Rich Ryerson
Encyclopedia
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
. He also played in the Swedish second division and is currently the assistant coach for the UNLV men's soccer team.
attended Oakland Mills High School
. He then attended UNLV where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1983 to 1986. He finished his career holding the school’s records with 84 career games. He graduated in 1987 with a bachelors degree in business administration.
. The Emperors folded at the end of the season and Ryerson spent time with two teams, the Maryland Bays
and Salt Lake Sting
during the 1991 APSL season. In 1993, he played twenty games with the Los Angeles Salsa
of APSL, losing to the Colorado Foxes
in the league championship.
In 1993, Ryerson was with the Los Angeles Heat
of the APSL. On October 28, 1993, the Heat loaned Ryerson to the Cleveland Crunch
of the National Professional Soccer League. In the summer of 1994, Ryerson played for the San Jose Grizzlies
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
(CISL). In 1995, he moved to the Washington Warthogs
before ending the season back with the Grizzlies. In 1996, he played for the Indianapolis Twisters. At the end of the season, the Twisters were renamed the Indiana Twisters
. Ryerson began the season with Indiana, but suffered a concussion after only two games. In July, the Twisters traded him and Terry Rowe
to the Anaheim Splash
in exchange for Paul McDonnel and a 1998 first round draft pick. Ryerson had played only two games with Indiana this season due to a concussion. In 1997, he also played for the U.S. national futsal
team. Ryerson finished his career in 1998 with the Baton Rouge Bombers in the Eastern Indoor Soccer League
where he was named the EISL Defender of the Year. He also played for Kinna IF
for two seasons in the Swedish Second Division in 1988-89.
, namely Marywood-Palm Valley school
. On June 14, 2008, Ryerson became an assistant coach at the UNLV.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who spent three seasons 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...
, one in the National Professional Soccer League, one in 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...
and four in 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...
. He also played in the Swedish second division and is currently the assistant coach for the UNLV men's soccer team.
Youth
Ryerson, brother to Rob RyersonRob Ryerson
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.-Youth:...
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...
. He then attended UNLV where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1983 to 1986. He finished his career holding the school’s records with 84 career games. He graduated in 1987 with a bachelors degree in business administration.
Professional
In 1990, Ryerson played for the California Emperors in the American Professional Soccer LeagueAmerican 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...
. The Emperors folded at the end of the season and Ryerson spent time with two teams, 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...
and Salt Lake Sting
Salt Lake Sting
The Salt Lake Sting was a professional soccer team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They played in the American Professional Soccer League. The franchise lasted two seasons, but financial concerns caused the team's ownership to shut the franchise down on July 5, 1991...
during the 1991 APSL season. In 1993, he played twenty games with the Los Angeles Salsa
Los Angeles Salsa
The Los Angeles Salsa was an American Professional Soccer League franchise. The club played on the campus of California State University, Fullerton at Titan Stadium in a suburb of Orange County, California...
of APSL, losing to the Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
in the league championship.
In 1993, Ryerson was with the Los Angeles Heat
Los Angeles Heat
Los Angeles Heat joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. They joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League...
of the APSL. On October 28, 1993, the Heat loaned Ryerson to the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
of the National Professional Soccer League. In the summer of 1994, Ryerson played for the San Jose Grizzlies
San Jose Grizzlies
San Jose Grizzlies were a professional indoor soccer team based in San Jose, California. The team was founded on November 24, 1993 as a member of the Continental Indoor Soccer League. After playing in the 1994 and 1995 CISL seasons, the Grizzlies folded following the 1995 season. The team played...
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...
(CISL). In 1995, he moved to 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...
before ending the season back with the Grizzlies. In 1996, he played for the Indianapolis Twisters. At the end of the season, the Twisters were renamed the Indiana Twisters
Indiana Twisters
The Indiana Twisters were a professional indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League in 1996 and 1997....
. Ryerson began the season with Indiana, but suffered a concussion after only two games. In July, the Twisters traded him and Terry Rowe
Terry Rowe
Terry Rowe is a retired English professional footballer. He spent three seasons in the American Professional Soccer League, eight in the Major Indoor Soccer League, four in the Continental Indoor Soccer League and two in the National Professional Soccer League.Rowe began his career on the...
to the Anaheim Splash
Anaheim Splash
The Anaheim Splash was a U.S. indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League . It was founded in 1992 as the Los Angeles United, but was sold after the season. The new ownership moved the team to Anaheim, California and renamed it the Anaheim Splash...
in exchange for Paul McDonnel and a 1998 first round draft pick. Ryerson had played only two games with Indiana this season due to a concussion. In 1997, he also played for the U.S. national futsal
Futsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
team. Ryerson finished his career in 1998 with the Baton Rouge Bombers in 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...
where he was named the EISL Defender of the Year. He also played for Kinna IF
Kinna IF
Kinna IF is a Swedish football club located in Kinna in Mark Municipality, Västra Götaland County.-Background:Since their foundation in 1934 Kinna IF has participated mainly in the middle and lower divisions of the Swedish football league system. The club currently plays in Division 2 Västra...
for two seasons in the Swedish Second Division in 1988-89.
Coach
Beginning in 1994, Ryerson served as an athletic director and physical education teacher for various schools in Rancho Mirage, CaliforniaRancho Mirage, California
Rancho Mirage is a resort city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 17,218 at the 2010 census, up from 13,249 at the 2000 census, but the seasonal population can exceed 20,000. In between Cathedral City and Palm Desert, it is one of the eight cities of the Coachella...
, namely Marywood-Palm Valley school
Marywood-Palm Valley school
Marywood-Palm Valley School is a private, college-preparatory school located in Rancho Mirage, California . The school was formed in 2005, when the Marywood Country Day and Palm Valley Schools merged. The Palm Valley School was formed in 1952, followed 26 years later by the Marywood School in 1978...
. On June 14, 2008, Ryerson became an assistant coach at the UNLV.