Women's Soccer
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
Ben Ryan joined the University of Michigan women's soccer coaching staff in January 2016 as a volunteer assistant coach. The son of U-M head coach Greg Ryan, Ben recently received his Doctor of Philosophy in Integrative Physiology degree in May 2016 from the University of Colorado.
Despite his strong soccer background, Ryan chose to pursue his passion for track and field as a student-athlete. He began his collegiate running career, specializing in the 800-meter run, at Wake Forest in 2005-06, before transferring to Colorado, where he competed as a member of the Buffs' track and field team.
Prior to becoming a collegiate student-athlete, Ryan competed for two seasons with the Colorado Springs Blizzard of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (2004-05) while he was in high school. He was also a multi-year member of the Colorado state ODP team, where he helped his team win the US Youth Soccer ODP National Championship in 2004, and was a multi-year member of the Region IV ODP player pool.
In addition to his soccer and track and field background, Ryan has also been a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and USA Weightlifting Certified Sports Performance Coach since 2009.
Ryan earned two degrees from the University of Colorado, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in integrative physiology in 2009, and then went on to receive his PhD in integrative physiology in May 2016. His doctoral research in the Applied Exercise Science Laboratory focused on physiological and exercise adaptations in response to environmental perturbations including high altitude, simulated spaceflight, and low-dose carbon monoxide inhalation.
Ryan, a native of Madison, Wisconsin, resides in Ann Arbor with his wife Rachel Gioscia-Ryan, PhD, who is currently attending the University of Michigan Medical School.
