The University of Gueph, Department of Athletics announced today that Randy Ragan has been named as the new head coach of the Gryphon's Women's Soccer team.

Ragan served as assistant coach with the Gryphon Men's Soccer team last season and for the past three years he's coached the Guelph boys WOYSL (L3) team. He was head coach of the Guelph U16 boys team that reached the Ontario Cup U16 (tier 2) final in 2003 and was the Ontario Cup U17 (tier 2) Champion in 2004. He is a NCCP level 3 coach and holds a Canadian Soccer Association 'B' (Part 1) Licence.

A native of Guelph, Ontario and member of the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, Ragan enjoyed tremendous success during his playing career. He played varsity soccer at Simon Fraser University and from 1981-1986 made forty appearances for the Canadian Olympic and World Cup Soccer Team including four appearances at the 1984 Summer Olympics and three appearances at the 1986 World Cup.

"I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with motivated and talented student-athletes and have access to the resources and facilities that the University of Guelph makes available to the women's soccer program," commented Ragan. "I'm looking forward to doing my part in providing the players with the best possible student-athlete experience."

Ragan also works at the University of Guelph as the Acting Director, Research Services for the Office of Research. He has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario, Bachelor of Law from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University.

The Gryphons are coming off a season where they missed the OUA playoffs finishing sixth in the OUA West with a record of 4-7-3. The team tied the Waterloo Warriors in sixth place, but the Warriors received the berth in the playoffs based on tie breaking rules.