Two articles published this week ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup spotlight former Billiken Tim Ream and Travis Thomas, Saint Louis University's leadership and team dynamics coach.

Ream and SLU head coach Kevin Kalish are featured in a USA Today article that examines Ream's journey to becoming captain of the U.S. Men's National Team. The story highlights the youth coaches who invested countless hours in his development, including Kalish. An accompanying video, produced by New York Life, further explores Ream's path to the World Cup.

Thomas has played an integral role in the Billiken program over the past several years as the team's leadership and team dynamics coach. He served in a similar role with the U.S. Men's National Team during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. An article in The Athletic (subscription may be required) details Thomas' experiences working with the national team on soccer's biggest stage.