio all served as co-captains for the season.

2021
Returning to a regularly scheduled season, the Orange bounced back to a 14-6 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the ACC. In addition to a six-win improvement from the previous season, the Orange went 6-5 against ranked opponents, including a five-game winning streak against top 25 teams, including four in the ACC. Syracuse returned to the postseason, knocking off nationally-seeded Penn State 4-1 before falling 2-1 against Maryland in the Elite Eight.

Four Orange standouts earned NFHCA All-America honors, as Charlotte de Vries became just the seventh player in program history to earn All-America plaudits three times. Pleun Lammers and Quirine Comans were named Second Team All-America while Eefke van den Nieuwenhof joined de Vries on Third Team.

2020-21
Coaching through one of the most unique situations in college athletics, the Orange endured the COVID-19 Pandemic. Syracuse battled past cancelations and postponements to reach the ACC Tournament Semifinals in the fall. The Orange continued the season into the spring of 2021, competing the academic year with an 8-8 overall record while playing 10 ACC games through the fall and spring seasons.

The Orange had two NFHCA All-America selections, including the first career First Team All-America honors for Charlotte de Vries. Freshman Eefke van den Nieuwenhof was tabbed Second Team All-America. Five Syracuse players earned NFHCA All-Region selection as well. Five Syracuse players earned NFHCA All-Region honors.

2019
The 2019 team featured All-Americans Charlotte de Vries and Carolin Hoffmann. The duo helped lead Syracuse to a 12-7 record and back to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in the last 12 seasons. Claire Cooke and Clara Morrison were named NFHCA Scholars of Distinction while the team earned the ZAG/NFHCA Academic Team Award.

The Orange earned five wins against top-25 opponents, including three in the top-5 on the road (at No. 2 Duke, at No. 3 UConn, at No. 5 Louisville), and posted a perfect 7-0 record in overtime games.

2018
2018 saw Bradley’s Orange miss the NCAA Tournament for just the second time during her tenure finishing the season 8-8 overall. Senior Roos Weers was named NFHCA All-American becoming one of the few three-time All-Americans in program history. She became the program’s first four-time All-Conference selection since the Orange joined the Atlantic Coast Conference and finished her career in the top-5 in goals and points in program history.

Key wins of the season were both 2-1 overtime victories over No. 15 Stanford and No. 8 Boston College.

2017
Bradley led the Orange to their 10th consecutive NCAA Tournament as she moved to ninth all-time in games coached in the NCAA Tournament (29) including her time as head coach at Richmond. The 2017 squad posted a 12-7 overall and 2-4 ACC record and reached the semifinals of the ACC Tournament.

For the second-straight season Lies Lagerweij, Roos Weers and Laura Hurff earned NFHCA All-America honors. The trio was named All-ACC. Five earned All-ACC Academic honors and six were named to the Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Academic Squad.

2016
Replacing the most decorated senior class in program history, Bradley reloaded her team and finished 15-4 overall, second in the ACC after going 4-2 in league play, and earned the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, to extend the nation’s longest streak of home NCAA Tournament games to four-straight seasons.

Lies Lagerweij, Roos Weers and Laura Hurff earned NFHCA All-America honors and were First Team All-ACC selections for the Orange, which picked up nine wins over ranked opponents in 2016. Emma Lamison and Regan Spencer joined the Orange All-American trio in being recognized by the NFHCA All-Region Team.

2015
“I’ve been chasing this dream for 25 years,” Bradley said following capturing the National Championship. The 4-2 win in the NCAA final capped off a remarkable 2015 campaign that saw the Orange complete a perfect 16-0 regular season to start off the year en route to a 21-1 overall finish.

It was just the 10th perfect regular season in Syracuse athletics’ history and the Orange were the first team to accomplish the feat since men’s lacrosse did so in 1990. ‘Cuse took the regular season ACC crown, its first since joining the league in 2013, and swept the ACC postseason awards – a first for any team since 1994. Bradley won ACC Coach of the Year, Alma Fenne won ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Alyssa Manley won ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Roos Weers won ACC Rookie of the Year.

Syracuse then trekked into ACC Tournament play, defeating Virginia in the semifinal to reach its second ACC title game in as many years. North Carolina upended the Orange in overtime, providing the only blemish on the year, but Syracuse’s stellar body of work on the year afforded them the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

‘Cuse lived up to the billing, defeating UMass and Princeton in consecutive days to reach its third Final Four in four seasons. In a rematch of the 2014 NCAA title game, Syracuse met UConn in the semifinal round, rolling to a 3-1 victory and ending the nation’s longest winning streak in the process. The Orange then capped off the historic season with a 4-2 NCAA title game victory over North Carolina to avenge their only loss from two weeks prior.

2014
In the program’s second season in the ACC, Syracuse owned an 18-6 overall record and advanced to its first-ever NCAA Tournament final. The Orange lost in the championship game, 1-0, to Connecticut. For the second straight year, Syracuse hosted first and second round competition in the national tournament after earning the fourth seed. In addition, the team advanced to the ACC Tournament final, losing to Wake Forest, 2-0. Alyssa Manley and Emma Russell both earned First Team All-America honors, making it the first time two members of the club earned first-team accolades in the same season.

2013
Bradley led Syracuse to a highly-successful inaugural season in the ACC, going 16-4 overall including a 4-2 mark in conference play. The Orange posted seven top-10 wins over No. 3 North Carolina, No. 4 Virginia, No. 6 Princeton, No. 6 Stanford, No. 7 Duke, No. 7 Massachusetts and No. 10 Boston College. SU finished the season ranked No. 2 in the final NFHCA Coaches Poll.

2012
Bradley won her fourth BIG EAST Coach of the Year honor in six seasons, guiding the Orange to a 19-3 overall record, including a perfect 6-0 mark in SU’s final BIG EAST season. The Orange won the conference regular season title and advanced to the Final Four for the second time in her tenure. SU was ranked in the top 10 the entire season, including three straight weeks at No. 1 in the country.

2011
Bradley led the Orange to a 19-4 overall record and a No. 3 ranking in the final NFHCA poll. The Orange won its second BIG EAST Championship in a row, defeating UConn, 3-2, at Coyne Stadium, and advanced to its fourth-straight NCAA Tournament. After an opening round win vs. Richmond, 2-0, SU suffered a 2-1 overtime loss to eventual champion Maryland in the quarterfinal round.

2010
She won her third BIG EAST Coach of the Year honors in 2010 after the Orange won its third consecutive BIG EAST Regular Season Championship and BIG East Tournament Championship. SU ended its season with a 16-5 record after a second round loss in the NCAA Tournament, making the third straight season the Orange won an NCAA Tournament game.

2009
Bradley’s third campaign with the Orange led to another season full of successes. Bradley earned her second BIG EAST Coach of the Year award as the team finished the regular season as conference champions for the second consecutive season, compiling a perfect 6-0 record in BIG EAST play. Bradley guided the team to its second NCAA Tournament in as many years and finished the season with an 18-4 overall mark. The team started the season ranked No. 3 in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll and remained in the top 10 of the poll for the entire season, finishing the year at No. 8.

2008
In her second campaign, Bradley was named the 2008 National Coach of the Year, leading the squad to its most successful season in history, advancing to the Final Four. Bradley, the 2008 STX/NFHCA Mideast Regional Coach of the Year, guided SU to its first No. 1 national ranking and its first NCAA championship semifinal appearance. SU’s squad also became the first women’s team at Syracuse to reach No. 1 in a national poll. The 2008 BIG EAST Champions finished the season 22-2 overall and 5-1 in the BIG EAST Conference, and ranked No. 3 in the final STX/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll

Under Bradley’s guidance, SU finished the season ranked first in the nation in scoring average (4.77), goals per game (4.83), scoring margin (3.74), winning percentage (0.917), points per game (13.88) and assists per game (4.21). The Orange ranked second in the nation in goals against average (1.03) and tallied six shutouts on the year.

2007
In the 2007 season, Bradley earned the title as BIG EAST Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Orange to what was its most successful season since 2001. The honor was Bradley’s third coach of the year award in the past seven years. She garnered BIG EAST accolades after guiding Syracuse to a 12-7 overall record. Under Bradley’s tutelage, the Orange also went 3-3 in BIG EAST play. SU’s 12 overall wins and three league victories were the most by a Syracuse team since it won 16 games overall, including five conference contests, in 2001.

Her first season with the Orange was also one for the record books. Syracuse won its season opener for the first time since 2002 and was 2-0 for the first time since 2001. SU’s success continued as the Orange went 5-0 for the first time since 1997 and the 7-1 mark was the best since 1990. Syracuse was in the BIG EAST Championship for the first time since 2005 and the Orange’s No. 18 national ranking on October 9 and 16 was its highest since October 12, 2004

Richmond Success
In her last five seasons at Richmond, Bradley recorded a 42-0 record in the Atlantic 10, won five consecutive Atlantic 10 Conference tournament championships and earned five NCAA Tournament invitations. She was 96-36 (.727) overall in six seasons as head coach of the Spiders.

In addition to the Spiders’ team success, Bradley mentored an Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year, six conference Offensive Players of the Year and three league Defensive Players of the Year in six seasons. A two-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, Bradley coached former Spider Allie Howard, who became the first Atlantic 10 student-athlete to win three consecutive Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors.

In 2006, the 17th-ranked Spiders beat Lock Haven, 4-2, in the NCAA Tournament play-in game before losing to eventual national champion Maryland in the first round. Richmond finished the season with a 17-5 record.

Bradley began her tenure at Richmond with a 10-10 mark in 2001, followed by a 17-7 record in 2002. The turnaround earned Bradley the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Award and helped propel the Spiders into their first NCAA Tournament. Bradley’s 2003 squad won a school-record 18 games en route to the Atlantic 10 Conference championship and the 10th spot in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association ranking.

In 2004, Richmond closed the season ranked 10th nationally, set the mark for highest winning percentage in school history (.857) and tied the school-record win total of 18. The 2005 season marked the end of a great four-year run for Bradley’s first recruiting class. The group was a part of four Atlantic 10 titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances, and earned many individual honors and awards. The Spiders finished the 2005 season with a 16-6 record.

The Beginning
Bradley began her collegiate coaching career as the head coach at Goucher in Towson, Md., in 1991. In her second year, she was named the NCAA Division III South Region Coach of the Year and in 1994 she led the Gophers to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

In 1995, Bradley became the assistant coach at Iowa. During her time with the Hawkeyes, the team won two regular-season Big Ten Championships and earned NCAA Tournament berths both seasons. She returned to Maryland after two seasons in the Big Ten to become an assistant at Maryland, where she stayed until taking over the Richmond program after the 2000 season. During her four-year tenure at College Park, the Terrapins won the 1999 national championship, three Atlantic Coast Conference Championships from 1998-2000 and established an 83.7 (77-15) winning percentage.

Playing Days
A native of Drexel Hill, Pa., Bradley earned a degree in physical education and was a four-year field hockey and lacrosse letterwinner at Delaware. She earned a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Northern Illinois in 1991. A goalkeeper for the Fightin’ Blue Hens, she holds school records in career shutouts (26) and career goals-against average (0.91), and ranks second in career saves with 477. Her collegiate accomplishments earned her entrance into the Blue Hen Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.