Ryan Sniegoski (ODU'05) Named Florida Southern's New Head Men's Soccer Coach

 

"Ryan has been a great assistant and a loyal Monarch and we will miss him here at ODU. We are very excited for him in becoming the Florida Southern Head Coach and we know he will be a huge success.We wish him the very best in his future endeavors." - ODU Head Coach Alan Dawson

“I am very honored and excited to formally accept the head coaching position for the men’s soccer team at Florida Southern College,” said Sniegoski. “I would like to personally thank Director of Athletics, Pete Meyer, for this incredible opportunity. I was so impressed with the family atmosphere on campus during my visit and I could not wait to return.”

 

Over the past eight years while serving under head coach Alan Dawson, Sniegoski helped Old Dominion compile a 96-45-19 record, and made six trips to the NCAA Tournament at the Division I level, including three in a row from 2009-12. The Monarchs advanced to the second round in both 2010 and 2011 before being ousted in the first round on penalty kicks in 2012. Their 2010 NCAA Tournament was highlighted by a 1-0 win over defending national champion Virginia.

During Sniegoski’s tenure at Old Dominion, the Monarchs also advanced to the round of 16 in both 2006 and 2007 during a pair of 14-win seasons, and were ranked in the NSCAA Top-10 for most of the 2005 season, reaching as high as #2. In 2006, the Monarchs upset #10 North Carolina in Chapel Hill in the second round of the NCAA Tournament before they were eliminated by eventual national champion UC-Santa Barbara, 2-1. The following year saw Old Dominion win the Colonial Athletic Association championship and again upset a higher seeded team on the road during the NCAA Tournament, this time knocking off fourth-ranked Brown in the second round.

In his eight years on the ODU bench, Sniegoski helped coach four All-Americans and two Freshman All-Americans in addition to several All-CAA selections. He also coordinated Old Dominion’s recruiting efforts, and planned and directed coaching sessions and game-day tactics.

In addition to his work at Old Dominion, Sniegoski served as director of player development in Norfolk from 2006-11 for the youth soccer program for 5-10 year-old boys and girls. From 2004-06, he served as the technical director for the Athletic Club of Norfolk, and for two years prior to that, was the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Old Dominion.

Sniegoski also played for Old Dominion from 2000-03, and served as a captain for the 2003 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He also helped the 2002 team qualify for the NCAA Tournament, which reached the second round as well. During his four-year playing career, Sniegoski played in 52 games as a midfielder and totaled three goals and six assists. As a junior he was named to the Old Dominion/STIHL Classic All-Tournament Team, and his final collegiate goal came during the second round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament when the Monarchs fell to #2 Maryland, 2-1.

 

“I had an amazing ride at Old Dominion University as a player and coach over the last 12 years,” said Sniegoski. “I would like to thank head men’s soccer coach Alan Dawson for the guidance he has given me over the years. I plan on implementing the same culture and principles for the Florida Southern men’s soccer program that have made the Monarchs one of the top Division I programs in the country over the last decade.”

 

Sniegoski graduated from ODU in 2005 with a degree in early education, and later earned a master’s degree from ODU in physical education in 2007. He earned his USSF National “A” coaching license in 2012.

Ryan and his wife Elizabeth, who was also a standout soccer player at Old Dominion, were married in May of 2012.