Jay Heaps
A tenacious defender who translated his on-field grit into a coaching career, reshaping the New England Revolution's identity.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American soccer player·Birthday: August 2·Generation X
Biography
Jay Heaps carved out an eleven-year Major League Soccer career defined by relentless defensive work, primarily with the New England Revolution. The Duke University standout, known for his competitive fire, was a fixture in the Revolution's lineup, helping them reach multiple MLS Cup finals. After retiring, he moved swiftly into the front office and then, in a bold move, was named head coach of the very team he played for. Heaps brought a modern, high-pressing tactical approach to the Revolution, leading them to a 2014 MLS Cup appearance and earning Coach of the Year honors. His post-Revolution career has seen him guide a USL franchise, continuing his life in soccer from a new vantage point.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jay was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jay Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Jay's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played over 250 games for the New England Revolution, winning the 2007 U.S. Open Cup with the team.
- Named the 2009 MLS Comeback Player of the Year after returning from a serious knee injury.
- Served as head coach of the New England Revolution from 2011 to 2017, the longest tenure in club history.
- Led the Revolution to the 2014 MLS Cup final and was named MLS Coach of the Year that season.
Did You Know?
He was a two-sport athlete at Duke University, playing both soccer and basketball.
He won an NCAA Men's Soccer Championship with Duke in 1995.
His first coaching role was as a front-office assistant while still a player, handling broadcast operations.
He is the younger brother of former professional basketball player and coach Neil Heaps.
“You don't win a fifty-fifty ball by thinking about it.”
