Meghan Ryan Nemzer begins her 14th year in 2021-22 with the Rutgers coaching staff and eighth as the program's associate head coach. Ryan previously served as an assistant coach for the Scarlet Knights for four seasons after spending two years as a volunteer assistant. Ryan, a three-year RU captain at center back, graduated in 2007.
Throughout Ryan's tenure with the Scarlet Knights, the program has produced eight MAC Hermann Trophy candidate selections, 10 United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA) All-American selections, and 30 United Soccer Coaches All-Region honorees.
With Ryan as the orchestrator of the RU defense, the Scarlet Knights have not posted a GAA higher than 1.06 in Ryan's coaching career (since 2008), nine times recording a GAA under 1.00 and eight times posting a GAA under 0.65.
In 2017, RU led the NCAA with a new program-best GAA (0.27), as well as in shutout percentage (.762). The Scarlet Knights allowed a program-low and Big Ten-low six goals. In 2015, RU also led the NCAA in GAA (0.37), shutouts (19), and shutout percentage (.731). All three statistical achievements set single-season RU records at the time.
Under Ryan's guidance, eight Scarlet Knights have entered the professional ranks in the last six seasons. Backs Madison Pogarch, Chantelle Swaby, and Kenie Wright were named All-Big Ten and All-Region honorees during their time “On the Banks”, going on to join the NWSL following graduation. Swaby and Wright were drafted 29th overall by Sky Blue FC in 2019 and 2020, respectively, while Pogarch signed with Portland Thorns FC in 2019.
Prior to Wright’s selection, backs Brianne Reed, Erica Skroski, and Erin Smith emerged as national talents “On the Banks.” Skroski earned All-America Second Team laurels as a senior in 2015, with Reed securing All-America Third Team laurels in 2014. Smith earned All-Region accolades as a senior in 2016. All three players were First Team All-Big Ten players.
Smith and classmate Madison Tiernan entered the professional ranks, selected 33rd overall (Houston Dash) and 24th overall (Sky Blue FC), respectively, in the 2016 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft.
On a proud day for the program – Jan. 15, 2016 –Skroski and Reed heard their names called in the NWSL Draft, becoming the first two Rutgers players in history to be drafted into the league. Reed went 18th overall to FC Kansas City, as Skroski was picked 23rd overall by hometown team Sky Blue FC.
Ryan and head coach Mike O’Neill raised Rutgers women’s soccer to new heights in 2015. RU won a record 19 matches, advanced to its first College Cup in the program’s fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament trip, and ended the year ranked No. 4 in the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Coaches Poll – its highest position ever.
The storybook season included a colossal 7-6 penalty kick shootout victory at No. 1 Virginia in the national quarterfinals to punch the team’s ticket to Cary, North Carolina.
On the club level, Ryan has excelled with Players Development Academy (PDA) as the head coach of PDA the Arsenal and assistant coach of the PDA Slammers. Ryan coached the Arsenal to a 2015 U17 ECNL National Championship, and has won two other ECNL national titles as an assistant with the Slammers (2014, 2013). She is the first female head coach in ECNL history to win a national championship.
As head of the Arsenal, Ryan has guided the club to continued success. The Arsenal finished 2016 third at the U-18 ECNL National Championships, capturing the ECNL Northeast Conference title. The team ended the 2014 season in first place in the ECNL Northeast Division en route to a No. 5 national ranking. In 2012, Ryan coached the Arsenal to the No. 2 spot in the nation and won the ECNL Northeast Conference U14 Championship. The squad finished third at nationals that year.
With the Slammers, Ryan is the assistant coach under Rutgers head women’s soccer coach Mike O’Neill. In addition to their two ECNL crowns, the Slammers also captured the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championship and finished third in 2012 (No. 5 ECNL national ranking).
Ryan served as a co-captain for the Scarlet Knights for three consecutive seasons, starting with her sophomore year. After an injury caused her to miss her freshman campaign, she started 67 of 75 games through the rest of her career. Ryan was a key figure on a defense that allowed .85 goals per match in 2004 and boasted a 0.88 goals-against average in 2005. That season the team post clean sheets against eight opponents. In 2006 Ryan anchored a defense that was arguably one of the best in the country. The team finished 16-3-4, allowing a mere six goals and posting 16 shutouts, the most in the program's history.
RU finished the season ranked No. 6 in shutout percentage, No. 10 in won-lost-tied percentage and No. 11 in goals-against average. Ryan finished her impressive career by leading a defense that shut out 10 opponents, including three of the team's final four games to clinch a playoff berth in the BIG EAST Championship. Ryan was a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star, a three-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Defensive Player of the Week and a Soccerbuzz Elite Team of the Week honoree once. After her junior year, she was named Second Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region by Soccerbuzz magazine, and after her senior year she was given an All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention.
Meghan and her husband, Joe Nemzer, and daughter reside in Manalapan, New Jersey. Meghan and Joe welcomed their baby girl in September 2020.
