Provided by Drury Sports Information Office:
Drury University soccer coach Alf Bilbao announced Wednesday the addition of Ryan Swan to his staff as an assistant coach for both the Panther men’s and women’s soccer programs.
Swan, 30, is a former standout player for Bilbao when the pair were at Truman State. He has spent the past two seasons as the men’s soccer assistant coach at Columbia (Mo.) College and as director of the Columbia Soccer Club.
“Ryan is extremely knowledgeable, extremely dedicated … I think he’ll be one of the better young coaches we have in the game,” Bilbao said. “He played for me, and I know he’ll fit right in with what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Said Swan: “I played for Alf at Truman, where he did such a great job, and I know he’s going to get the same type of results with Drury. I’m excited to be a part of the building process.”
Swan was raised in Perth, Scotland and attended Perth High School, where his soccer team won a regional championship his senior season. Following high school, Swan played four years of semi-pro soccer with Couper Angus in Scotland where he was selected All-Region.
Swan attended Truman State from 1998-2000, earning a B.A. in Communication Science and playing for Bulldog teams that went a combined 40-14-5. He was an NSCAA All-Region First Team performer for two years, and in ‘98,was named to the MIAA All Conference Second Team. He was selected as the Bulldogs’ Most Valuable Player following his senior season.
Following college, Swan played semi-pro soccer with the Kansas City Brass and Des Moines Menace. He spent two years coaching with Major League Soccer Camps in California before joining the William Woods coaching staff in Fulton as a graduate assistant for two seasons.
“With Alf taking on both programs this season, we wanted to make sure he had the quality help he needed to get the job done, and he indicated that would mean bringing Ryan Swan to Drury,” Drury athletic director Dr. Edsel Matthews said. “We’re happy to have Ryan and his wife Courtney as a part of our Drury coaching family.”
Bilbao is taking over the DU women’s program as well for the first time after leading the men’s team to a 7-10-2 mark in his inaugural campaign at Drury last fall. He will also be aided by two former Panthers now serving as graduate assistant coaches in Tommy Fulmer with the men and Sarah Core with the women.
Both teams begin official workouts Aug. 7.
Post a Comment