Ryan Jorden

Ryan Jorden enters his fifth season as the UCLA men's head soccer coach in 2023. He was named the 11th head coach in program history on Apr. 29, 2019 by then-UCLA Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero.

Through 14 seasons as a head coach at the collegiate level, Jorden has compiled an overall record of 134-103-24 (.559 winning percentage) and secured eight postseason berths. He has steered his teams to double-digit wins in eight separate seasons, including five of the last seven years. On the player development side, Jorden has coached nine players who were drafted or signed Homegrown deals with MLS clubs, including five during his tenure in Westwood.

UCLA had its strongest season yet under Jorden in 2022, going 12-7-1 and reaching the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. The Bruins also hit the double-digit wins mark in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2014-15. UCLA limited its opponents to one goal or fewer in 10 consecutive games from Sept. 15 to Oct. 29, the program's longest such streak since 2005. Overall, the Bruins held their opponents to one goal or under in all but four contests. Nationally, UCLA ranked among the elite in fewest fouls per game (9.3, 10th), save percentage (.780, 23rd), assists (33, 40th), and goals against average (1.00, 40th). Highlights from the season included a win on the road at No. 12 Clemson in the NCAA Tournament Second Round, the program's first unbeaten trip to the Bay Area Pac-12 schools since 2013, and a season-high five goals against Liberty on Sept. 2. Six Bruins were cited on the Pac-12 All-Conference Team, including Second Team honors for Jose Sosa and Tommy Silva.

The Bruins returned to the postseason in 2021, going 11-7-1 overall and reaching the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. The Bruins' eight-win improvement from the spring season represented the largest year-to-year turnaround in modern program history, and UCLA's plus-8 goal differential was its best since 2015. Season highlights for the Bruins included a 3-2 victory over then-top-ranked Oregon State on Nov. 7 (the second time a Jorden-led UCLA squad has downed the No. 1 team in the country) and a golden goal victory over UC Santa Barbara in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins went 5-4-1 in league play to take third place, the squad's highest finish in the league table since 2015. Four Bruins picked up All-Far West Region honors and a pair of UCLA froshes earned national All-Freshman honors in 2021, led by center back Pietro Grassi who was a First Team All-Region and Freshman Best XI pick. For the season, UCLA led the Pac-12 in assists per game (2.21), fewest fouls per game (9.32), and shot accuracy (48%). The team opened the season by going 6-2-0, the program's best eight-game start to a campaign since 2009.

A trio of Bruins made the jump to the pro ranks after the 2021 season, as center back Ahmed Longmire was selected No. 10 overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by Nashville SC, defender Ben Reveno was the second-round choice of the New England Revolution, and goalkeeper Justin Garces signed as a Homegrown Player with Atlanta United FC in the lead-up to the draft.

The Bruins posted a 6-9-3 record under Jorden in 2019, his first year at the helm. Fielding an opening day lineup that featured just three returning starters, UCLA saw a tangible improvement over the course of the season. Under Jorden's guidance, junior forward MIlan Iloski established himself as one of the top offensive threats in college soccer, leading the country with 1.06 goals per game (17 total) including a program-record five scores against San Diego State on Oct. 6. Jorden also oversaw the seamless integration of newcomers including Riley Ferch (Pac-12-high nine assists), Marcony Pimentel, and Ben Reveno. As a team, the campaign featured a number of highlights, none loftier than a 3-2 win over defending national champion and then-No. 1-ranked Maryland on Sept. 6.

His recruiting success has continued at UCLA, with his two most-recent classes earning a national ranking from TopDrawerSoccer. The Bruins' 2021 group of newcomers was ranked No. 4 in the country, the highest of any Pac-12 program.

Jorden arrived in Westwood with 23 years of collegiate coaching experience under his belt, most recently serving as head coach at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., where he re-started a dormant program in 2013 and turned the Tigers into perennial national contenders. Pacific reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in each of his last three seasons, one of just two west coast programs able to make that claim over that span (Stanford).

Prior to that, he helmed the men's soccer program at Cal Baptist, transforming the Lancers into two-time NCCAA National Champions during his five-year tenure.

His 2016 squad at Pacific went 13-4-2, representing what was then the largest single-season win-loss turnaround in Division I men's soccer history at 11.5 games. Jorden secured a number of accolades after that standout season, including NCAA Far West Region and West Coast Conference Coach of the Year honors.

His last two seasons in Stockton were just as successful. In 2017, the Tigers posted an identical 13-4-2 record while reaching as high as No. 14 in the national rankings. In 2018, Pacific went 12-5-2 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Over his final three seasons, the Tigers went 38-13-6 (.719).

At Pacific, Jorden oversaw the development of a trio of players who went on to be drafted by MLS teams, as Tristan Blackmon was the third overall selection in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft (LAFC), Camden Riley was a second-round pick by Sporting Kansas City in 2019, and Jonathan Jimenez went No. 26 overall to the Chicago Fire in 2020. Overall, his time at Pacific yielded 27 All-WCC selections, five All-Far West Region picks, three All-Americans, and 13 WCC All-Academic honorees.

Jorden got his head coaching start at Cal Baptist University in 2008, taking the Lancers to an unprecedented level of success during his five years in Riverside. Taking over a program that had qualified for postseason play just once in the prior 18 years, Jorden guided CBU to the postseason in all five of his seasons, including NCCAA National Championships in both 2011 and 2012. Jorden was honored as the NCCAA National Coach of the Year after both of those championship campaigns.

He recorded a 60-30-10 overall record at Cal Baptist, including a 48-15-3 (.750) mark over his final three seasons. He was instrumental in NCAA compliance management as CBU transitioned to Division II during his tenure.

Cal Baptist had 12 players earn All-PacWest honors over his final two seasons, including two-time Goalkeeper of the Year Joey Pacheco. Seven Lancers earned All-America status during that span, headlined by 2012 NCCAA National Player of the Year Carlos Figueroa.

Jorden made assistant coaching stops at Westmont College – his alma mater – Northern Colorado University, and Oregon State earlier in his career.

He served as the lead assistant under head coach Dave Wolf at Westmont from 2000-2007, helping the Warriors to an 82-39-11 record. Westmont was consistently ranked in the NAIA Top-25 during his time in Santa Barbara, including No. 1 in 2000. The Warriors claimed back-to-back conference championships in 2001 and 2002.

Jorden was an assistant on the Northern Colorado University women's soccer staff in 2003 and 2004 as he pursued his doctoral degree.

His first coaching stop came at Oregon State, where he served as the lone assistant from 1996-1999. With the Beavers, he managed day-to-day aspects of the program such as recruiting, training, scheduling, and compliance.

A graduate of Westmont College, Jorden played for the Warriors from 1991-1994. Westmont won 65 games and made two NAIA Tournament appearances during his time as a student-athlete.

Jorden completed his Ph.D. in sport and exercise science with an emphasis in biomechanics at Northern Colorado in October 2010. He earned his master's degree from Oregon State in 2000 and his bachelor's degree from Westmont in 1995.

Jorden is a USSF "A" Licensed coach, and was head coach of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Region IV from 2013-19.

He and his wife Liz have two sons, Graeme and Evan.

Ryan Jorden's Career Head Coaching Record