New Men’s Soccer Coach Looks to Bring Stability, Results to Program

Written by: Max Green

Photo by: Max Green

“Coming here was like coming home,” said Temple’s new men’s soccer coach Bryan Green, who was introduced to the Temple faithful at The Liacouras Center Tuesday morning.

“I respect the fact that change is not easy,” Athletic Director Arthur Johnson said about his student-athletes to open the conference. “I appreciate you staying committed to us and to Temple. And I’m looking forward to seeing you work with your new coaches.”

Once Johnson kicked off the festivities, it was time for Green, with his radiant energy and smile on his face, to take the podium for the first time as Temple men’s soccer head coach.

Green mentioned he had several conversations with his wife throughout his decision-making process.

“My biggest thing going here as I was considering was can I be successful here,” Green said. “The answer is yes!”

Green brings such confidence coming over from a Louisville soccer program that ranked in-and-around the top 10 teams in the nation for much of the 2022 season. He is now taking over a Temple team that struggled, finishing with a 4-9-3 record.

“My first goal is to instill the mentality that I want,” Green said.

Green knows about instilling a proper pro-like mentality, having 6 players in his time at Louisville named to all-ACC honors and 4 players drafted to MLS teams. 

Now Green’s goal is to put these Temple players in his system that has allowed for a lot of young athletes’ success.

“I’m going to play a formation that focuses on our players’ strengths as much as possible,” Green said. “I prefer to play a 4-3-3, and I think we’ll play some version of that. But we have a lot of players who fit in (to that system).”

Green has already made an impression on his new team and the athletic board with consistency in his goals and ability to establish strong connections in a quick time.

“One of the things I feel really good about is that a lot of what he talked about is the same answers he gave during his interview,” Johnson said. “Knowing what he believes in, knowing when he talks about that joy, the courage, the teamwork, and hard work, that’s consistency.”

Green also values the connections he’s formed already with his new team, laying a solid foundation for, what he hopes will be, a successful season. 

“With all of them (his players), I had at least a 20-minute conversation,” said Green, “Some of them (his players) I had a 40 or 50-minute conversation with.”

Green will get his first chance to show his brand of soccer in several exhibition matches later this spring. Shortly thereafter, Temple men’s soccer will begin their journey towards something they haven’t had in almost 40 years: postseason soccer.