SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- John Brown University has named Ryan Williams '19 as the eighth head men's soccer coach in program history, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Robyn Daugherty announced Monday morning (March 9).
Williams comes to the position from Sporting Arkansas, where he served as Associate Director of Coaching and guided the Ozark United FC U20 Academy team to a United Premier Soccer League playoff appearance in his first season.
"We are pleased to welcome Ryan back to campus in this important role," Daugherty said. "Ryan's past success with JBU as a student-athlete and assistant coach will be invaluable as he steps into leadership of the Blue and Gold program. Ryan has a very high soccer IQ and a passion for Jesus, and I am excited to see those come together to benefit our student-athletes as they grow both on and off the field."
Most recently at Sporting, Williams served under former JBU men's soccer head coach Scott Marksberry – who led the Golden Eagles from 2013-16 – developing a comprehensive playing philosophy and coaching methodology now used across Sporting Arkansas, Ozark United MLS Next, and with collegiate athletes. Williams oversaw recruiting, video analysis, and player development while leading youth programming that reached approximately 200 players. His Ozark United FC U20 Academy side reached the playoffs in its first season under his direction despite carrying an average player age of 18 against opponents averaging 24 years old.
Before joining Sporting Arkansas, Williams spent three seasons as assistant coach for the Golden Eagles under Chris Cole from 2021-23. During his time on staff, he helped lead a roster representing eight countries across four continents, contributed to back-to-back recruiting classes, and was part of a staff that built the program's highest retention rate in a decade.
"I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead the JBU men's soccer team, a program steeped in history and excellence," Williams said. "This university and community are very dear to me. I look forward to continuing the impact on the pitch and I am excited to be part of what the Lord might do in the lives of these student-athletes."
Williams takes over a program that has found its footing again on the national stage. He succeeds Samuel Estrada '21, a former JBU teammate, who guided the Golden Eagles for a pair of seasons in 2024 and 2025. Under Estrada, John Brown finished 12-5-5 in 2025, returned to the NAIA National Championships for the first time since 2019, and reached the Round of 16 – the program's deepest run in the tournament's modern format. The Golden Eagles, unseeded in the 40-team field, upset 10th-seeded William Carey (Ala.) on the road in penalties in the Second Round before falling 3-1 to No. 2-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), advancing farther than any other Sooner Athletic Conference program in the 2025 campaign.
A native of Mililani, Hawaii, Williams arrived at JBU in 2015 and left four years later as one of the program's most decorated players. After graduating in 2019, he signed with New Mexico United of the United Soccer League Championship, where he made 27 appearances as a midfielder over two seasons for the Somos Unidos, registering two goals and one assist. Prior to his professional career, Williams spent three summers with the Charlotte Eagles of USL League Two, earning the captaincy in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, he led Charlotte to the USL League Two national championship, scoring the title-winning goal and earning Man of the Match honors.
Williams was a four-year letterwinner and team captain for the Golden Eagles from 2015-18, earning Second-Team All-Sooner Athletic Conference honors as a sophomore before claiming First-Team All-SAC recognition in each of his final two seasons. As a senior, he was named the SAC Offensive Player of the Year and earned NAIA All-America Honorable Mention distinction. He finished his career with 27 goals, 37 assists, and 91 points – with his 37 career assists ranking third all-time in program history.
Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies from John Brown University in 2019. He and his wife, Emery, are the parents of two children, Kainoa and Isla, and reside in Siloam Springs.
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