The Mercer Island High School girls soccer program will have a new face leading the charge next fall. The school has hired Terry Ryan as the head coach.

“We are very excited to have someone of Terry’s caliber join us at Mercer Island High School,” said Craig Olson, the school’s athletic director. “His experience and success working with girls at other high schools and in a very successful club program makes for a very promising start next fall.”

Ryan has been a coach for over 17 years, coaching both high school and club teams in the area. He served as the Cedar Park Christian head coach for four years, taking the team from last place to first in a season. He was a girls team assistant at Eastside Catholic and boys team assistant at Archbishop Murphy for seven years.

“I coached high school in the past, and enjoyed it so I’ve been looking for the right way to get back into it,” said Ryan.

Ryan has also coached for the Crossfire Premier soccer program, leading girls U16 and U11 teams, as well as the U11 development team. He was a Crossfire Academy girls and boys trainer for five years and holds a USSF National B license.

Ryan replaces Nicole Nelson, who coached the team for two seasons. Olson said Nelson’s reason for leaving was family related.