Lewis University Athletics

E-mail coach Bruno Bill Bruno is in his fifth year, and fourth full season, as head women's soccer coach at Lewis University. Under Bruno's direction, Lewis women's soccer took another step forward in 2005. The Flyers improved their overall and conference records for a third straight season, finishing 6-12-2 overall and 3-8-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. In addition, sophomore Allison Wilkerson was an honorable-mention choice to the All-GLVC team, making her the first Flyer named to the all-conference squad since 1998. In his first full season as head coach in 2003, Bruno began laying the foundation for turning around the program. He helped make the team far more competitive than it had been, as six of the Flyers' losses were by one or two goals. Lewis had four victories and two ties and scored 20 goals that season following a winless 2002 campaign that saw the team score just six goals. Bruno holds a United States Soccer Federation "B" coaching license and coaches at Eclipse Select in Hinsdale and with the Illinois Olympic Development Program in addition to his duties at Lewis. Bruno prefers to employ a possession-oriented attack. He believes in forcing opponent mistakes by applying consistent pressure all around the field, a tactic that results in greater opportunities. Bruno's recruiting approach is to find versatile players capable of playing one or two positions. He believes adaptable players, and ones who make adjustments easily, are the best fit for his program. Bruno was in his second season as an assistant coach for the Lewis women in 2002 when he was named acting head coach. He was named the team's permanent head coach after the season ended. Bruno is a 2001 Lewis University graduate who played four seasons for the Flyer men's soccer team. A midfielder, Bruno was a member of Flyer teams that compiled a 51-19-8 overall record and a 37-3-4 mark against GLVC opponents. Lewis finished first or tied for first in the GLVC regular-season standings three times during his career and won the conference title in 1996 and 1998. The 1996 Flyers were 16-4 overall, 14-0 against league opponents (including the conference tournament) and ranked No. 11 in the final NCAA Division II national poll. Bruno owns a B.A. degree in history with minors in business studies and marketing. Bruno and his wife, Kristen, were wed in December 2002. The couple's first child, William Bruno III, was born in May 2004. They live in Montgomery, Ill.