Ryan Jorden, the long-time assistant men's soccer coach at Westmont, has been named the new head coach at California Baptist. Jorden will begin his new duties at the Riverside campus on January 2. "I am super excited for Ryan," said athletic director and head men's soccer coach Dave Wolf. "It's a great opportunity and without a doubt he is ready to be a head coach. It's bittersweet because we have been together for eight years and he has done an incredible job here.
If we thought the conference was tough last year, wait until we add him to the coaching ranks." "We are really excited," said Jorden. "It is a great opportunity for me professionally and for my family. I have a great sense of what is going on at the institution - the direction, the goal and the mission - and what is going on in the athletic department. Since 1999, California Baptist has won 14 national championships in various sports and so there is obviously some ambition and desire. The soccer program is one program which has not done as well. They have selected me to be the person to try and turn that around and I am excited about that opportunity."
Jorden played for the Warriors from 1991-94 during which time the team had an overall record of 65-18-8 and a Golden State Athletic Conference record of 29-4-4. Beginning in 1996, Jorden served as an assistant coach at Oregon State while earning a Master's Degree in exercise science. Jorden returned to Westmont to serve as an assistant coach before taking a leave of absence to pursue a Doctorate in exercise science at the University of Northern Colorado. While in Greeley, Jorden served as an assistant coach.
Since 2004 when Jorden returned to Westmont, he has served as an assistant coach and as a member of the Kinesiology faculty. "Ryan went through a transition from working under me to working along side me," said Wolf. "As he made that transition, he increased in every area of the office. Administratively, he is magnificent and of great help to me.
As a coach, he is very sharp and intelligent and very well suited to that leadership role." "Westmont has been a major part of my experience," said Jorden. "As a student and player here, I was blessed to be in a tremendous program with a great winning tradition that allowed me to have tremendous success." "The opportunity to go to Oregon State and get Division I coaching experience was fantastic for me as a formation for my coaching," continued Jorden. "Being able to return and spend time at my alma mater and contribute to the success here has been a lot of fun. The most enjoyable part of being back at Westmont has been working with Dave. He has been a mentor and given me an opportunity to work side-by-side with him and grow together as coaches." "A year ago we would not have anticipated Ryan doing anything but staying here at Westmont for a long time," said Wolf. " We can't always predict the ways in which God might bring about a different reality in our lives. There are definitely mixed emotions, but the emotion that is carrying the day is excitement for Ryan and Liz."
