Ithaca College
10/01/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/01/2025 14:00
Playing It Forward
Playing It Forward
By Sloan MacRae, October 1, 2025
A $100,000 gift from Glenn and Kori Schneider '91 honors the late James Bredin '91 and strengthens IC Men's Soccer.
Glenn '91 and Kori Schneider '91, with Jen Bredin '91 and Jessica Bredin '23, present a $100,000 gift to the men's soccer endowment in honor of the late James Bredin '91.
Glenn '91 and Kori Schneider '91, with Jen Bredin '91 and Jessica Bredin '23, present a $100,000 gift to the men's soccer endowment in honor of the late James Bredin '91.
On a gorgeous late September afternoon at Carp Wood Field, Ithaca College honored James Bredin '91-a classmate whose humor, warmth, and steady years at left back with the men's soccer team still resonate. Bredin, who passed away in 2015, is celebrated not only for how he played, but for how he made people feel. What began as a tribute to a teammate's legacy became a commitment to carry that legacy forward for future student-athletes.
Before kickoff against Vassar, Glenn Schneider '91-Bredin's classmate and CEO of SUSA FC, a Long Island-based youth soccer academy that has produced players for top collegiate programs-joined his wife, Kori (Weaving) Schneider '91; James's widow, Jen (Cooper) Bredin '91; and their daughter, Jessica Bredin '23, for an on-field ceremony.
Director of intercollegiate athletics and campus recreation Aaron Bouyea, head coach Gabe Kuhn, former head coach Andy Byrne, and the entire Bombers squad gathered to mark the moment as the Schneider and Bredin families presented a $100,000 check to the Men's Soccer Endowment, funding that directly supports the team (travel, equipment, and training) and strengthens the program for the long term. The moment also highlighted the SUSA FC-to-Ithaca College pipeline. Three current Bombers-CJ Abbott '29 (Business Pathways), Patrick Morano '29 (Sports Media), and Ryan Levy '29 (Finance)-came through Schneider's academy.
The late James Bredin '91 played left back for the Bombers.
The late James Bredin '91 played left back for the Bombers.
"It is truly an honor to be here today as we celebrate the life and legacy of our dear friend and teammate, James Bredin class of '91," Schneider said, thanking Ithaca College, the alumni gathered, and "most of all" the Bredin family, and recognizing Coach Gabe Kuhn for carrying on the program's values.
"Thanks to the generosity of Glenn and Kori Schneider and the SUSA FC family and the Bredin family, James' legacy will live on in a very tangible way," said Bouyea. "This gift ensures that our men's soccer program will have a lasting resource to support our student-athletes, just as James supported and encouraged his team."
Former Bombers head coach Andy Byrne joins friends, family, and alumni at the pre-match tailgate.
Former Bombers head coach Andy Byrne joins friends, family, and alumni at the pre-match tailgate.
The Stories We Keep
Before the ceremony, roughly 100 attendees-including former teammates, alumni, and parents of current players-gathered for a tailgate that felt more like a family reunion than a pregame celebration. Conversations spanned class years while Jason Isbell, The Clash, Journey, and more rolled from the speakers, a fitting "dad-rock playlist" for the mingling generations, as an alumnus quipped.
To celebrate James and the gift, Schneider, James' wife Jen, and IC Athletics helped organize a reunion of the 1991 Bombers-the squad that earned the program its fourth NCAA Division III tournament berth since 1984. Alumni from that era in attendance included Michael Neelon '90, Chris Gack '90, Scott Bailey '91, Mark Primeau '91, PJ Mooney '92, Peter Nagusky '92, Tom Cosenza '94, Kyle Kusz '94, and Joe Wunderlich '94.
In his pregame remarks on the pitch, Byrne captured the spirit of the day: "When I look at the program, the thing that I'm kind of most proud of is a sense of family that surrounds the program, and you can feel that family today." He added that in old alumni photos, Bredin always seemed to be at the center, with his arm around a friend's shoulders-sometimes a longtime teammate, sometimes someone he had just met. "He wanted to make everyone feel welcome," Byrne said. "James is our brother. We loved him and miss him dearly."
"This contribution will provide lasting resources to support future Bombers and ensure that James' love for Ithaca and for the game continues to inspire generations of student-athletes."
Glenn Schneider '91
Former teammate Peter Nagusky '92 remembered No. 16 vividly, mullet flying, streaking up the sideline from his left back position. "He was a special player, but even more, a special teammate and friend," Nagusky recalled. "He had an outrageously funny sense of humor, an infectious charm, and a love for Ithaca soccer … It's hard to put into words how much love James had for Jen, his college sweetheart, and their two daughters. And it's terrific that this generous gift to the endowment can help some of the qualities he embodied live on in the program for many years to come."
Another teammate, Mark Primeau '91, remembered his first impression: "Possibly the most impactful moment in my soccer life was walking onto the Ithaca campus in the fall of '87 and meeting my teammate and friend, James. He had a presence that drew people in and a passion for the things he loved: family, friends, and soccer … I am grateful to the Schneider family for this incredible gift, and for the chance each year to let James bring us together again. Go Bombers!"
Parents of current players echoed that gratitude. Jodi Warren, whose son Drew Warren '26 (Business Administration) plays midfield for the Bombers, said it was powerful for today's student-athletes to witness alumni returning to honor a teammate and to see the bonds of college soccer extend decades beyond graduation. Meghan Walker, mother of defender Jack Walker '26 (Exercise Science, sports science concentration), added that the example of enduring connection might one day inspire their sons to "pay it forward" in turn.
Family and friends of James Bredin '91 with photos of James' soccer days.
Family and friends of James Bredin '91 with photos of James' soccer days.
Support Becomes Soccer
The Men's Soccer Endowment supports travel, equipment, and training that enrich the student-athlete experience. Schneider's gift honored a friend and, in doing so, demonstrates how passion can shape philanthropy-soccer in his case. "This contribution will provide lasting resources to support future Bombers and ensure that James' love for Ithaca and for the game continues to inspire generations of student-athletes," Schneider said.
Entering the match ranked No. 21, the Bombers battled Vassar to a 1-1 draw, a hard-fought point that pushed their unbeaten mark to 6-0-2. Ithaca struck early, then absorbed sustained pressure to see out the tie. With Bredin's family and classmates in the stands, the afternoon underscored the program's continuity from his era to the squad on the field.
As Byrne said in his pregame remarks on the pitch, the program runs on family. That's the legacy James Bredin leaves, the commitment Glenn Schneider honors, and the standard today's Bombers carry forward.
Honor what you love at IC.
Like Schneider's gift to men's soccer, you can target funds-travel, equipment, training, guest artists, fieldwork-in whatever corner of IC you care about most.
Support the Men's Soccer Endowment.
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Ithaca College published this content on October 01, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 01, 2025 at 20:00 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]