Drexel University Athletics
Ken Tribbett, From An Overlooked High School Recruit to MLS
10/30/2020 12:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA – Ken Tribbett was not a highly-recruited soccer player. The Grandview High School (Colo.) senior had the skills to play at the Division I level, but he was not getting the opportunities he deserved. Tribbett ended up being a diamond in the rough for Drexel's then-first-year head coach Doug Hess.
"He [Hess] sold me," Tribbet said. "Drexel was one of the only schools that gave me a shot."
Since he was a kid, Tribbett knew his future was in sports, and Drexel checked all of the boxes for him. The Centennial, Colo. native liked living in the city, and Drexel offered a sport management major.
against Rutgers on September 24, 2013
Tribbett's impact on the team started growing in 2012. After finishing with a 5-10-3 record in 2011, Tribbett's sophomore season, the Dragons' record soared to a 12-4-3 mark in 2012. The considerable improvement earned Drexel an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, the first NCAA appearance in 40 years for the men's soccer team.
"That year, 2012, was probably the highlight of my career at Drexel," Tribbett said.
The very next year, Tribbett led the Dragons to a CAA Championship and another NCAA Tournament appearance. A loss to Old Dominion in the first round of the NCAA Tournament ended Tribbett's time with the Dragons but not his soccer career.
He played for the Michigan Bucks in the United Soccer League Premier Development League (now USL League 2) in 2014 after going undrafted in the MLS SuperDraft and won the PDL championship with them. Going undrafted did not deter Tribbett from his goal of playing in the MLS; it motivated him.
"I had that chip on my shoulder the whole time," Tribbett said. "I knew I was good enough to play, but nobody gave me a chance."
After spending some time playing for the Harrisburg City Islanders, Tribbett finally got his chance in the MLS. Tribbett's dream became a reality, and it came with some bonuses. Tribbett returned to Philadelphia to sign a minimum contract with the Union in 2016. Tribbett did not let this opportunity slip, as the newly-signed rookie won a starting spot. Starting for the Union meant a lot to Tribbett.
"To be able to play in front of all my friends, coaches and everyone who supported me was special," Tribbett said.
Taking the field as a Union player was a unique experience that Tribbett will never forget.
"Putting on the jersey," Tribbett said, "stepping on the field and just looking around the stadium and seeing thousands of people here to watch me play. It was surreal."
Tribbett appeared in 23 games for the Union, scoring two goals. Those goals for the Union were unforgettable moments for Tribbett.
"It was special," Tribbet said. "It was always a dream to score in the MLS, and I've done it."
In 2018, Tribbett returned to the USL to play for Harrisburg FC. His stint was not long, though, as he was a key contributor on the team with six goals in 21 appearances. His stellar performance was good enough to receive a call from Nashville SC, which played in the USL in 2019. Nashville SC joined the MLS earlier this year as an expansion team and has already made a mark on the league. Joining an upstart team presented challenges for Tribbett and his teammates.
"No one has been in the same locker room as each other," Tribbett said. "Normally, other teams have 10-15 guys that return each year."
Tribbett and his teammates used the time off due to the COVID-19 pandemic to work on their team chemistry. The shutdown allowed extra time for Tribbett and his new teammates to connect and grow.
"We had an extra 3-4 months to build an identity," Tribbett said.
The shutdown also allowed Tribbett to find some new hobbies and pastimes. He made an at-home gym and got into woodworking. Tribbett has made tables, planter boxes, and benches with his new woodworking skills.
With his goal of becoming an MLS player complete, Tribbett has more goals he wants to accomplish. He has 19 MLS starts to his name and would like to get to 100. Winning a championship is also something Tribbett is determined to do at the professional level.
