FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – When Ethan Kohler started playing soccer at five years old, he didn’t necessarily dream of going pro, but as he grew through the sport, it became clear he had the talent to rise far beyond local leagues. A native of Campbell, California, he spent three seasons developing in the San Jose Earthquakes Academy and made his professional debut with their MLS NEXT Pro side in 2022.

For years, Kohler thought of soccer as a path to a good university. He committed to Stanford when he was a junior in high school, thinking he had already accomplished his goal. But soccer moves quickly, and for a young talent like Kohler, it’s hard to predict just how far the game can take you. That’s when his life started to change, a shift that ultimately led him to where he is now, earning starts with the New England Revolution.

“I had some good tournaments, then I had some interest, and then I had an agent all of a sudden. Then, I had offers from clubs in Europe. And I was like, ‘alright, well this is something unique and something I think I will gain from.’ My parents were like, ‘you're going to do this, but it's not for a monetary reason or for a footballing reason. It's for a human reason. If you're going to go, you're going to have hardship. It's going to be a lot harder than going 25 minutes from home and studying at Stanford,’” he explained. “That was the basis of the decision. It never was to go and be this pro athlete. It was to do something unique, but obviously, I'm very passionate about it. I want to be the best player I can be and that’s led me here, now.”

In 2023, Kohler signed a deal with German Bundesliga side SV Werder Bremen and travelled across the globe at just 18 years old. As his parents said, they wanted his experience to be about learning and gaining rare life experience; but they also warned him, it wouldn’t be without hardship.

“I kind of threw myself into the deep end because I never lived far away from my parents. You take so many things for granted growing up, all your creature comforts. All of a sudden I was in a foreign country. I didn't have any roommates. I lived by myself in the stadium and honestly, the first six months were the hardest months of my life,” Kohler reflected. “When you don't feel comfortable from a human perspective, it's very hard to perform. I was in a first team dressing room that only spoke German and I didn't learn it quickly, but I think it was so important to go through something like that. It gives such good perspective.”

Now back Stateside, it seems the U.S. youth international is seeing the reward for his risk. Kohler signed with the Revolution ahead of the 2026 season, reuniting with head coach Marko Mitrović – who coached him with the U.S. Under-20s – and cutting his distance from home nearly in half. He’s also earning MLS minutes in a locker room where he can speak his native language, surrounded by a mix of familiar faces and new teammates he says have become close friends.

“From Germany, back to America, it was definitely an easier transition. From day one the guys were amazing and I already had some familiar faces. So, in terms of getting transitioned within the group, it was seamless,” Kohler said. “I really feel like I'm a part of the group and from a football perspective, I feel like I've learned a ton working under Marko and his staff daily.”

One of the most meaningful changes for the defender, though, is simply being closer to home. He’s still on the opposite coast from his family, but now they can attend his matches, watch every game live, and talk to him afterward without battling a larger time difference. For Kohler, it’s his family and their roots that remain his driving force and guiding light.

The 20-year-old always carries a bit of his family with him. He has his family’s initials tattooed on his arm, which he kisses before every match, along with other ink honoring his Indonesian heritage. He also wears a Tridatu, a sacred Hindu thread bracelet blessed by his aunt for spiritual protection and balance. It hasn’t left his wrist in nearly six years.

Kohler’s Indonesian heritage comes from his grandmother. Originating from Bali, she has instilled many of his core values. He’s traveled to Indonesia many times to deepen his connection to the culture and stays tied to it through food. His grandmother has always been the cook in their household, he explained, and she instilled his love for cooking and taught him how to make his favorite dish, Nasi goreng.

“My grandma taught me how to cook Indonesian food.  I'll call her when I cook now, even if it's not Indonesian. G rowing up with her Buddhist values, it’s played a large role in who I am, and you see it through my tattoos. It’s important to have some culture to tie yourself to and the people there are unbelievable, so kind, so generous. It’s a place I'm proud to share a connection with,” Kohler said. “I get support from Indonesians through social media, and my family members love football, as well, so I get support from them. They watch my games and I feel a lot of pride that I can make them and my grandmother proud.”

As the Revs celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islanders on Saturday night against Charlotte FC, Kohler carried extra pride into the match, knowing it’s a chance to honor the lessons passed down from his grandmother and to represent athletes who share his background.

“It’s not something I take lightly. It's always nice to see someone within a sport or someone that you can have a tie to, to look at and say they are doing something I want to do,” he explained. “I think that's really cool and the representation is important.”