When looking at North Atlanta’s girl’s varsity soccer team, you’ll see nothing but success. At the heart of that success is the team’s coach, IB history and economics teacher Robert Bramlett.

Bramlett has been the girl’s soccer coach for five years. A North Atlanta alum, he graduated from the school in 2005. During his high school years, he was an IB student himself and a leading player for the Warrior boy’s soccer team where he played center back and center mid.

Bramlett attended college at DePauw University and graduated with a degree in history and philosophy. He first started coaching at North Atlanta in 2011, his first year teaching at the school. After first coaching the JV boy’s squad, Bramlett moved over to coaching varsity girl’s soccer. Before his arrival to that program, the team struggled to win games. The seasons were challenging and most games resulted in lopsided losses and grim “mercy-rule” endings. There was limited participation and even a struggle to field a team. Bramlett’s arrival changed everything. The Warriors started winning games and within a few seasons the school had one of the strongest programs in the state. The team made it to the state semifinals two years ago and state quarterfinals last year. “We’ve reached a point where a lot more players are buying in and our technical level of play has really gone up,” he said.

Gone are the days of limited participation. For this year’s team tryouts, more than 60 players tried for the limited 40 slots for both the varsity and JV teams.

Thanks to his accomplishment, team players hold their coach in high regard. “Bramlett’s experience with playing at a high level really helps when he coaches us. He knows what works for the team and how to get us to be the best team in the state,” says senior captain Bonnie Shea.

The varsity girl’s team started practice this past week and expectations are running high for the team. Gone are last year’s key seniors Claire Shea, Caroline Saltmarsh and Emma Kurtz. Bramlett said new players will have to fill the shoes of those departed leaders. “The spine of the team is still there and we have a lot of strong returning players so I am not worried,” he said.

The season is starting and the coach who turned around the school’s program is ready for his next challenge.