BELLEVUE, Neb. - The Bellevue University men's soccer team, under the direction of 2014 MCAC Coach of the Year Matt Briggs, has announced the signing of Josh Bush (Omaha, Neb./Westside HS) to a letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic careers at Bellevue beginning in the fall of 2015.
The son of Aaron and Kate, Bush was coached by John Brian at Westside High School where he twice led the team to state runner-up finishes. Bush, a defensive midfielder, has scored a goal and added 17 assists in his high school career. While at Bellevue, Bush plans to major in health and human performance.
Bush played club soccer for current Bruins head coach Matt Briggs for team 402 Evolution. He has been with the club for five seasons, serving as a team captain in each season, scoring 10 goals and assisting on 27 others.
Coach Briggs is excited about signing yet another quality player at Bellevue, saying, "Josh Bush is a fantastic signing for us, a top local player who can play as a full back or across the middle either as a holding midfielder picking the ball up off the back four, or a slightly more advanced position linking up with our front man. 'Bushy' has wonderful technique and a wand of a right foot; he possesses great energy levels and a serious love for the game that is contagious. He will push our current group of players for playing time immediately."
Continuing their emphasis on signing local talent, Bush is the sixth 2015 Bellevue signee from Nebraska and the fifth to have played club soccer for 402 Evolution.
Briggs goes on to state, "I have been lucky enough to work with Josh for four years or more in club soccer and have seen him develop not only as a player but also a young man and leader, where he captained our side. He brings a great amount of quality on and off the pitch."
Bush joins earlier signees Neftali Mejia (Lexington, Neb/Schuyler Central HS), Jonas Starkus (Omaha, Neb./Bellevue West HS), Austin Obermeyer (Gretna, Neb./Gretna HS), Matthew Robbins (Omaha, Neb./Omaha Burke HS), and Jacob Krug (Plattsmouth, Neb./Plattsmouth HS) in the 2015 recruiting class.
Bellevue posted a 15-3-2 record this past season and finished the year ranked No. 11 in the postseason NAIA Coaches' Poll. The Bruins won both the MCAC Regular Season and Tournament championships this past season on their way to their winningest season since 2006 (15-6-0). They defeated Hastings College in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round and advanced to the final site for the first time since 2009 and just the second time in school history.
