MACON, Ga. – A former Bradley Brave who played or coached with head men’s soccer coach
Brad Ruzzo for the better part of six years, Mike Haynes will patrol the sidelines at Bear Field with Ruzzo as an assistant coach for the Bears in 2010.
A native of Dunlap, Ill., Haynes played for Ruzzo at Bradley from 2003-07, serving as the Braves’ starting goalkeeper in 2006 and 2007. Haynes’ primary focus at Mercer will be with the goalkeepers as well.
"I am extremely excited that Mike decided to join our staff and help our program achieve its goals,” Ruzzo said. “I have known Mike over the last six years and not only will he be a great addition to our soccer program, but his integrity, loyalty, and work ethic will set a great example for our student-athletes.”
Haynes left Bradley as the career-leader in goals against average (1.00), third in career shutouts (14.5) and fifth in career minutes played (4,232). Haynes posted a 24-14-8 career record between the pipes, good for the fourth-highest winning percentage in program history (.609). Sixteen of his career wins came in Bradley’s run to the NCAA Elite 8 in 2007, as he went 16-6-4.
In the record-breaking season of 2007, Haynes posted 8.5 shutouts while sporting a 0.96 goals against average in earning Second-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors as a senior. Haynes also garnered all-tournament honors in 2006 and 2007 in addition to an Honorable Mention All-MVC tab in 2006.
“Mike has tremendous experiences as the former goalkeeper with Bradley,” Ruzzo said. “I look forward to him working with our young goalkeepers in the fall."
In the summer of 2006 Haynes played for the Ogden Outlaws of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League in Ogden, Utah. The summer before Bradley’s prolific run in the NCAA Championship, Haynes went back to the USL Premier Development League, suiting up for the Sioux Falls Spitfire in Sioux Falls, S.D. during its 2007 campaign.
Haynes graduated from Bradley in December of 2007 with a major in business risk management and insurance and a minor in marketing. Prior to his arrival at Mercer, Haynes resided in Florida where he was employed by State Farm Insurance.