Supporting Soccer at the Highest Level: A World Cup Q&A with Travis Thomas

Travis Thomas (C’95) is the founder of “Live Yes, And”; author of 3 Words for Getting Unstuck: Live Yes, And!; and a Leadership and Team Development Specialist for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team.

Q: Your journey with the U.S. Men’s National Team started in 2020—tell us about your position.

A:         My title is Leadership and Team Dynamics Coach. I'm the person who is always thinking about the team culture and staying consistent to our culture—that could be everything from doing a team event, to mindset sessions as a team and one-on-one with players, to creating motivational videos.

Q: What was it like to work with the Men’s National Team and go to the World Cup?

A:         It's been amazing. I played soccer at Principia College for four years and I was an assistant coach for the College in 2008, which was some of the most fun I've ever had. I've also coached at the Upper School.

I’ve had to pinch myself, because this is the ultimate childhood dream—to be on the national team, to go to a World Cup, to be standing on the field, warming the players up before the game and hugging or consoling them afterward.

There were plenty of moments where I’d look up, take a deep breath, and express gratitude for the opportunity. To get to do this … it's been really special.

Q: How do you feel the team performed?

A:         I thought the team performed fantastically. None of us wanted it to end, but the fact that we got into the knockout round and played a high-level brand of soccer was really satisfying.

And to see how the guys carried themselves–there is a real sense of humility and grace, but also a humble confidence. I felt like the players represented the best of what America aspires to be. They were confident without being arrogant, strong without being bullies.

And there was real grace and compassion in the way they carried themselves, especially after the Iran game. There was so much tension between our two countries going into that game, and to see our players consoling Iranian players after the game, and to have a real sense of compassion for them, that made me even prouder than how they played on the field.

Q: Are there any other highlights from the last three years of working with the team that you want to mention?

A:         I think the relationships with the players. Only 26 guys made the world cup roster, but over the three years I've been with the team, I've probably worked with 50–60 players. I've been able to create meaningful relationships with so many of these young men and see what beautiful people they are.

There can be so much arrogance and ego in this kind of profession. Almost all the guys I worked with, I thought there was just a great sense of “these are good people,” and it's been really, really rewarding to work with these guys.

Q: Is there anything else you want to add about your World Cup experience?

A:         For anyone who is reading this… this whole thing started for me because I decided to write and self-publish a book and send it to the head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team—who didn't ask for it, never knowing what could come of it.

Writing a book is a labor of love with no guaranteed success and sending it to people cold rarely—if ever—turns into anything. And so, I look back and tell people, “If there's a book that you want to write, write it. You never know what's going to happen.” My journey has been good evidence of that.