Former NCAA All-American and two-time Major League Soccer (MLS) Champion Ryan Cochrane ’03 has been named assistant men’s soccer coach at Santa Clara. Cochrane capped off an outstanding collegiate career at SCU by helping the Broncos reach the 2003 NCAA College Cup Final Four. He went on to enjoy nine-years playing professional soccer, which included winning a pair of MLS titles with the Houston Dynamo.
"There is no doubt Ryan is going to help this program grow and become better," said Santa Clara men’s soccer head coach and Bronco Hall of Famer Cameron Rast. "First and foremost, his background as a player is exceptional. He just finished up his professional career and was already transitioning into coaching, so it’s a natural fit."
A native of Portland, Ore., Cochrane became one of the most accomplished players in school history during his three years on SCU’s Mission Campus (2001-03). Cochrane started every game he was available for, serving as the team’s central defender. He earned Soccer America Freshman All-America honors in 2001 and All-America Honorable Mention recognition in 2002.
In 2003, Cochrane anchored a Bronco defense that posted 12 shutouts, went 16-4-4, won the West Coast Conference Championship and advanced to the NCAA College Cup Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. He was named an NSCAA/adidas Second Team All-American in 2003 and a M.A.C. Hermann Trophy semifinalist.
More recent, during his last two years playing professionally, Cochrane served as an assistant coach at the collegiate level with San Antonio’s Trinity University in 2012 and at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass. in 2011.