Gareth Elliott Soccer Academy
Coaching Staff
Tony Bassett joined Gareth Elliott's staff in February of 2014 and helped lead the Rams to the Atlantic 10 regular season title during his first season in Kingston. In the summer of 2015, he earned his NSCAA Premier Coaching Diploma.
Prior to joinging the Rhode Island staff, Bassett spent two seasons as an assistant with the University of New Hampshire men's soccer program.
In his final season at UNH (2013), the Wildcats finished 12-5-1 and advanced to the semifinals of the America East Tournament, but eventually fell to Hartford in penalty kicks. It marked the second year in a row that New Hampshire was eliminated from the conference championship on PK's as the 2012 Wildcats advanced to the AE title game, only to lose to UMBC in a shootout.
While at UNH, Bassett helped mentor four NSCAA All-Northeast Region Team players, six America East All-Conference selections, four All-Rookie players and three All-Academic picks in addition to the 2013 America East Goalkeeper of the Year.
Bassett also worked with Seacoast United (Hampton, N.H.) both on the boys and girls sides. In 2012-13, he was heavily involved with the Junior Academy, as well as the U18 U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy team. In 2013-14, he was the head coach of the U16 Boys Premier team, as well as a U10 Girls Junior Academy group.
No stranger to the Atlantic 10 Conference, Bassett also spent three seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts. There, his responsibilities included organizing training sessions, scouting opponents, recruiting nationally and internationally, video editing, alumni relations, organizing and running youth camps and goalkeeper training.
During his tenure at UMass, Bassett coached three All-New England players, nine Atlantic 10 All-Conference selections and five Academic All-Conference student-athletes.
Bassett also has vast experience in coaching at both club and Olympic Development Program (ODP) levels. Working with Western United's Youth Developmental Academy right after graduation, Bassett moved on to FC Massachusetts in 2011-12 where he worked with the U-10, U-13, U-14 and U-15 New England Premier League boys teams.
In June of 2011, he received his Advanced National Diploma from NSCAA, a year after receiving his U.S. Soccer National "C" License. In March of 2012 Bassett attended the Ajax Futbol Club Coaches Symposium in Amsterdam, and earned his Ajax Youth Academy Coaching Certification. One year later, he received his U.S. Soccer Federation "B" Coaching License in Rome, Ga.
A four-year member of the UMass men's soccer team, Bassett saw action in 61 games for the Minutemen - as both a central midfielder and a left back - from 2005-08.
In 2006, the Minutemen were ranked as high as 22nd nationally. The following season, they captured the Atlantic 10 Championship and made a historic run to the College Cup in Cary, N.C. Massachusetts finished the 2007 campaign ranked fourth in the country.
Despite battling injuries during his senior season (2008), Bassett moved to the left back position and helped lead UMass to the program's first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Frank Bergren
Assistant Coach
Frank Bergren
Frank Bergren, an assistant coach with the Rams, is longest tenured member of the Rams' staff, entering his 18th season in 2016-17. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education in 1975 and completed his Master's of Science degree from URI in 1981.
A native of Westerly, R.I., Bergren was the varsity boy's soccer coach at North Kingstown High School from 1995-1998. He joined the Rams' staff under former URI boss Ed Bradley in 1999 and has been a part of the program ever since. In addition to his work with Rhody men's soccer, he also serves as the department head for Physical Education and Health at Westerly High School where he has worked for 29 years.
Coach Bergren's responsibilities include coordinating pre-game warm-up as well as overseeing post-game recovery of the players. In cooperation with strength and conditioning Coach Doug Stone, he also assists in designing and implementation of the year-round fitness program for the student-athletes. He also coordinates video taping and post-game editing of matches for team review in addition to working with players who may not be a part of the traveling party.
Bergren holds an Advanced National Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and is a United States Soccer Federation licensed coach. He has been a staff coach for the Rhode Island boy's Olympic Development Program and is a former assistant director of the Connecticut Soccer School.
Bergren resides in North Kingstown, R.I. in the village of Wickford, with his wife Wendy, son Skip and daughters Molly, a 2006 URI graduate and former URI women's soccer defender, and Emily who is a member of the Rhode Island class of 2008.
Kyle Froberg
Assistant Coach
Kyle Froberg joined Gareth Elliott’s coach staff in February of 2016, beginning his second stint as an assistant with the Rams.
Froberg – who will work with the team’s goalkeepers – also served as an assistant on Ed Bradley’s staff for five seasons from 1998-2002. Additionally, he played for the Rams from 1992-96 and was Rhode Island's Freshman Athlete of the Year in 1992.
After sitting out a redshirt season with an injury, he came back to help Rhode Island reach back-to-back NCAA tournaments in 1995 and 1996. The ’96 team won both the Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament titles.
Following his first coaching stint at URI, Froberg coached the boys team at North Kingstown High School. Serving as head coach from 2006 through 2015, Froberg led the Skippers to Division I state titles in 2007 and 2014, and was the state’s Coach of the Year three times (2006, 2007, 2013). He coached two-time All-American and Gatorade Player of the Year Brett Uttley, who played at Quinnipiac before ending his collegiate career as a graduate student at Rhode Island.
Froberg is heavily involved in the RAMS FC program, serving as the goalkeeping coach as well as the head coach of the Boys U12 and U14 teams. He spent nine years as the director of the Ocean State Soccer Camp.
The director of South County Sports Performance from 2010-16, Froberg earned his bachelor’s degree in Health and Fitness in 1997. He and his wife Darlene live in Jamestown with their son Jake and daughter Lauren.