Ryan Williams was named the eighth head men's soccer coach in John Brown University program history in 2025.
A JBU alum and former Golden Eagle, Williams returned to Siloam Springs after serving as Associate Director of Coaching at Sporting Arkansas, where he guided the Ozark United FC U20 Academy team to a playoff appearance in his first season.
At Sporting, Williams worked 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. He 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 United Premier Soccer League playoffs in its first season 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.
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 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.
