2024 Men's Soccer Assistant Coaches

Men's Soccer Kyle Jones

2024 Webster University Men’s Soccer Assistant Coaches

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Webster University men's soccer program led by Head Coach Nenad Curic is excited to welcome three new assistant coaches while bringing back Ignacio "Nacho" Novas for the 2024 season.  

Ignacio "Nacho" Novas enters his second season as an Assistant Men's Soccer Coach for the 2024 season. Nacho comes to Webster University with vast coaching experience with previous coaching stops at St. Patrick's High School (Uruguay), Christian Brothers College High School (Mo.), Ursuline Academy (Mo.), Webster Groves High School (Mo.), and Lindenwood University (Mo.). In addition, he has served as the JB Marine Boy's Director, the Head Coach of the Olympic Development Program, and as the Co-President of CarShield Futbol Club.

The Uruguay native played four years of college soccer at Lindenwood University. As a player, Nacho was a three-time all-conference honoree, a two-time all-region selection, and a four-time all-american including two times being named to the first team. He helped guide his team to the 2004 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship and was named the 2004 NAIA Men's Soccer National Player of the Year. For his efforts on the field, he was inducted into the Lindenwood University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.

Sam Gomez enters his first season as an Assistant Soccer Coach, primarily working with the goalkeepers. Gomez, who is currently a goalkeeper on St. Louis City 2 soccer roster, comes to Webster with seven years of coaching experience as a goalkeeper trainer where he has given private lessons to high school and collegiate level goalkeepers. 

In a previous role at the Special Needs Soccer Organization in St. Louis, Gomez worked in one-on-one and group settings providing assistance on techniques to special needs children of all ages. Coach Gomez started his collegiate soccer career at Syracuse University and was named to the Atlantic Coastal Conference (ACC) Academic Honor Roll team. Following the 2019 season, Gomez transferred to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to play for the Cougars. 

During the 2022 season, Gomez earned eight starts and tied for fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 1.38 goals against average. In addition, Gomez earned his first career shutout at Bradley (10/29/22) and finished with 20 saves. In his final collegiate season in 2023, Gomez was selected to the Third-Team All-North Region and was named the Ohio Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Year after leading the OVC in goals against average (0.61) which ranked sixth in the NCAA, save percentage (.844) which also ranked sixth nationally, and finished third on the all-time single-season list with 10 shutouts, which led the OVC and ranked fifth in the NCAA. Gomez was named OVC Goalkeeper of the Week six times, started all 20 games in goal, and played 1,766:44 in goal, which ranked 16th in the NCAA.

Gomez graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance while earning a 3.91 grade point average and was named to the SIUE School of Business Dean's List in 2020. 

Alen Bradaric enters his first season as an Assistant Coach under Head Coach Nenad Curic. Bradaric comes to Webster with 18 years of soccer experience that includes training youth, high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Prior to Webster, Bradaric was an Assistant Coach at Jefferson College for five seasons (2019-2024) where he assisted all aspects of both the men's and women's programs. While at JC, Bradaric and other staff members were named MCCAC Coaching Staff of the Year while earning a conference championship title.

Before JC, Coach Bradaric was an Assistant Coach at two clubs in the country of Australia (Broadbeach United SC and Tweed United SC) where he trained athletes on team tactics, built a preseason conditioning program, and implemented individual preparation. In a previous role at Lou Fusz Soccer Club as an Assistant Coach from 2006-2014, Bradaric managed and develop youth athletes of all ages in all aspects of the game.   

The Bosnia native was a standout on the Lindenwood University (NAIA) soccer program during the 2006-11 seasons under Nenad Curic (Assistant at that time). While at LU, Bradaric was a two-year captain that earned a HAAC Conference championship title while qualifying for Nationals. After Lindenwood, Coach Bradaric played professional soccer in Australia for three different teams (Broadbeach United, Gold Coast Knights, and Palm Beach Sharks), played in Germany (TSV Aubstadt), and the United States (FC Bordo and St. Louis Lions) 

Joe Clarke enters his first as an Assistant Soccer Coach for the 2024 season. Clarke, a St. Louis soccer icon, comes to Webster with over 40 years of coaching experience. During his 41-year career as a head coach (SLU and WashU), Clarke has recorded 40 winning seasons and a career winning percentage of 67 percent.   

Clarke, who started his head coaching career at Saint Louis University (Div. I) in 1983 and coached the Billikens until the 1996 season. During that span, Clarke coached 12 NCAA Tournament appearance teams and recorded an overall record of 205-75-29.

In the 1997 season, Clarke accepted the head coaching job at WashU and coached the Bears until the 2023 season. While at WashU, Clarke recorded an overall record of 275-141-55 for a career winning percentage of 64 percent. In addition, he coached 55 United Soccer Coaches All-Region players, six United Soccer Coaches All-Americans, made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, and was named UAA Coach of the Year in 2011. 
 
Print Friendly Version