A Jersey Blues Testimonial: Ryan Bailey’s Journey From Record Breaker To Business Owner

A Jersey Blues Testimonial: Ryan Bailey’s Journey From Record Breaker To Business Owner by Trish Taylor

Ryan Bailey made the most of his lone season on the field for Brookdale Community College men’s soccer in 2013. The Freehold Boro High School graduate delivered a record-setting freshman campaign, scoring 27 goals while earning First Team All-Region, First Team All-GSAC, Region Player of the Year and First Team All-American honors.

After Brookdale, Bailey achieved his goal of playing Division I soccer at the University of Rhode Island. Today, he continues to build on that Jersey Blues foundation as the owner of four SETS Hybrid Training gyms in New Jersey.

“My time at Brookdale Community College as a student-athlete was the first major steppingstone in my life. From the day I arrived, my goal was to earn the opportunity to play Division I soccer. I knew that meant taking responsibility for my academics just as much as my performance on the field. It was up to me to put in the work, stay eligible, and make my dream a reality.

Throughout my two years at Brookdale, I had incredible support from the coaching staff and athletic department. Coach Brad Fraley and the staff made sure I was taking the right classes and provided guidance whenever I needed it. Even after redshirting my second season and playing just one year, I always felt supported and encouraged. Balancing school and athletics wasn’t easy, but Brookdale gave me the resources and confidence to succeed.

That hard work paid off when I graduated and earned the opportunity to continue my soccer career at the University of Rhode Island, where I played three years of Division I soccer and graduated with a degree in Communications.

Looking back, Brookdale was much more than a place where I played soccer, it taught me that every accomplishment becomes the foundation for the next one. It showed me that success comes from taking ownership of your goals, staying disciplined, and making the most of every opportunity. That mindset has stayed with me long after graduation.

Today, I’m the owner of four SETS Hybrid Training gyms in New Jersey, and I still carry the lessons I learned at Brookdale every day. Every new challenge reminds me of those early years when I realized that if you’re willing to put in the work and take responsibility for your future, you can create opportunities that once seemed out of reach.

I’ll always be grateful to the coaches, faculty, and athletic department at Brookdale. Without their guidance and support, I truly don’t believe I would have fulfilled my dream of playing Division I soccer. Brookdale gave me the confidence to believe in myself, and that belief has shaped every chapter of my life since.”