Growing up in Chester, N.J., Jared Stroud ’19 watched engrossed as soccer star Wayne Rooney worked his way to becoming the record goal scorer for Manchester United. Years later, Stroud found himself starstruck when the now-DC United player lazed just feet away after a game at Red Bull Arena, where Stroud plays for the New York Red Bulls.
“He’s a role model of mine,” Stroud says.
It turns out, he was a good one. Now a leading player himself, Stroud was picked by the team in the Major League Soccer Superdraft in 2018. The midfielder became the all-time leader in assists for the New York Red Bulls II in June.
Kick the ball around with Stroud:
His soccer start:
“My dad came over from England to play at the University of Bridgeport, so the passion stems from there. Soccer is the biggest sport in England. From a young age, they put a soccer ball in front of me, and I grew up watching it with my dad and mom.”
Choosing Colgate:
“In high school, I wanted a program where I knew I was going to be an impact player and where I was going to be valued. [Colgate] Coach [Erik] Ronning made that possible. The academics were the most important as well. [Majoring in] political science taught me so much about world relations, political leaders, and what’s going on in our country. It made me more aware.”
Colgate connections:
“When [former Red Bulls midfielder] Ethan [Kutler ’18] and I went to LA to play the Galaxy, we met up with Rob Stone ’91 [a Fox Sports commentator and former Colgate soccer player]. We went to his house and to the beach with him; he introduced us to some of his coworkers. He told us to play soccer until it doesn’t work out and to follow our dreams. He talked about his first years out of college, working hard as a [new] commentator. Now, he’s covering the World Cups.”
Playing for the Red Bulls:
“[When I found out I was chosen by the Red Bulls], I was in the shower, and my phone started going off. I looked at it, and the first thing that came up was a tweet from the Red Bulls [saying they’d picked me to join the team]. My mom and dad were screaming, and I was really happy.
It’s been amazing. Being from the area adds a lot for me. I always looked at the stadium in awe. I used to go to the games as a kid and envy the players. Now I’m playing with guys whom I always supported.”
On whether soccer will become as big as in the United Kingdom:
“A lot of people play youth soccer, but a lot of Americans turn away from it because they look at other sports like MLB. I think if people could turn those early years playing into a passion, MLS could get a good following; it could be as big as the NFL. It just depends on how it takes off and how people in the U.S. grab the game — there are so many things that go into it.”
On the U.S. Women’s National Team winning the World Cup:
It’s great to see the women doing so well. The women’s team has taken off, and they just keep getting better and better every year.