Nigro Promoted to Assistant Women's Soccer Coach
Jul 03 | Women's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers women's soccer head coach Mike O'Neill has announced the promotion of Ryan Nigro to the position of assistant coach, which became effective on July 1. Nigro served as a volunteer assistant coach in 2022 and as director of player development in 2020-21.
"We are thrilled to add Ryan on staff as a full time assistant," O'Neill said. "He has done an incredible job with us and we appreciate his dedication and commitment to the Rutgers women's soccer family. Ryan has tremendous knowledge of the game and will continue to be of great benefit to our student-athletes as a coach and a mentor. Ryan's passion for the game and devotion to the program is unwavering. Not only is Ryan an excellent coach and a natural leader, he is a person of exceptional character who aligns with all of our program core values and will continue to help push our culture forward. We are so grateful for Pat Hobbs, the Rutgers athletic department and their continued commitment to Women's Soccer and support of our student-athletes to make this possible"
"I have been so thankful to call Rutgers home for the last three seasons," said Nigro, who earned his U.S. Soccer "C" License in 2023. "Rutgers Athletics has the best student-athletes, coaches, support staffers, administrators, and facilities in the nation and anybody would be lucky to be a part of it. To be trusted to work with this incredible group of young women is an honor and a privilege that I do not take lightly. I am so excited to now be a part of the women's soccer program full-time and I would like to thank Coach O'Neill and the rest of the staff for giving me this opportunity."
Nigro was part of the 2021 United Soccer Coaches Regional Coaching Staff of the Year at Rutgers. RU earned its first Big Ten Conference title for the program and school, posting an undefeated record of 10-0 in league action. Led by a program-high nine All-Big Ten selections, the team advanced to the Big Ten Tournament Championship game for the third time since joining the league. In its 10th of now 11th-straight NCAA Tournaments and the first as a No. 1 seed in 2021, the team advanced to the College Cup for the second time and first time since 2015.
Nigro began his collegiate soccer career at NJIT in 2017 and 2018, where he saw action in 26 games with seven starts over two seasons. For his work in the classroom, he earned recognition on the ASUN Academic Honor Roll. The midfielder went on to cap his career at Monmouth University for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, where saw action in 14 games with several starts for the Hawks. Nigro was named to the MAAC Academic Honor Roll and MAAC All-Academic Team.
Prior to college, Nigro attended high school at the Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, New Jersey. Over two seasons with the soccer team, Nigro help the squad to a record of 45-5, a state championship, two sectional championships, and two shore conference championships. He earned all-conference, all-shore and all-state accolades during his time there.
Nigro is a trainer at Advanced Physical and Technical Training in Metuchen, New Jersey, since 2017. He is focused on developing youth, college and professional soccer players and held a USSF "F" Coaching License before earning his U.S. Soccer C License in 2023.
The Morganville, New Jersey, native earned a B.S. in commerce business administration with a marketing concentration at Monmouth University.
"We are thrilled to add Ryan on staff as a full time assistant," O'Neill said. "He has done an incredible job with us and we appreciate his dedication and commitment to the Rutgers women's soccer family. Ryan has tremendous knowledge of the game and will continue to be of great benefit to our student-athletes as a coach and a mentor. Ryan's passion for the game and devotion to the program is unwavering. Not only is Ryan an excellent coach and a natural leader, he is a person of exceptional character who aligns with all of our program core values and will continue to help push our culture forward. We are so grateful for Pat Hobbs, the Rutgers athletic department and their continued commitment to Women's Soccer and support of our student-athletes to make this possible"
"I have been so thankful to call Rutgers home for the last three seasons," said Nigro, who earned his U.S. Soccer "C" License in 2023. "Rutgers Athletics has the best student-athletes, coaches, support staffers, administrators, and facilities in the nation and anybody would be lucky to be a part of it. To be trusted to work with this incredible group of young women is an honor and a privilege that I do not take lightly. I am so excited to now be a part of the women's soccer program full-time and I would like to thank Coach O'Neill and the rest of the staff for giving me this opportunity."
Nigro was part of the 2021 United Soccer Coaches Regional Coaching Staff of the Year at Rutgers. RU earned its first Big Ten Conference title for the program and school, posting an undefeated record of 10-0 in league action. Led by a program-high nine All-Big Ten selections, the team advanced to the Big Ten Tournament Championship game for the third time since joining the league. In its 10th of now 11th-straight NCAA Tournaments and the first as a No. 1 seed in 2021, the team advanced to the College Cup for the second time and first time since 2015.
Nigro began his collegiate soccer career at NJIT in 2017 and 2018, where he saw action in 26 games with seven starts over two seasons. For his work in the classroom, he earned recognition on the ASUN Academic Honor Roll. The midfielder went on to cap his career at Monmouth University for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, where saw action in 14 games with several starts for the Hawks. Nigro was named to the MAAC Academic Honor Roll and MAAC All-Academic Team.
Prior to college, Nigro attended high school at the Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, New Jersey. Over two seasons with the soccer team, Nigro help the squad to a record of 45-5, a state championship, two sectional championships, and two shore conference championships. He earned all-conference, all-shore and all-state accolades during his time there.
Nigro is a trainer at Advanced Physical and Technical Training in Metuchen, New Jersey, since 2017. He is focused on developing youth, college and professional soccer players and held a USSF "F" Coaching License before earning his U.S. Soccer C License in 2023.
The Morganville, New Jersey, native earned a B.S. in commerce business administration with a marketing concentration at Monmouth University.
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