Mick McDermott brings family to Kingston Campus while nearby for World Cup
KINGSTON, R.I. – July 2, 2026 – As stoppage time expired in Ghana’s World Cup group stage match against England on June 23, Mick McDermott turned his back to the pitch and stared into section 129 of Boston Stadium. Raising his arms above his head with both fists in the air, McDermott looked for his wife Karla and their children in the sellout crowd.
The Ghana National Soccer Team played to a draw against one of the world’s most historic soccer powers, a massive result for the Black Stars.
McDermott’s celebration on soccer’s biggest stage brought his soccer story full circle. A story that stretches from his upbringing in Belfast, Ireland, to his college years in Kingston at the University of Rhode Island. Along the way, he also had key stops in Oregon and Abu Dahbi.
This summer marks his second time coaching in the World Cup. Now an assistant coach for Carlos Queiroz with Ghana, McDermott was also part of Queiroz’ staff with the Iran National Soccer Team for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. McDermott has a rolodex of connections from a lifetime committed to the sport, which has made him a valuable asset to soccer clubs across the world.
“It is the same in any business. It’s about connections,” McDermott said about his coaching journey that has stretched from a stop as an assistant coach at Oregon State University to international positions across Europe and Asia. Many of the same coaches McDermott worked with during the 2018 World Cup with Iran are now on the coaching staff together for Ghana.
“It’s high pressure in this line of work and you can lose your job very easily,” McDermott said. “I tend to surround myself with people who I have worked with before.”
He played outside back for Rhode Island under legendary head coach Ed Bradley from 1992-95, graduating from URI in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education.
Thanks to the 2026 World Cup draw placing Ghana in Group L for the opening stage of the tournament, McDermott returned to New England. The host site for Ghana’s group play was Gillette Stadium (temporarily changed to Boston Stadium due to FIFA regulations). Playing in Foxboro, Massachusetts, meant that Ghana’s training site would be close by. McDermott did not expect it to be just shy of 40 miles north of Kingston.
“As we started getting information as to where we were going to be, I saw Rhode Island. What are the chances of that?” McDermott said. “It was a nice surprise.”
McDermott was a three-time Atlantic 10 All-Conference team honoree during his time with the Rams. He was a member of Rhode Island’s 1995 Atlantic 10 Championship winning squad that finished the year 19-2-2 overall and 10-0-1 in A-10 competition. The Rams 19 wins remains the program’s most in a single season to date.
A trip back to New England brought McDermott back to his collegiate soccer roots, but it also meant an unexpected excursion back to where he and his wife Karla (Bragg) first met more than 30 years ago. Karla, a Rhode Island volleyball alumna, won an Atlantic 10 title with the Rams in 1996. She graduated in 1998 and finished her career third in program history in total blocks. She still ranks in the top 10 all time today. Her passion for Rhody has transcended international borders—she volunteers from a far as a global ambassador with the URI Foundation.
Mick and Karla met at a party while student-athletes at Rhode Island. Mick was a junior and Karla was a freshman, and they were married a year later before either had graduated.
“We got married in a judges office in Warwick and 30 years later we’re still here,” said Mick.
“It was one of those things you do when you’re young,” Karla added.
Karla and Mick made a visit to their alma mater for the first time in 15 years the day after Ghana’s historic result against England. The two brought their three children for a walk around the Kingston campus, joining Rhode Island men’s soccer head coach Gareth Elliott for a tour of their former stomping grounds. They reminisced about memories of Keaney Gymnasium, while discussing their academic advisor Winkle Kelley and the close soccer matches Mick participated in.
After 30 years, four kids, and countless coaching stops around the world, Kingston still feels like home for the McDermotts.
“The drive here down Route 138 was like a time warp,” Mick said. “Things have changed but it still feels the same.”
“We couldn’t miss the opportunity to bring the kids back to see where it all started,” said Karla. “There were amazing people here. It was a family.”
This story was written by Stone Freeman, assistant athletic director of media relations for URI’s athletic department.
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