Rob Ryerson
Encyclopedia
Rob Ryerson is a retired U.S. soccer forward
who played professionally, both indoor and outdoor soccer, for at least seven years. He is currently the Mount Saint Mary's University
soccer coach.
, attended Oakland Mills High School
where he played for the school's boys soccer team. He was selected as the Howard County "Player of the Year". He was also a high school All-American his senior year. Ryerson played four seasons of collegiate soccer while attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
(UNLV). He was All Far West in 1983, 1984 and 1985. He was also the 1985 All Big West Player of the Year. He was a third team NSCAA All-American in 1984 and 1985 and a Soccer America Magazine
first team All American in 1985. He holds the top two positions on the Big West season scoring record list with 21 goals (9 assists) in 1985 and 20 goals (7 assists) in 1984. He also scored 16 goals in 1983. He attained his degree and graduated from UNLV in 1988.
of the Western Soccer Alliance. He was 5th on the alliance's goals list with six. In June 1986, the San Diego Sockers
selected Ryerson in the first round of the Major Indoor Soccer League draft. He began the season on the Sockers' reserve team, but returned to UNLV to complete his undergraduate degree. Then in February 1987, he signed with the Baltimore Blast
. The Sockers contested it and the league nullified the contract and awarded Ryerson's rights to the Sockers only to have the Sockers immediately waive Ryerson who then signed with the Blast. He never played a first team game with Baltimore before being released in October 1987. In the summer of 1987, Ryerson signed with the independent Washington Diplomats. In December 1987, Ryerson signed with the Maryland Bays
of the American Soccer League
. He was a 1988 ASL All Star and a member of the 1990 APSL championship Bays. In the fall of 1988, Ryerson signed with the Fort Wayne Flames
of the American Indoor Soccer Association under coach and former Blast teammate Dave MacKenzie. Ryerson appeared in the final 26 games of the season, scored 6 goals and added 5 assists for 11 points. In 1992 he played 1 game for a total of 6 minutes with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the American Professional Soccer League
. In 1994, he played with the Washington Warthogs
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
. In 1996 he became an assistant coach with the Warthogs.
. He scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica
on June 14.
soccer team. In 1995, he became the head coach of the DeMatha High School boys' soccer team. He also served as an assistant coach with the Washington Warthogs
. In 1997, he became the head coach of the Baton Rouge Bombers of the Eastern Indoor Soccer League
. He led the Bombers to the championship game, losing to the Lafayette Swampcats, and earning Coach of the Year honors. The EISL only lasted two seasons, folding in 1998. Ryerson then began collegiate coaching. Ryerson is the head coach of Mount Saint Mary's University
soccer team since 2000. Ryerson was head coach of the 2004 Maryland Boys U/17 ODP.
He was selected to the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and the school retired his jersey number (10). In 2006 he was inducted into the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who played professionally, both indoor and outdoor soccer, for at least seven years. He is currently the Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount St. Mary's University, also known as The Mount, is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near Emmitsburg, Maryland. It was founded by French émigré Father John DuBois in 1808 and is the oldest independent Catholic college in the United States...
soccer coach.
Youth
Rob Ryerson, along with his brother RichRich Ryerson
Rich Ryerson is a former U.S. soccer midfielder who spent three seasons in the American Professional Soccer League, one in the National Professional Soccer League, one in the Eastern Indoor Soccer League and four in the Continental Indoor Soccer League...
, attended Oakland Mills High School
Oakland Mills High School
Oakland Mills High School was established in 1973 as one of the first high schools to service the Columbia, Maryland area. It is part of the Howard County Public School System.The building had its first renovation in 1991, then again in 1998...
where he played for the school's boys soccer team. He was selected as the Howard County "Player of the Year". He was also a high school All-American his senior year. Ryerson played four seasons of collegiate soccer while attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
(UNLV). He was All Far West in 1983, 1984 and 1985. He was also the 1985 All Big West Player of the Year. He was a third team NSCAA All-American in 1984 and 1985 and a Soccer America Magazine
Soccer America Magazine
Soccer America Magazine is a national American magazine devoted to soccer founded in the early 1970s and is still being published. Its primary focus is soccer in the United States, but it also covers the international game extensively. It was begun by publisher Clay Berling during a period of...
first team All American in 1985. He holds the top two positions on the Big West season scoring record list with 21 goals (9 assists) in 1985 and 20 goals (7 assists) in 1984. He also scored 16 goals in 1983. He attained his degree and graduated from UNLV in 1988.
Professional
After leaving UNLV, Ryerson played the 1986 season with the San Diego NomadsSan Diego Nomads
-History:The Nomads joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. In 1989, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League and in 1990, the team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League. After winning the WSL championship in...
of the Western Soccer Alliance. He was 5th on the alliance's goals list with six. In June 1986, the San Diego Sockers
San Diego Sockers
The San Diego Sockers were one of the most successful indoor soccer teams in the sport's short history. The team won ten championships in both the original Major Indoor Soccer League and the North American Soccer League.-History:...
selected Ryerson in the first round of the Major Indoor Soccer League draft. He began the season on the Sockers' reserve team, but returned to UNLV to complete his undergraduate degree. Then in February 1987, he signed with the Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (1980-92)
Baltimore Blast were a longtime member of the Major Indoor Soccer League. From 1978 to 1980, the team was played as Houston Summit but moved prior to the 1980-81 season. The team won the league's championship in 1984. The team folded when the MISL ceased operation in the summer of 1992.-History:The...
. The Sockers contested it and the league nullified the contract and awarded Ryerson's rights to the Sockers only to have the Sockers immediately waive Ryerson who then signed with the Blast. He never played a first team game with Baltimore before being released in October 1987. In the summer of 1987, Ryerson signed with the independent Washington Diplomats. In December 1987, Ryerson signed with the Maryland Bays
Maryland Bays
The Maryland Bays were an inaugural franchise of the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1988.They were based in Catonsville, Maryland, and played their games at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. He was a 1988 ASL All Star and a member of the 1990 APSL championship Bays. In the fall of 1988, Ryerson signed with the Fort Wayne Flames
Fort Wayne Flames
The Fort Wayne Flames were an indoor soccer club based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association, playing home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum from 1986-1989....
of the American Indoor Soccer Association under coach and former Blast teammate Dave MacKenzie. Ryerson appeared in the final 26 games of the season, scored 6 goals and added 5 assists for 11 points. In 1992 he played 1 game for a total of 6 minutes with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. In 1994, he played with the Washington Warthogs
Washington Warthogs
The Washington Warthogs were a professional indoor soccer team in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1994-1997. They played their home games in the US Airways Arena in Landover, Maryland, an arena they shared with the Washington Capitals and Washington Bullets.The Warthogs featured the...
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
. In 1996 he became an assistant coach with the Warthogs.
National team
In 1988, he played his only full international match with the United States men's national soccer teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. He scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
on June 14.
Coach
In May 1991, Ryerson became an assistant coach with University of Maryland, Baltimore County. In 1993 and 1994, he served as an assistant with the UNLV RebelsUNLV Rebels
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas' sports teams are called the Rebels. The Rebels participate in NCAA Division I and in the Mountain West Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The school's colors are Scarlet and Grey. The Rebels' main rival is the Wolf Pack of the University...
soccer team. In 1995, he became the head coach of the DeMatha High School boys' soccer team. He also served as an assistant coach with the Washington Warthogs
Washington Warthogs
The Washington Warthogs were a professional indoor soccer team in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1994-1997. They played their home games in the US Airways Arena in Landover, Maryland, an arena they shared with the Washington Capitals and Washington Bullets.The Warthogs featured the...
. In 1997, he became the head coach of the Baton Rouge Bombers of the Eastern Indoor Soccer League
Eastern Indoor Soccer League
The Eastern Indoor Soccer League was an attempt to create a regional minor indoor soccer league. The league featured teams from the Southeastern United States...
. He led the Bombers to the championship game, losing to the Lafayette Swampcats, and earning Coach of the Year honors. The EISL only lasted two seasons, folding in 1998. Ryerson then began collegiate coaching. Ryerson is the head coach of Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount Saint Mary's University
Mount St. Mary's University, also known as The Mount, is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near Emmitsburg, Maryland. It was founded by French émigré Father John DuBois in 1808 and is the oldest independent Catholic college in the United States...
soccer team since 2000. Ryerson was head coach of the 2004 Maryland Boys U/17 ODP.
He was selected to the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and the school retired his jersey number (10). In 2006 he was inducted into the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame.