Rich Ryerson

Position: Head Coach Experience: First Season Alma Mater: '87 UNLV

Former Rebel standout Rich Ryerson was named the fifth head men's soccer coach in UNLV program history on April 7, 2010. He took over the helm of the program after spending the previous two years as an assistant coach under former Rebel coach Mario Sanchez.

"It's 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 that had 11 newcomers and coached them to a 6-11-2 mark. Seven of the 11 losses were by one goal, while UNLV pulled off several impressive victories, including a win at Stanford and both a win and tie against MPSF Mountain champion Denver, and eventual NCAA participant.

Just as important as the wins was Ryerson's fundraising accomplishments, as he was able to help UNLV secure an $850,000 donation from the Englestad foundation, as well as other donations to help save the men's program at UNLV for the next five years.

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 time in Las Vegas. In his junior season, the Rebels posted a program-best 18-2-2 mark and No. 4 final national ranking. 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 the past two years but stepped down from that position after accepting the Rebels' head job. This past year 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.

Ryerson is married to the former Vanes Valenzuela and they have two children, Vashti (16) and Payton (13).