May 05, 2025
Go Pro: Perseverance leads Cole Dewhurst ’25 to Rhode Island FC
By Colby Campos ’25
The journey of Cole Dewhurst ’25 from center-back on the Providence College soccer team to member of Rhode Island FC shows the perseverance and steady development that define professional careers. Despite not garnering widespread accolades during his collegiate years, Dewhurst was signed to play professionally — a testament to the depth of talent within the Providence program and the opportunities it continues to create for athletes.
Rhode Island FC, a member of the United Soccer League, played its first game in its new stadium, Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, on May 3, 2025. Dewhurst is the third Friar to join the team, with Nathan Messer ’24 and Kevin Vang ’23. PC’s Mal Brown Alumni Club will host a night at Rhode Island FC on Monday, June 7, with an opportunity to meet Dewhurst and Vang following the match.
Dewhurst knows he’ll have to work hard to earn playing time this season. But he’s looking forward to the challenge.
“My goal now is to stay in the professional game for as long as I can,” Dewhurst said. “If I had a choice between playing soccer for a living or working a normal job, it’s not really a decision. On this team I am the youngest guy, so my goal is to just develop and learn in this environment surrounded by guys who have been playing at this level, or even higher, for several years.”
Under Friars soccer coach Craig Stewart, more than 10 players have gone on to play professionally over the past decade, including such standouts as Julian Gressel ’16, who moved from Inter Miami to Minnesota United, and Brendan McSorley ’24 of St. Louis City 2. Friar goalkeeper Lukas Burns ’24, ’25G signed in February with Portland Timbers 2, the same month Dewhurst signed with Rhode Island FC.
It underscores the talent on a squad that won the regular season BIG EAST title and made it to the second round of the NCAA DI tournament this season.
“What Coach Stewart’s built here over the last several years, from the NCAA tournaments to the Final Fours to the number of players going to play professionally, I think it just shows you the standard of excellence,” said Steven Napolillo ’98, vice president and director of athletics. “Young kids, when they come here to play, they know they have the opportunity to be the best they can on and off the field.”
Dewhurst is one of the team’s inspiring success stories. In four years, only once did he make the BIG EAST All-Conference Third Team.
Dewhurst grew up in an athletic family in Lancaster, Massachusetts. His sister was an All-American high jumper at Springfield College and their father played soccer professionally in his native England. Dewhurst attributes much of his passion for the game to his dad, who would bring the family to England every year.
“In England it is all about soccer, so seeing this and experiencing it just made me fall in love with the game even more,” said Dewhurst.
Dewhurst began playing at age 3 and age 8 joined the FC Stars, which his father coached. At 13, he was invited to join the New England Revolution Academy in Foxborough, which develops young talent from around the region in a professional training environment.
“I was there for five years and joined as a kid, and by the time I left I was a young adult,” Dewhurst said. “Obviously the club had an impact on who I became as a player but also a person.”
Recruited out of the Revolution Academy to Providence, Dewhurst had an immediate impact on Friartown. As a rookie, he logged 1,708 minutes on a team that reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
In his following three years, Dewhurst led the Friars in minutes, starting every game his junior and senior seasons. He recorded the game-winning goal in the shutout win against Xavier in his senior year. His career culminated in the Friars winning the 2024 BIG EAST regular season championship and securing the third NCAA tournament berth in his four years with the team. Ranked #25 in the nation, the Friars fell to #7 Clemson in the tournament’s second round.
It wasn’t always easy for Dewhurst. He entered his sophomore season injured and returned as a substitute in his first few games.
“In those appearances I was honestly terrible,” he recalled. “I had little confidence and remember making a mistake that led straight to a goal.”
Dewhurst credited Coach Stewart with helping him bounce back from that rocky start.
“The next game we were doing our pregame meeting and he put the starting lineup on the board and I was in it,” Dewhurst said. “I had no clue why he had done it, but I ended up playing well and continued to start and gain confidence back. Looking back, it became clear that he did it because he believed in me as a player, and despite not playing well in previous games he knew what I could do. I feel like this was the biggest moment of support from a coach I got.”
Another influence was his four-year roommate and teammate, Thomas Tulgar ’25. Like Dewhurst, Tulgar will graduate in May. He is seeking professional opportunities in the United States as well as his native Turkey.
“I played against Cole since we were 14 years old and always thought he was a great soccer player,” Tulgar said. “Being able to room with him for four years and share the field on the same team for once was a great experience. He plays with such grace and calmness. He’s one of the best players I’ve had the privilege to play with.”
Dewhurst is eager to see what the future holds.
“Obviously I aspire to keep progressing and hopefully reach higher levels, and Rhode Island FC is a key step in that journey,” Dewhurst said.
This story was written as an assignment for the Sports Journalism course taught by Stephen Kurczy, M.S., visiting professor of English, in the Spring 2025 semester. Colby Campos ’25, from Swansea, Massachusetts, studied social science at PC. He will pursue his master’s degree in science of sports administration at PC next year.
The Fund for Providence College supports the development of academic opportunities like this sports journalism class. A gift through The Fund for Providence College contributes to the success of faculty scholars and the students they teach.
