Lessons from RU Come in Handy as Soccer Alumnus Takes the Helm of U15 National Team

There is a lot of buzz around soccer in the United States with the recent news that North America will host the 2026 World Cup, and for Tom Heinemann, ’09, even moreso.

He’s not just a lifelong soccer fan (who played for the Hawks during his time here), he’s also starting a new job at this moment in the sun for the sport he loves — in February he was named head coach of the of the U-15 Boys’ National Team, where he will be guiding the next generation of U.S. National Team stars. It’s a new challenge, but one Heinemann said he is very excited about.

“Any time there is an opportunity to work with young players, I consider it a unique opportunity to impact the next generation,” he said. “This age group is a unique age group as players are often in the midst of development from a growth maturity standpoint, and so much can change in three months, six months, 12 months. It’s an important time in life to support these young players as soccer players, but more importantly, to support them as people.”

Going from player to coach has been a long journey for Heinemann. Following his graduation in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration degree, Heinemann played for the Charleston Battery, a team in the USL Championship, before playing for a pair of Major League Soccer League teams, the Columbus Crew and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and several other teams in the NASL, the USL Championship and the USL. He also helped establish the United Soccer League Players’ Association in 2018, helping lead negotiations for the first collective bargaining agreement in U.S. lower division soccer history. Heinemann said he had thought about coaching since he was young. His time at Rockhurst, he said, provided great experience on the field as well as a great example on the sidelines.

“I learned so many things from Coach (Tony) Tocco, but one core thing I left Rockhurst with was a reinforced drive to not feel sorry for myself when faced with adversity,” he said. “There will be adverse things that happen in games, in training sessions, and most importantly in life, and Coach Tocco’s drive to keep going and his resiliency really marked me and sticks with me to this day. His career speaks for itself and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to play for him, and learn from him.”

Heinemann has served as assistant coach at Yale University, at the University of British Columbia, and most recently at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he helped lead the squad to its most wins in program history. All of that experience has led to this opportunity to shape the future of U.S. soccer, as so many here are looking to 2026.

“It is a very exciting time for soccer in this country. It is my belief that in America there has never been more opportunities for aspiring soccer players than there is right now,” he said. “Over the past several years, we have experienced tremendous growth and development in youth club investment, player pathways, grassroots soccer, and professional club expansion for both women and men. It’s encouraging to see, to be a part of, and I look forward to continuing to help grow the game however I can.”