Meeting with Sue Ryan is like meeting your best friend’s mom.

You have heard so much about her that you want to make sure to make a good first impression.  You find yourself nervous, but excited and comfortable all at the same time.  It’s almost like she’s your big sister, but she’s not.

Sue Ryan is the Head  Women’s Soccer Coach at Stony Brook University, but when you ask her she says that she’s a “teacher” first. “I teach and mentor these girls about a lot of things, “ says Coach Ryan, as she went on a list that included relationships, boys, school, studying, oh and playing soccer.

Sue is a graduate of SUNY Cortland and was a part of the first ever US Womens National Soccer Championship team in 1980, before the was Div. I, II and III.

She had the good fortune of timing to work as an assistant at Stony Brook for a year before the opportunity to become Head Coach was available.  She jokes that it was supposed to be temporary and that’s lasted 25 seasons !

When you speak with Coach Ryan you get this sense of ease and comfort.  She is someone that is truly comfortable with herself and is engaging to speak with, except for being humble and not speaking much about herself.  Her assistant Coach Steve Welham pulled me aside to brag about her and make sure I covered all the details, because it was obvious she might not tell me.  It is also obvious that they have a great partnership that works well

Coach Ryan is one of very few women that have an “A Coaching  License.” This provides additional “qualifications,” but once you speak with her and watch her coach her team, you realize why she is good at what she does and how she educates and mentors not only her players, but her coaching staff as well.  Several of whom have moved on from playing for her on to coach themselves, like Kerri McCabe, now at Dowling and Eric Teepe at Iona.

Dowling Coach Kerri McCabe says, “Sue Ryan had a strong influence on my life. She pushed me to become a better soccer player and a better person. She helped me realize my potential and taught me what it would to be successful on an off the field. I would like to thank her for instilling these values and making me a role model for the next generation.”

Kerri has become a successful coach as well at Dowling as they have posted a 10-3-1 record in hopes of an NCAA bid !

Certainly a coach can be measured by many things…wins and loses, championships, but in the end a college coach plays a pivotal role in the transition of young student athletes to productive members of our adult society.  So it would seem that a college coach’s legacy is also the positive impact they have on the young men and women that leave their programs and contribute and give back to not only the soccer community, but become productive citizens.

It would seem that Coach Sue Ryan would get an “A” in that course.  Her success goes far beyond the soccer field and what a great example that can be for all of us.