Omaha Burke Bulldogs

Head Coach: Nick Bratt

Biography:

          Nick Bratt is in his fifteenth year as head coach of the Omaha Burke High School Boys Soccer Program. In his first fourteen years at the helm, Bratt has posted a 131-110 record with 7 District Runner-Ups (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021) and 1 District Championship (2009). In the 2009 season, Bratt lead his Bulldogs to the Final Four in the State Tournament. His best season in terms of wins and losses came in 2013 when his team posted a 14-3 record. His 131 wins places him second all-time behind the great Roland Monroe (144) in terms of number of victories in program history and his fifteenth campaign places him as the longest tenured coach in the programs rich history.

         Nick was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska and started his passion for soccer in the local YMCA in 1985. In 1990 Nick joined the Capital Soccer Association in Lincoln where he started playing on the select team that corresponded with his age group. He played with CSA throughout his youth soccer career, which ended in 1997. Nick was also a member of the Nebraska Olympic Development Program from 1991-1995.

         Nick played high school soccer for Lincoln East High School (Lincoln, NE) from 1994-1997 where he was a goalkeeper with the, then, two-time state champion Spartans. Aside from winning back-to-back state titles in 1996 and 1997, Nick was selected to the Heartland Conference's All-Conference Team both years. In addition, he was an All-State selection during his senior season in 1997 and unanimously selected as the All-City "Honorary Captain." Nick capped off his high school soccer career in Nebraska by being invited and playing in the 4th annual Shrine Soccer Classic that same year.

          After graduating from high school, Nick went on to play at Drake University (Des Moines, IA) where he earned a starting role in his freshman year. In addition to becoming a starter in his freshman year, he earned a spot on the 1997 Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament team. Nick was later named as one of Drake's four captains in 2000 and 2001. He still remains on a number of Drake's soccer records lists. Along with playing for Drake from 1997-2001, he also played with the Lincoln Brigade, Des Moines Menace, Rockford Raptors, and Wichita Jets (all of the Premier Development League) during each summer.

          After playing at Drake, Nick was selected from the Infosport Pro Soccer Combine to play with the 3rd division professional soccer team New Hampshire Phantoms. New Hampshire is a feeder team for the New England Revolution of the MLS. While playing for the Phantoms, he received "Team of the Week" honors in the final week of his rookie year.

          Nick decided to call it a playing career in the fall of 2002 and concentrate on the coaching and development of youth players in his community. He moved back to Lincoln (NE) and started coaching the goalkeepers for Capital Soccer Association as well as a 14-year old girls team named CSA Intensity. In his first year as their head coach, he guided them to a State Cup title and a trip to the Region II tournament. After reaching the Region II tournament, CSA Intensity came within 1 point of advancing to the region semi-finals; which would have been one of the first times a Nebraska team accomplished that feat. Nick coached several youth teams after the Intensity and has coached in several different camps across the country with some of the nation's top coaches. Nick has also developed a hand full of current collegiate soccer players.

          In 2006, Nick was named the head coach of the Monroe Middle School (Omaha, NE) soccer team. At Monroe, he faced some of his most difficult challenges in that many of his players had never even seen a soccer field in their life. However, despite the challenge, he was able to coach the Mustangs into their first appearance in the Omaha Public Middle School City Championships in 2006 and again in 2007.

        In the spring of 2007, Nick was named the head coach of the Omaha Burke High School boys soccer program.

Tournament and Playoff Accomplishments