All Bradley Bourgeois has done in the city of Tulsa is win. Matches? A bunch. Championships? Yep. USL playoff berths? Those too. The hearts of fans that see him play? Always.
The soccer defender built more like a football linebacker is a unique specimen on the field and a unique personality off it. As effervescent a professional athlete as you’ll find, a smile is never far from Bourgeois’ face. It’s becomes almost permanent when FC Tulsa’s newest signing starts speaking about the city that has become his second home.
“From the moment I stepped foot in Tulsa, there has always been a sense of pride in being from there,” said Bourgeois. “It is not a tourist-y city. It’s not one of those where people come through to see what I call ‘pixie dust.’ Tulsa is about a community that sticks together and is full of kind, friendly and loving people. Just to be in that environment again is going to be awesome.”
All Bradley Bourgeois has done in the city of Tulsa is win. Matches? A bunch. Championships? Yep. USL playoff berths? Those too. The hearts of fans that see him play? Always.
The soccer defender built more like a football linebacker is a unique specimen on the field and a unique personality off it. As effervescent a professional athlete as you’ll find, a smile is never far from Bourgeois’ face. It’s becomes almost permanent when FC Tulsa’s newest signing starts speaking about the city that has become his second home.
“From the moment I stepped foot in Tulsa, there has always been a sense of pride in being from there,” said Bourgeois. “It is not a tourist-y city. It’s not one of those where people come through to see what I call ‘pixie dust.’ Tulsa is about a community that sticks together and is full of kind, friendly and loving people. Just to be in that environment again is going to be awesome.”
His first winning stint in T-Town came as an amateur with the University of Tulsa. Coming to Tulsa from just outside of Houston, Texas, Bourgeois had an immediate impact for a top-25 team in the country, starting every match his freshman season. The Hurricanes went on a historic run, winning the C-USA championship and advancing to the Sweet-16 of the NCAA Tournament.
More of the same followed for Bourgeois as he won two-more conference titles, made two more trips to the NCAA Tournament and in the process was named a two-time First Team All-Conference player. To cap off a stellar career, he was honored as the American Athletic Conference’s Defender of the Year as a senior. He started all 81 matches of his collegiate career – a pillar of durability and leadership.
His first winning stint in T-Town came as an amateur with the University of Tulsa. Coming to Tulsa from just outside of Houston, Texas, Bourgeois had an immediate impact for a top-25 team in the country, starting every match his freshman season. The Hurricanes went on a historic run, winning the C-USA championship and advancing to the Sweet-16 of the NCAA Tournament.
More of the same followed for Bourgeois as he won two-more conference titles, made two more trips to the NCAA Tournament and in the process was named a two-time First Team All-Conference player. To cap off a stellar career, he was honored as the American Athletic Conference’s Defender of the Year as a senior. He started all 81 matches of his collegiate career – a pillar of durability and leadership.
Bourgeois’ breakout professional season came in 2017 in, yep, you guessed it, Tulsa with USL Championship franchise Tulsa Roughnecks FC. The previous year, Tulsa had finished dead last in the 29-team league with a record of 5-21-4.
Enter Bourgeois. The defense instantly tightened, keeping 10 clean sheets, tied for the 5th-most in the West. Tulsa finished 14-14-4 and grabbed a playoff spot for the first, and still only, time in club history. Now an established pro with a playoff run under his belt, Bourgeois entertained offers around the league and chose Nashville SC, an expansion USL Championship bound for Major League Soccer.
Bourgeois’ breakout professional season came in 2017 in, yep, you guessed it, Tulsa with USL Championship franchise Tulsa Roughnecks FC. The previous year, Tulsa had finished dead last in the 29-team league with a record of 5-21-4.
Enter Bourgeois. The defense instantly tightened, keeping 10 clean sheets, tied for the 5th-most in the West. Tulsa finished 14-14-4 and grabbed a playoff spot for the first, and still only, time in club history. Now an established pro with a playoff run under his belt, Bourgeois entertained offers around the league and chose Nashville SC, an expansion USL Championship bound for Major League Soccer.
Two more professional seasons, two more playoff runs, more individual accolades and Bourgeois now returns to FC Tulsa as one of the elite defenders in the USL Championship. He’s already been labeled a “face of the franchise” by some outside the organization. Regardless of if the label fits, Bourgeois knows he does bring a certain mentality cultivated right here in Tulsa.
“I can bring a championship mindset,” said Bourgeois. “Ever since I was in college at Tulsa, I have been playing for championships. We won three out of four in college. Then in 2017 with the Roughnecks, I felt like in one year, we turned it around and made the playoffs. What I am going to bring to this team, and this city, is a mindset of winning. Everything that we do, from the time we set foot in that door from the practice facility to gameday, will have a winning mentality.”
Two more professional seasons, two more playoff runs, more individual accolades and Bourgeois now returns to FC Tulsa as one of the elite defenders in the USL Championship. He’s already been labeled a “face of the franchise” by some outside the organization. Regardless of if the label fits, Bourgeois knows he does bring a certain mentality cultivated right here in Tulsa.
“I can bring a championship mindset,” said Bourgeois. “Ever since I was in college at Tulsa, I have been playing for championships. We won three out of four in college. Then in 2017 with the Roughnecks, I felt like in one year, we turned it around and made the playoffs. What I am going to bring to this team, and this city, is a mindset of winning. Everything that we do, from the time we set foot in that door from the practice facility to gameday, will have a winning mentality.”
Bourgeois is entering a new phase of his career, just as FC Tulsa embarks on a new era for the club. While Bourgeois has always been a vocal presence in any locker room he has entered, he’ll now be looked to as a leader, one who has made the USL Championship Playoffs in three consecutive seasons and has experienced many more highs than lows in his career.
One of the main reasons that Bourgeois returned is to put FC Tulsa and the city back on the soccer map. And not just as a one-hit wonder, like 2017, but as a consistent soccer power, similar to how the Roughnecks ruled the now-defunct NASL in the late 1970s and early ‘80s.
“I feel like I strive to be someone that teammates can look at for guidance and I feel like its time in my career to step up and take more responsibility for myself and those around me,” said Bourgeois. “I feel a special responsibility coming back to Tulsa, to not only to lead the guys next to me and this team, but this city. We want to put Tulsa on the map. Not just make the playoffs one year, but consistently build an organization that lets everyone know that Tulsa is the place to be, and we are here to stay.”
It’ll take more than just one player to reverse a troubling last two seasons for the club. In 2018, Tulsa was back to the bottom of the Championship, finishing with three wins in 34 matches. Last season showed improvement as the club nearly tripled its win total with eight wins, but still finished 12 points out of a playoff spot.
Bourgeois is entering a new phase of his career, just as FC Tulsa embarks on a new era for the club. While Bourgeois has always been a vocal presence in any locker room he has entered, he’ll now be looked to as a leader, one who has made the USL Championship Playoffs in three consecutive seasons and has experienced many more highs than lows in his career.
One of the main reasons that Bourgeois returned is to put FC Tulsa and the city back on the soccer map. And not just as a one-hit wonder, like 2017, but as a consistent soccer power, similar to how the Roughnecks ruled the now-defunct NASL in the late 1970s and early ‘80s.
“I feel like I strive to be someone that teammates can look at for guidance and I feel like its time in my career to step up and take more responsibility for myself and those around me,” said Bourgeois. “I feel a special responsibility coming back to Tulsa, to not only to lead the guys next to me and this team, but this city. We want to put Tulsa on the map. Not just make the playoffs one year, but consistently build an organization that lets everyone know that Tulsa is the place to be, and we are here to stay.”
It’ll take more than just one player to reverse a troubling last two seasons for the club. In 2018, Tulsa was back to the bottom of the Championship, finishing with three wins in 34 matches. Last season showed improvement as the club nearly tripled its win total with eight wins, but still finished 12 points out of a playoff spot.
With a significant increase to investment ushered in by the Craft brothers’ ownership and a revamped front office led by newly hired president James Cannon, not to mention a new brand and name, changes have been sweeping as a new decade approaches for FC Tulsa. It has equated to an increased player budget and several prominent signings and re-signings.
For a team that has struggled to keep its best talent, Tulsa has brought back Brazilian forward Marlon on a multiyear contract after he scored five goals with three assists in just nine matches in 2019. Other impact players such as Cristhian Altamirano, Cyprian Hedrick, Sean Lewis and others have returned as well, and FC Tulsa remains in discussions with other players from the 2019 roster.
Added into the mix are former Cuban National Team players Ariel Martínez and Darío Suárez, former MLS midfielder Eric Bird and of course Bourgeois, who won’t be the last significant addition by FC Tulsa this offseason. Looking at the roster, it’s not a stretch to think this is already the most talent that Tulsa has had in its USL Championship history.
“Let’s just say, from the time we step foot into the training facility together, there will be a sense of, ‘We are here. We are ready. Let’s show why we are here,’” said Bourgeois. “Some people in this league might see us as underdogs, but with the experience we have and the signings we have made, I think everyone in the city of Tulsa should be very excited about what’s to come.”
The outspoken Bourgeois, never one to shy away from a comment, had one more to share with the rest of the league.
“We are coming.”
With a significant increase to investment ushered in by the Craft brothers’ ownership and a revamped front office led by newly hired president James Cannon, not to mention a new brand and name, changes have been sweeping as a new decade approaches for FC Tulsa. It has equated to an increased player budget and several prominent signings and re-signings.
For a team that has struggled to keep its best talent, Tulsa has brought back Brazilian forward Marlon on a multiyear contract after he scored five goals with three assists in just nine matches in 2019. Other impact players such as Cristhian Altamirano, Cyprian Hedrick, Sean Lewis and others have returned as well, and FC Tulsa remains in discussions with other players from the 2019 roster.
Added into the mix are former Cuban National Team players Ariel Martínez and Darío Suárez, former MLS midfielder Eric Bird and of course Bourgeois, who won’t be the last significant addition by FC Tulsa this offseason. Looking at the roster, it’s not a stretch to think this is already the most talent that Tulsa has had in its USL Championship history.
“Let’s just say, from the time we step foot into the training facility together, there will be a sense of, ‘We are here. We are ready. Let’s show why we are here,’” said Bourgeois. “Some people in this league might see us as underdogs, but with the experience we have and the signings we have made, I think everyone in the city of Tulsa should be very excited about what’s to come.”
The outspoken Bourgeois, never one to shy away from a comment, had one more to share with the rest of the league.
“We are coming.”
