Greg Ryan (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Greg Ryan is a retired German-American soccer defender
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League
. He was the head coach of the United States women's national soccer team
from 2005 to 2007. He was previously the head coach at University of Wisconsin–Madison
, Southern Methodist University
, and Colorado College
, and was an assistant with the national team.
Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Ryan grew up in Dallas, Texas
where he attended the Southern Methodist University
from 1975 to 1978. He played on the men's soccer team, earning first team All American
honors his senior year.
The Minnesota Kicks
of the North American Soccer League
drafted Ryan in 1978. However, he played only one game for the team before it traded him to the Tulsa Roughnecks
. The Roughnecks then traded Ryan to the New York Cosmos
. Ryan finished the 1979 season with the Cosmos. They then traded Ryan to the Chicago Sting
in the offseason. He remained with the Sting until the end of the NASL after the 1984 season. However, he played no games with the team in 1983. Ryan won two NASL championships as the Sting took both the 1981 and 1984 titles.
In 1983, Ryan entered the coaching ranks, while still playing, when he served as an assistant coach with Colorado College
men's soccer team. Ryan retired from playing after the first [Major Indoor Soccer League|MISL]] season of the Sting in 1985 and moved to the University of Wisconsin–Madison
where he coached in various capacities until 1993. In 1991, he was named the women's college coach of the year. In 1996, he moved to Southern Methodist University
where he compiled a 37-21-5 record as the women's soccer coach. In 1999, he moved back to Colorado College
. He coached the women's team until 2002, taking the team to a 40-28-6 record. That year he signed as an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's National Team. In 2005, he replaced April Heinrichs as head coach.
The national team finished first in first-round group play in the 2007 Women's World Cup held in China. In the quarterfinals, the team defeated England
3-0. Heading into the semifinal match against Brazil
, Ryan decided to bench regular goalkeeper Hope Solo
in favor of veteran goalkeeper Briana Scurry
. The team subsequently lost to Brazil 0-4 (the worst defeat in the team's history) and Ryan received considerable criticism for the sudden lineup change as well as defensive-minded substitutions made when the team arguably needed more offensive players to compete against the Brazilians. On Monday October 22, 2007 U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati
announced that Ryan's contract would not be extended past its December 31, 2007 expiration date. Ryan was 45-1-9 from 2005 to 2007.
Ryan accepted the position of head coach for the University of Michigan
women’s soccer team on Feb. 1, 2008. He became the second head coach in the program’s 14-year history. After the team posted losing seasons in his first two years at the helm, the Michigan women's team qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2010 but lost in the first round. Through three seasons, Ryan's record at Michigan in 20-24-14.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. He was the head coach of the United States women's national soccer team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
from 2005 to 2007. He was previously the head coach at University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, and Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
, and was an assistant with the national team.
Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Ryan grew up in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
where he attended the Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
from 1975 to 1978. He played on the men's soccer team, earning first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
honors his senior year.
The Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League. The team had relocated to Minnesota after having been based in Denver, Colorado as the Denver Dynamos...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
drafted Ryan in 1978. However, he played only one game for the team before it traded him to the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
. The Roughnecks then traded Ryan to the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
. Ryan finished the 1979 season with the Cosmos. They then traded Ryan to the Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
in the offseason. He remained with the Sting until the end of the NASL after the 1984 season. However, he played no games with the team in 1983. Ryan won two NASL championships as the Sting took both the 1981 and 1984 titles.
In 1983, Ryan entered the coaching ranks, while still playing, when he served as an assistant coach with Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
men's soccer team. Ryan retired from playing after the first [Major Indoor Soccer League|MISL]] season of the Sting in 1985 and moved to the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
where he coached in various capacities until 1993. In 1991, he was named the women's college coach of the year. In 1996, he moved to Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
where he compiled a 37-21-5 record as the women's soccer coach. In 1999, he moved back to Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
. He coached the women's team until 2002, taking the team to a 40-28-6 record. That year he signed as an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's National Team. In 2005, he replaced April Heinrichs as head coach.
The national team finished first in first-round group play in the 2007 Women's World Cup held in China. In the quarterfinals, the team defeated England
England women's national football team
The England women's national football team represents England in international women's football. The side has been quite successful of late, qualifying for three World Cups, 1995, 2007 and 2011...
3-0. Heading into the semifinal match against Brazil
Brazil women's national football team
The Brazil women's national football team represents Brazil in international women's association football. Brazil played their first game on July 22, 1986 against the United States....
, Ryan decided to bench regular goalkeeper Hope Solo
Hope Solo
Hope Amelia Solo is an American association football goalkeeper. She became a free agent after Women's Professional Soccer terminated the magicJack franchise for which she played in the 2011 season. Solo is the current starting goalkeeper for the United States women's national soccer...
in favor of veteran goalkeeper Briana Scurry
Briana Scurry
Briana Colette Scurry is a retired American soccer goalkeeper. Scurry was the starting goalkeeper for the United States women's national soccer team at the 1995 World Cup , 1996 Olympics , 1999 World Cup , 2003 World Cup , 2004 Olympics and 2007 World Cup...
. The team subsequently lost to Brazil 0-4 (the worst defeat in the team's history) and Ryan received considerable criticism for the sudden lineup change as well as defensive-minded substitutions made when the team arguably needed more offensive players to compete against the Brazilians. On Monday October 22, 2007 U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati
Sunil Gulati
Sunil Gulati is the current president of the United States Soccer Federation and special advisor to The Kraft Group and the Kraft family...
announced that Ryan's contract would not be extended past its December 31, 2007 expiration date. Ryan was 45-1-9 from 2005 to 2007.
Ryan accepted the position of head coach for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
women’s soccer team on Feb. 1, 2008. He became the second head coach in the program’s 14-year history. After the team posted losing seasons in his first two years at the helm, the Michigan women's team qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2010 but lost in the first round. Through three seasons, Ryan's record at Michigan in 20-24-14.