Bryce Cooper has been named assistant director of Darlington School Soccer Academy, effective immediately. He brings more than 15 years of collegiate, academy, and elite club coaching experience to the role, along with a proven record of program building, player development, and leadership.
“Bryce’s depth of experience at the collegiate and academy levels, combined with his passion for holistic player development, makes him an outstanding addition to our program,” said Chad Liddle, director of Darlington School Soccer Academy. “His commitment to excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community aligns perfectly with the mission of the Darlington School Soccer Academy.”
Most recently, Cooper served as head coach of men’s soccer at Newberry College, where he led a comprehensive transformation of the program over five-and-a-half seasons. Under his leadership, the Wolves set a program record for wins in a season, tied the school’s mark for conference points, broke the single-season shutout record, and earned multiple South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Tournament appearances. He recruited some of the strongest classes in program history, producing six All-SAC selections, including the conference Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year. Beyond competitive success, Cooper’s teams excelled in the classroom and community. Newberry achieved the highest team GPA in program history (3.41) and earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for seven consecutive years.
In addition to his collegiate head coaching experience, Cooper has coached at multiple NCAA Division I programs, including Duquesne University, Saint Francis University, and Butler University. While at Butler, he helped guide the Bulldogs to two Horizon League Tournament Championships, two regular-season conference titles, an undefeated regular season, and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. Across his Division I stops, he contributed to championship runs, conference tournament appearances, MLS draft selections, and all-conference honors.
At the club and academy level, Cooper has been deeply involved with South Carolina United FC since 2017, serving as head coach for ECNL and USL Academy teams and assisting with the USL2 Bantams. His experience includes player evaluation, scouting, curriculum development, and helping guide players along collegiate and professional pathways.
A former collegiate player at the University of Southern Indiana, Cooper holds a USSF “B” License, the United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma, Director of Coaching Diploma, and Match Analysis Level I Certification. He is also CPR, AED, SafeSport, and concussion certified.
In addition to his coaching career, Cooper served 10 years in the Indiana Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves, earning the Bronze Star for valor and leadership during his deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His military service reflects the leadership, discipline, and commitment that have become hallmarks of his coaching philosophy.
As assistant director, Cooper will help oversee player development, recruitment, curriculum implementation, and the continued growth of Darlington’s nationally recognized Soccer Academy.
“Bryce was already familiar with our program through recruiting several Darlington School Soccer Academy players to his college teams, and during his visit he and his family quickly saw just how special our academy and community truly are," said Liddle. "He led a training session with our players, and the response was overwhelmingly positive—our student-athletes were unanimous in their enthusiasm about him joining our soccer family. Bryce brings a wealth of experience from a variety of collegiate programs, including some outside our traditional network, which will further expand opportunities for our players pursuing college placement. We are so excited to welcome Bryce, his wife, and their two daughters to the Darlington family!”
Click here for more information about the Darlington School Soccer Academy.
