Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Chris Ryan
Athletic Office: (217) 726-1677
Mobile Phone: (217) 622-9964
Email: cryan@robertmorris.edu
Fax: (217) 793-4210

A native of Granite City, IL, Coach Ryan brings a wealth of experience to the women's soccer program at Robert Morris University - Springfield Campus.  An assistant women's soccer coach for Robert Morris University in Chicago from 1997-2000, Coach Ryan relocated to Springfield to head up the University's Springfield Athletic Department and guide the men's soccer program from 2001-2006.  During that time, the men's NAIA program received a top 15 national ranking in 2003 and captured the CCAC (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference) League Championship.  The program also produced several individual accolades:

10 - NAIA All-American Scholar Athletes
4 - NSCAA & Adidas Scholar All-Region Athletes
6 - NAIA Honorable Mention All-Americans
6 - NAIA Region VII 1st Team Selections
7 - CCAC All-Conference 1st Team Selections
6 - CCAC Honorable Mention Selections
1 - CCAC Freshman of the Year
1 - CCAC Player of the Week

During his collegiate years, Chris played for the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.  He was the pillar of stability on the men's soccer program providing leadership as both a midfielder and defender.  In 1991 Chris was named UW-Parkside Defensive Player of the Year, team captain and was selected to the NSCAA All-Mid-East Region First Team.  In 1992 Chris was again named team captain and was selected as UW-Parkside's MVP.  During his era, UW-P soccer was 61-15-3.  After graduation, Chris went on to play professionally in Europe for the Emden BSV Kickers in the German Regionale League. (A third division professional soccer team in Germany).  In 1997, Chris returned to the USA to play for the A-League Champions, the Milwaukee Rampage.

Chris was inducted into the UW-Parkside Athletic Hall of Fame on February 20, 2005.

Coach Ryan has also been active with youth soccer in Springfield, IL.  A board member of SASA (Springfield Area Soccer Association) since 2003, Coach Ryan now also serves as an Assistant Director of Soccer for the club.  Coach Ryan will be guiding the high school age development of the SASA Spirits.

Coach Ryan holds a USSF (United States Soccer Federation) National "A" Coaching License.

In addition to Coach Ryan's work with the soccer programs, he also serves as the Associate Director of Athletics for Robert Morris University in Springfield.  Since 2001 the Springfield Campus has successfully started up athletic programs in men's & women's basketball (2002-03), men's ice hockey (2002-03), softball (2004), women's volleyball (2006), and baseball (2007); in addition to the women's & men's soccer programs started in 1998 & 1999 respectively.

Chris was selected as one of Springfield's "Forty Under 40" by the Springfield Business Journal in 2010.

Chris resides in Springfield, IL with his wife Casey and their son Celby.    

Assistant Coach: Andrea Kocher
Athletic Office: (217) 726-1677
Mobile Phone: (217) 891-9769
Email: kocha555@robertmorris.edu
Athletic Fax: (217) 793-4210