After five years, it was obvious to all that Rich Ryerson had completed the turnaround of the UNLV men’s soccer program that he knew was possible as he led the Rebels to their best season in 24 years in 2014. The accomplishments were almost too many to list as UNLV swept the Western Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles while earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988. UNLV won its first five games of the year while knocking off 14th-ranked UMBC, and would earn its first national ranking since 1992 at 23rd by Soccer America. A school-record five players were named to the all-region team, while Ryerson saw one of his first-ever recruits, Salvador Bernal, became the third All-American in team history and get drafted by Toronto FC in the MLS following the season. Thanks to the overwhelming success of the season, Ryerson picked up both conference and regional Coach of the Year honors.
He followed that up with another double-digit win season for UNLV while the team reached the WAC semifinals before falling to Utah Valley. Bradley Kamdem was drafted in the third round of the MLS.
The team returned to the NCAA Tournament under Ryerson in 2016, as they bounced back from a 2-5 start to win the WAC Tournament as the fourth seed, thanks to a 1-0 upset at No. 23 Utah Valley in the semifinals and a 2-1 win over Air Force in the championship game. That led to a first round contest in San Diego State, where the Rebels knocked off the 19th ranked Aztecz 6-5 in a penalty kick shootout, before falling at eventual College Cup participant Denver in the second round.
In 2017, UNLV claimed wins over top-25 squads Portland (#15) and Seattle (#23), and finished second in the WAC regular season standings. They would reach the conference semifinals but were knocked out in a penalty kick shootout. Following the season, for the first-time ever two players were selected in the same MLS Draft, as Danny Musovski was a second round and Kevin Partida a third round selection by San Jose. The 2018 season marked a school-record tying fifth straight season with double-digit wins thanks to a 10-10-1 mark, while following the 2019 campaign, Timo Mehlich became the fifth Rebel under Ryerson to be drafted by the MLS.
Ryerson was named the fifth head in program history on April 7, 2010, taking over the helm of the program after spending the previous two years as an assistant coach under former Rebel coach Mario Sanchez. “It was a dream come true, to become head coach at my alma mater,” said Ryerson. “UNLV has made such a big impact on my life, it’s been the foundation for everything I’ve accomplished and experienced in the sport of soccer.”
In his first year as the Rebels’ head coach, Ryerson took a team with 11 newcomers and one returning starter and coached it to a 6-11-2 mark. Seven of the 11 losses were by one goal, and UNLV pulled off several impressive victories, including a win at Stanford and both a win and tie against MPSF Mountain champion Denver.
The Rebels struggled with injuries in 2011, but one big highlight was unheralded recruit Salvador Bernal of Las Vegas, a member of Ryerson’ first recruiting class who became the second player in team history to be named MPSF Newcomer of the Year.
In Ryerson’s third season, the Rebels pulled off several noteworthy outings, including home victories over Cal State Northridge and Air Force, both eventual NCAA Tournament squads.
Just as important as the coaching aspect of the job is Ryerson’s fundraising accomplishments. In the summer of 2011 he was able to help UNLV secure an $850,000 donation from the Englestad foundation, as well as other donations to help ensure the stability of the men’s program at UNLV, while the program also secured a one million dollar donation from the Hannah family in 2013. That brought the soccer specific fund raising total to two and a half million in a four year period.
One of four Ryerson brothers to play for the Rebels (Rob, Kenny, Tim), Rich Ryerson was a four-year starting defender/midfielder for the Rebels from 1983-86 and led UNLV to three NCAA tournament appearances and three straight conference championships during his first time in Las Vegas. In his junior season, the Rebels posted a program-best 18-2-2 mark and No. 4 final national ranking, and that 1985 squad was inducted into the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 1, 2010.
A two-time all-region and all-conference selection, Ryerson scored 20 goals and had 20 assists. Ryerson started all 84 games during his time as a Rebel and still holds school records for both most career games played and most career starts. Ryerson was also named one of Soccer America’s Top-10 Freshmen of the Year in 1983.
Ryerson graduated from UNLV in 1987 with a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration. He went on to play a total of 10 years in several professional soccer leagues, including two in Kinna, Sweden, and finished his career in 1998 with the Baton Rouge Bombers of the Eastern Indoor Soccer League, where he was named the EISL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Beginning in 1994, Ryerson served as athletic director and physical education teacher for the Marywood-Palm Valley School, a K-12 program in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and he held that position until 2006 when he moved back to Las Vegas. He served as Director of Coaching for the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club for two years but stepped down from that position after accepting the Rebels’ head job. In 2010, Ryerson was the Nevada State Vice President for US Youth Soccer before changing positions to Director of Coaching for the association after taking over at UNLV.
A native of Maryland, Ryerson was inducted into that state’s Soccer Hall of Fame on May 11, 2012.
Ryerson has one daughter, Vashti (23), a 2018 graduate of the UNLV film school, while son Payton (20) is currently a junior at UNLV. Ryerson also received a Master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis in non-profit leadership from UNLV in 2017.
NOTES ON RYERSON
UNLV Head Coach
• Became the fifth head coach in UNLV history on April 7, 2010
• In his first season, led the Rebels to a win at Pac-10 member Stanford, as well as two shutouts against MPSF regular-season champion Denver
• Salvador Bernal, a member of his first recruiting class, named 2011 MPSF Newcomer of the Year and to the College Soccer News All-Freshman Third Team
• Rebels knocked off a pair of NCAA teams in 2012 under Ryerson - Cal State Northridge and Air Force
• Led UNLV to the WAC regular season and tournament titles in 2014
• Guided UNLV to the NCAA Tournament in 2014 with a 14-5-4 record
• Was named the WAC and NSCAA Region Coach of the Year in 2014
• Coached the fourth-seed Rebels to the 2016 WAC Tournament Title
• Led UNLV to the NCAA second round in 2016
• Had two players drafted by the MLS in back-to-back years (Salvador Bernal in 2015, Bradley Kamdem in 2016)
• Had five players drafted by the MLS in the past five years (Salvador Bernal in 2015, Bradley Kamdem in 2016, Danny Musovski and Kevin Partida in 2018 and Timo Mehlich in 2019)
As a Player
• Four-year starter, helped Rebels to three NCAA Tournament appearances and three conference championships, as well as an 18-2-2 record and a No. 4 national ranking in 1985
• Holds UNLV records for most career games played and started
• Member of the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame, as he was part of the 1985 squad that was inducted on Oct. 1, 2010
• Played 10 years in a several professional leagues.
• Eastern Indoor Soccer League’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1998
• On May 11, 2012, was inducted into the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame
As a Coach
• Director of Coaching for Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club from 2008-09
Head Coaching Record
Year School W L T PCT
2010 UNLV 6 11 2 .368
2011 UNLV 3 14 0 .176
2012 UNLV 6 14 1 .310
2013 UNLV 7 10 2 .421
2014 UNLV 14 5 4 .696
2015 UNLV 12 7 1 .625
2016 UNLV 10 12 2 .458
2017 UNLV 11 9 1 .548
2018 UNLV 10 10 1 .500
2019 UNLV 6 12 1 .342
2020 UNLV 4 5 2 .455
Totals 89 97 16 .480
