Ryan Pore - Head Coach - Men's Soccer Coaches

Ryan Pore

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
msoccer@umkc.edu
Phone:
816-235-5469
Alma Mater:
Tulsa
Graduating Year:
2013

On Jan. 14, 2020, Kansas City Director of Athletics Dr. Brandon Martin announced the hiring of Ryan Pore as the new Roos head men’s soccer coach. Pore played professionally for seven years, including four seasons from 2005-08 with Sporting Kansas City. He came to Kansas City from the University of Tulsa, where he had been on the coaching staff since 2013.

Pore enters his fifth year at the helm for Kansas City Men's Soccer in 2024. In four seasons as the Roos' head coach, he has posted a 19-28-17 record, including an 13-10-9 mark in Summit League play. Throughout his time in KC, Pore has coached 15 All-League performers and was named the 2020 Summit League Coach of the Year.

During 2023, Pore's fourth season in Kansas City, the Roos went 4-8-6 with a 2-3-3 mark in league play. Season highlights included a 2-1 win over Creighton on Sep. 12, the first win over the Bluejays since 2008, and a Summit League Semifinal PK win over No. 23 Denver, becoming the first team to ever eliminate the Pioneers in the Semifinal round.

To cap the season, Julien Le Bourdoulous was named First Team All-Summit and All-Newcomer Team, while Seth Kacich and Edson Murguia earned Second Team honors. Kacich and Luke Hoelting were recognized for their performance in the classroom as well, nabbing All-Academic Team nods.

Pore led Kansas City to a 7-5-5 record in the 2022 season, the program's first winning season in 12 years. The Roos posted a 4-1-3 mark in conference play, including a draw with No. 8 Denver, the first result over a top-ten nationally-ranked team since 2008.

For the second-straight year, the Roos took the fourth seed into Summit League postseason play, matching up with top-ranked Oral Roberts in the Semifinal round. The Roos battled to a 2-2 draw in regulation, and a beautiful free kick by Arne Neufang found the back of the net in overtime and sent the Roos into the league finals for the first time since 2009.

Pore led Christian Koffi and Kazuki Kimura to First Team All-Summit League Honors, while Kotaro Hirokawa was placed on the Second Team and Cooper Clark earned All-League honors for the third-straight year, being named to the Honorable Mention list.

In the 2021 season, the Roos took on a gauntlet of nationally-ranked opponents, playing a program record six teams that were ranked-or-receiving-votes in the national polls. Against No. 15 Virginia Tech on Aug. 26, KC picked up a 2-2 tie, the first result against a ranked opponent since 2013.

The Roos picked up the four-seed heading into the Summit League Men's Soccer Championship, where they took on No. 1 seeded Denver. Kansas City battled for 110 minutes of scoreless soccer before the Pioneers advanced in a 4-3 penalty shootout.

Cooper Clark was named Summit League Goalie of the Year for the second-straight season, while Arne Neufang and Kazuki Kimura each earned All-Newcomer and Second Team All-Summit Honors.

Pore turned heads around the League in his first year, finishing fourth in the Summit League standings at 5-4-1. Pore guided the Roos to their first in-conference winning record in five seasons and highest conference finish in eight years.

Pore picked up his first career head coaching win on Feb. 22, 2021 in his Durwood Soccer Stadium debut, defeating Summit League opponent Omaha by a score of 3-1. The Summit League success proved no fluke, as the Roos went on to sweep Omaha and Western Illinois and take four points from Eastern Illinois.

At the end of the season, Pore brought home 2020 Summit League Coach of the Year honors. Additionally, Cooper Clark won Goalkeeper of the Year and was named First Team All-League, four Roos were named Second Team All-League and four more were named to the All-Newcomer Team.

“We are excited to have Ryan join our KC Athletics family,” said Kansas City Director of Athletics Dr. Brandon Martin. “Ryan’s pedigree as a player, proven success in recruiting, and commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes, made him the ideal fit for our program. I’m excited for our future in men’s soccer.”

In his time at Tulsa, Pore began as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach in his final three seasons (2017-19). Under the direction of head coach Tom McIntosh, Pore helped TU post a 56-49-23 (.527) overall record in seven seasons, claim three American Athletic Conference championships and advance to the NCAA Championship three times. Also, he helped mentor five players who would eventually go on to play professionally, including Tony Rocha, the 73rd overall pick by Sporting KC in the 2015 draft.

“I want to thank Dr. Martin for trusting in me to lead the next chapter of this program,” said Pore. “There has been great success here over the years and I want to add to that foundation. Also, I want to thank the University of Tulsa for helping me in my professional development and to coach McIntosh, who has been a mentor over the past few years and a lifelong friend.”

Pore has familiarity with the Kansas City culture and soccer in the region. After being drafted 16th overall in the 2005 SuperDraft by Sporting KC, he would go on to play in 58 career games scoring three goals in a four-year span with the professional club. He cited that experience nearly 15 years ago as an attractive quality of taking this position.

“Obviously, I have a history with Kansas City living there for four years. I’m familiar with the city and the University is in a beautiful part of the city. Academically, the University has great things going for it to attract the quality student-athlete that I’m looking for. The area has a rich history of soccer. In just my short time there, you can feel the passion of the fans.”

The 2020 soccer season will bring a different kind of change as the Roos become full members of the Summit League – a conference they were a part of from 1994-2013. That change is something that Pore is looking forward to.

“Moving to the Summit League will be exciting giving us the ability to renew some regional rivalries and get to the NCAA Tournament, which is ultimately what we want to do. I think it helps in recruiting, the overall awareness of the game and the great sport of soccer. I think it’s a great move for us and I’m looking forward to it.”

In three seasons (2002-04) as a player at Tulsa, Pore became the program’s only two-time All-American, and finished his career ranked second in points (123) and goals (51). As a junior, Pore set TU’s single-season record for goals (22) and points (55), and the single-game mark for assists with five. He was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and a two-time All-MVC First-Team performer (2003 and 2004). Pore was tabbed to the All-Midwest Region First Team twice, while concluding the 2003 campaign as the nation’s second-leading scorer and was the top scorer in the country in 2004.

While he played professionally, he also had coaching stints with the Blue Valley Predators (2008), Bridlemile Soccer Club (2009-10) and Tulsa Soccer Club (2012), as well as serving as a volunteer student assistant coach during the 2012 season at Tulsa.

Pore earned his bachelor’s degree in organizational studies from Tulsa in 2013. He is married to Ashley and they have one son, Luca, and a daughter, Stella.

What others are saying about Head Coach Ryan Pore…
•   Tom McIntosh, University of Tulsa Head Coach: “Ryan has been an important part of our program and my life since 2002 and I have no doubt he is ready for the next step in his career. He will build on what Kansas City previously has achieved over the coming years, which is the job of all of us in college soccer. He is the best hire for the Kansas City Men’s Soccer program!”
•   Jimmy Conrad, Former Sporting KC player and U.S. Men’s National Team member: “Kansas City has made a great choice in hiring Ryan as the head men’s soccer coach. His experience as a player at the top level in this country, and now as a coach will allow him to have a big impact on his players and the University. Knowing Ryan, I have no doubt that his work rate and leadership will help guide the program in a good direction.”
•   Gavin Wilkinson, Portland Timbers General Manager and President of Soccer: “Ryan was a highly regarded member of the organization during his time with the Timbers. He is a well-rounded and charismatic leader who has the perfect skill set to succeed in any organization. We wish Ryan great success in his future pursuits.”
•   Kerry Zavagnin, Sporting KC Assistant Coach and played with Ryan at Sporting: “Ryan brings a wealth of experience to the game, with his playing at Tulsa and then professionally with Sporting and the Timbers. His experience will bring tremendous value in building the program into one of the best in the country.”