Brad Silvey has completed his fifth season as the head coach of the Illinois State soccer program after the fall 2021 season, compiling a 41-41-8 (19-15-3 MVC) in his five seasons.

In his first year at the helm of the program, the Redbirds finished 9-9-2 (3-4-0 MVC) while landing two student-athletes on the All-MVC First Team (Kate Del Fava, Kelli Zickert). Illinois State played a challenging non-conference schedule, picking up a 2-0 win at home versus in-state Big Ten rival Illinois, also hosting No. 23 Northwestern and playing No. 19 Marquette to a draw that season. Zickert would go on to play professionally in Sweden at the conclusion of the 2017 campaign.

Illinois State continued to improve in Silvey's second season, tallying a 10-9-2 (4-3-0 MVC) record and ending the season in the semifinals of the MVC Soccer Championships. ISU was the only MVC team to defeat top-ranked Loyola Chicago that year, downing them in a 3-2 overtime thriller during the regular season (Oct. 13) but the Ramblers would eventually knock the Redbirds out of postseason in the semifinals on their way to becoming 2018 MVC Tournament champions. Illinois State again boasted two All-MVC selections in midfielders Abby Basler and Del Fava at the conclusion of the season, also placing six total across all postseason all-conference teams. Del Fava was recognized as a CoSIDA Academic All-American following the end of the 2018 campaign and forward Angel Krell inked a contract to play professionally in France.

The soccer team took it a step further in Silvey's third year, with their season ending in the 2019 MVC Tournament championship after a 14-6 (6-1 MVC) record-breaking year. The 2019 Illinois State squad tied the program's record nine-game winning streaks set previously in 2013 and 2014, while also setting the record for most consecutive shutouts, not allowing a goal for a period of five games from Sept. 28 to Oct. 20. During that stretch, senior goalkeeper Haley Smith also became ISU's record holder with 26 career shutouts to her name.

Del Fava, who had already been a standout midfielder for the Redbirds, broke out offensively in 2019 to record MVC-highs in goals (17), points (39) and game-winning goals (six) in her senior season. The Kenosha, Wisconsin, native went on to be the 10th MVC Player of the Year in ISU history, also picking up several national honors such as being named the 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-America Team Member of the Year and being recognized as a 2019 Senior CLASS All-American. Del Fava joined teammates Alissa Ramsden and Haley Smith on the All-MVC First Team at the end of the year, with eight Redbirds earning spots on the All-MVC teams.

On Jan. 16, 2020, Del Fava was selected by the Utah Royals in the second round of the National Women's Soccer League college draft with the 12th overall pick.She is the highest drafted MVC women's soccer player ever and the second Redbird to be drafted in the NWSL.

After a postponed fall season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Redbirds took the pitch finally in Feb. 2021 after more than 450 days since their last match. ISU posted a 4-7-1 overall record, going 4-4-0 in MVC play and advancing to the MVC semifinals before falling to eventual champion Loyola Chicago. The Redbirds had multiple selections to the All-MVC First Team (Abby Basler, Ashley Santos) for the fourth-straight year under Coach Silvey, with five total players earning spots across all MVC postseason teams. The Redbirds also claimed the coveted MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor for the second-straight season, as Ashley Santos joined Kate Del Fava (2019) as the only 'Birds to ever receive that recognition.

Silvey was named head coach of the women's soccer team in December 2016 after spending two seasons as an assistant coach for the Redbirds. Silvey's coaching was an integral part of the team's successful postseason run of the 2016 season, taking home the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

Silvey joined the Redbird soccer program as an assistant coach in 2015 after six years with the Iowa Western Community College women’s soccer team as the head coach. During his time with Iowa Western, Silvey oversaw all operations involving the program, including recruiting, practice plans, strength and conditioning, as well as recovery training. Silvey was also responsible for team and player management, game analysis and budget management. During his five seasons, Silvey gained experience in field preparation, game management, fundraising, organizing camps, while tracking the academic status of his teams.

At the helm of IWCC, Silvey led his team to a national championship in 2013 and a national runner-up in 2014. For the performance during the 2013 season, Silvey was named the 2013 NSCAA National Coach of the Year. He coached his teams to four district championships, as well as six regional and conference titles. Silvey was also able to develop his players, coaching a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Player of the Year, 11 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Americans and 12 NSCAA All-Americans. In addition to his student-athletes performing well on the pitch, they also got the job done in the classroom, as 16 of Silvey’s players were named NJCAA Academic All-Americans.

Prior to being the head coach at IWCC, Silvey served as the assistant coach for three seasons with the Reivers. As the assistant, Silvey worked with both the men’s and women’s soccer programs. His focus was on recruiting, team and goalkeeper training, strength and conditioning, as well as team and player evaluations and game analysis.

Before he began coaching at the collegiate level, Silvey was the technical director and coach of three soccer clubs. He has experience coaching clubs from 10-and-under to 18-and-under, including the EGA Maroon U17/U18 in the National Premiere League in Omaha, Nebraska, for two seasons.

From 2008 to 2012, Silvey was the head girls soccer coach at Glenwood Community High School in Glenwood, Iowa. In four of his five seasons at the helm of GCHS, the team was ranked in the top-10 in the state with a ranking as high as No. 3 in 2012. Silvey was also the co-founder and director of the Council Bluffs United Soccer Academy and worked as an Olympic Development Program staff member.

Silvey was a standout player at Iowa Western and was a two-time ICCAC First Team All-Region and a NSCAA All-Region Honorable Mention. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business, marketing and finance in 2008 from Buena Vista. Silvey holds a USSF "A" and NSCAA Goalkeeper license.

Silvey and his wife, DeAnna, have four children, Donovan, Chamae, Anson, and Elin. The family resides in the Bloomington-Normal area.