Familiar Face

BRADEN RIVER — Braden Chandler saw the Braden River boys soccer team score its first goal.
He coached the Pirates to their first victory and eventually their first winning season.

Now the Braden Woods resident, who coached the Pirates from 2005 to 2009, is returning to Braden River in hopes of seeing the Pirates capture their first district championship.

Chandler was named the Pirates’ new head coach Sept. 26, replacing former coach Janjay Gehndyu, who stepped down at the end of last season.

“Braden River was much different back then,” Chandler says. “That first season we had four or five guys who had never played soccer before. The highlight of that season was scoring a goal.”

Chandler grew up playing forward and midfielder for the Braden River Soccer Club. He spent three years playing at Lakewood Ranch High before landing a job as an assistant equipment manager with the U.S. Under-17 Men’s national soccer team, which trained at IMG Academy.

That eventually led to a yearlong job as the head equipment manager for Real Salt Lake, a Major League Soccer team.

“I started playing at 4 years old and stuck with it,” Chandler says. “It was the only sport I wanted to play. It’s the sport I love.”

Chandler returned to his hometown in 2005 and landed his first coaching job at Braden River. He remained at the helm until 2009 when his son, Landen, was born.

“Schedule-wise I didn’t think I could do it anymore,” Chandler says. “Things get a lot easier after the first year, and I knew eventually I wanted to get back into (coaching).”

With his son, now 5, and his daughter, Lillian, 3, a little more self-sufficient, Chandler, who is expecting another girl with his wife, Amanda, in February, decided to pursue the opportunity to return to coaching when it presented itself.

After reaching out to former Athletic Director Bob Bowling about his interest,” new Athletic Director Matt Nesser spoke with Chandler about the position. A few weeks later, Chandler was offered the job.

“I was (fortunate) to be surrounded by the best coaches and players in the country for so many years,” Chandler says. “I learned a lot from them and always wanted to stay involved in the game.”

Chandler held his first soccer meeting Sept. 25; nearly 60 players attended. The team will hold tryouts beginning Oct. 13 before preparing for its first game in November.

“It’s a big difference compared to what it was,” Chandler says. “I’m just looking forward to dealing with the kids. I enjoy being a positive influence on them. They are fun at that age.”

Although Chandler doesn’t know any of the players trying out for this year’s team, he’s looking forward to getting to know them in the coming weeks and hopefully putting together a district championship-caliber roster.

“We should be a good team and be pretty competitive,” Chandler says. “Our goal is to win the district, and if we train hard and practice well and do what we’re supposed to do, then I believe it’s a realistic goal.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].