Ruben Resendes is one of the nation’s rising stars in college soccer, having built one of the best winning percentages in the country with a career head coaching record of 142-18-13 across nine seasons. Said winning percentage ranks third among active coaches among all divisions who have spent at least five seasons as a head coach at a four-year school. Resendes owns a 43-10-9 mark in three years at Bryant University and a 125-16-10 record prior to arriving in Smithfield.
Transforming Bryant into a National Contender (2023–Present)
Since taking over a program coming off a 3-10-1 season in 2022, Resendes has engineered one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent Division I history. In three seasons, he has led Bryant to:
• Three consecutive America East Championship game appearances (2023, 2024, 2025)
• Two NCAA Tournament appearances (2023, 2025)
• Bryant’s first-ever at-large NCAA bid (2025)
• The No. 11 seed and a first-round bye (2025)
• The program’s first NCAA Tournament victory, the third home NCAA Tournament victory in school history (2025, Round of 32)
• Back-to-back-to-back double-digit win seasons for the first time in program history
• Set the program record with 17 wins and 13 consecutive wins. (2025)
• The program’s best three-year stretch ever: 43-10-9
• Bryant’s highest national ranking in school history (No. 2, 2025)
Across the last three seasons, Bryant’s 43 wins are the second-most in the nation among all Division I programs. Bryant’s 19 conference victories also lead the America East during this span. In 2025, the Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16, falling in penalty kicks to Saint Louis after a 2-2 draw.
His teams at Bryant have been defined by elite defensive structure, ranking among the national leaders in shutouts and goals-against average every season, finishing No. 1 nationally in both statistical categories in 2023 and 2024 and the top 10 in 2025.
Franklin Pierce University (2019–2022)
Before arriving at Bryant, Resendes built Franklin Pierce into a Division II powerhouse. His four-year record of 66-5-4 represents the most dominant era in program and D2 history.
Highlights include:
• 2022 NCAA Division II National Champions (25-0-1)
• Tied the highest winning percentage for a national champion in NCAA history
• NE10 Regular Season & Tournament Champions
• National, Regional, and Conference Coaching Staff of the Year
• 2021 Season (20-1-1)
• NE10 Regular Season & Tournament Champions
• NCAA Sweet 16
• 2020 (COVID Spring): 6-0-0, including wins over three Division I opponents (Providence, Albany & URI)
• 2019 (15-4-2)
• NCAA Elite Eight
• Inherited a 7-10-1 team and immediately returned the program to national prominence
• 2020, 2021, 2022 United Soccer Coaches East Region Staff of The Year (3 years in a row)
• 2021 & 2022 northeast 10 conference coach of the year
• 2022 national coaching staff of the year
University of Vermont (2017–2018)
Resendes served as the first assistant coach at the University of Vermont under Rob Dow. During his tenure, Vermont captured the 2017 America East Championship, despite being picked seventh in the preseason poll.
He also served as Director of Coaching & Player Development at Blackwatch Premier during his time in Vermont.
Dean College & New England Revolution Academy (2015 & 2016)
Resendes began his head coaching career at Dean College, where he led the program to an extraordinary 33-3-0 record over two seasons:
• 2015 (16-1-0): Undefeated regular season, Easton Region Coach of the Year
• 2016 (17-2-0): First NCAA Division III season, MASCAC Coach of the Year
During the same period, he worked in the New England Revolution Academy (MLS) as head coach for the U23 and U14 teams, helping develop future professionals and U.S. Youth National Team players.
Playing Career & Early Coaching
A four-year standout at Southern New Hampshire University, Resendes was:
• Four-time All-Conference selection
• Three-time All-Region selection
• All-American as a senior
He played semi-professionally in Iceland’s First Division before beginning his coaching career as an assistant at Emmanuel College (2013) and his alma mater SNHU (2014).
Resendes Soccer Academy
Resendes is the Founder and Director of Resendes Soccer Academy, one of New England’s fastest-growing developmental programs. Established in 2019, the academy has expanded from three camps in its first year to more than fifty programs annually, partnering with over twenty youth soccer organizations across New England.
Personal
Resendes resides in Swansea, Massachusetts, with his wife, Kate, their three daughters—Ainsley, Gabriella, and Callie—and their dog, Charlie.
