Brandon Bye named men's soccer Division I Scholar Athlete of the Year

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University's midfielder Brandon Bye became the most decorated player in Bronco men's soccer history, being named Division I Men's Soccer Scholar Player of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches.

Bye, a senior from Portage, was both an All-American and Academic All-American this year after leading WMU to the program's best season in school history. Academically, he maintains a 3.74 grade-point average, double majoring in food and consumer packaging goods and marketing and supply chain management.

Brandon Bye

Bye also was selected as a First Team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches, as well as College Soccer News, following the 2017 season. He was a Hermann Trophy semifinalist and was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. Also a First Team All-MAC honoree, Bye had a conference-best 12 goals and 31 points, adding seven assists, which ranked among leaders nationally.

Bye was one of three co-captains that led WMU to unprecedented success in 2017 and a No. 9 final national ranking. The Broncos won their first ever MAC regular season championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where the team was given a first round bye. WMU went on to defeat the University at Albany in the second round for the school's first ever NCAA Tournament win and advanced to the Sweet 16 before eventually falling to Michigan State University.

The Broncos finished the season with a 17-4-1 overall record and went undefeated during the MAC season with a perfect 5-0-0 record. WMU was ranked in the United Soccer Coaches top 25 poll for 11 consecutive weeks, reaching as high as No. 4, and spent seven weeks ranked inside the top 10. WMU set program records for most wins and shutouts in a season.

Bye will be honored for his National Scholar Player of the Year achievement at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Luncheon Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in conjunction with the 2018 United Soccer Coaches Convention.

 For more WMU news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.