Alex Ryan Says Goodbye To Seacoast United To Join Portland Hearts Of Pine
Ryan: “It'll be emotional. But I'm excited for the new challenge."
It was going to take something special for Alex Ryan to leave Seacoast United, a place he’s called home since 2013.
He found that in Portland Hearts of Pine.
Ryan began his career at Seacoast United as a member of the Phantoms, playing summer ball in the USL Premier Development League. He then became a coach, ultimately rising to the level of General Manager.
After serving as the Phantoms' assistant coach in 2019, Ryan assumed the head coaching position in 2020. He led the team to four consecutive USL League Two Playoff appearances and three Northeast Division titles.
He capped his time with the Phantoms by lifting the club’s first-ever league title after defeating Peoria City 3-2 in extra time in the 2024 USL League Two Final.
Ryan will now serve as the first assistant for Hearts, which will begin their inaugural USL League One season in March.
“It'll be emotional,” Ryan said about leaving Seacoast United. “But I'm excited for the new challenge. I'm excited to be part of something that certainly is exciting for myself but also seems to be exciting for the community of Portland as well.
“To be part of something from scratch is something that you can't do very often. So I'm excited to build something from the bottom up and, hopefully, turn this into something special.”
Just days after being announced as a coaching staff member, Ryan experienced the groundswell support for Hearts firsthand.
The first moment occurred when he popped into the club shop.
“To see the constant flow of people coming in and out was, one, eye-opening, and two, pretty special,” Ryan explained.
Soon after that, Ryan attended a board meeting for the Dirigo Union, a supporters’ group for Hearts. Fans were banging drums, practicing chants, and planning events at Bunker Brewing. All in support of a team that hasn’t taken the field yet.
“To have that many people at a get-together, it was pretty special,” Ryan said. “They're on board, they were loud, they were excited.”
Based on these early interactions, Ryan believes the city is knowledgeable and supportive of the team.
“They want to help,” Ryan explained. “I’m excited to get on the field for the first home game. I’m sure the place is going to be absolutely packed and loud.”
“I've always said, you want good people as well as good soccer players, which is super important when you're building something from scratch.” - Alex Ryan
Of course, Ryan, head coach Bobby Murphy, and others still have work to do before opening day.
While the club has already announced several players–including former MLS first-round draft pick Mikey Lopez and Trinidad and Tobago international Michel Poon-Angeron–there are still moves to come.
Ryan quickly noted that the coaching staff is looking at more than just the soccer side of these players.
“I've always said, you want good people as well as good soccer players, which is super important when you're building something from scratch,” Ryan said. “Given how Portland has a plan, operating from a community-based top to bottom, it's important we do have the right fit off the field as well.”
Ryan looks forward to joining the professional ranks. From the start of his coaching career, he has always been willing to take on a challenge.
He remembers that the early days of coaching academy soccer weren’t always easy, but Ryan was open to learning from all experiences.
A sign of his openness, Ryan explained, “I keep saying that you can learn from anyone, even if you’re watching a person that’s never coached soccer before.”
Despite some early stumbles and losses, Ryan stayed committed to the process, embracing any opportunity presented to him.
“I always say to people, you've got to be prepared to put yourself out there,” Ryan said. “Stuff isn't easy. When I first stepped into the academy, I wanted to learn and listen as much as possible. But winning games and trying to have an impact on players and their behavior, it's not easy.”
The wins ultimately came. Ryan became one of the most recognized academy coaches in the region. At the USL League Two level, he maintained an 82% winning percentage (53-9-6).
As he departs for Portland, Ryan notes that “Seacoast will always be home.” The owners, fellow coaches, and, of course, players helped shape him into the person and coach he is today.
But Ryan is ready for a new challenge. One where he will work with Murphy, who has coached in MLS, the USL Championship, USL League One, and MLS Next Pro.
As always, Ryan is ready to contribute and learn.
“I want to be clear: If I was going to make the move, I wanted to work for the right person,” Ryan said. “I wanted to work for the right people. Portland, everything they've done so far in terms of non-soccer-related stuff, they've gone about the stuff in the right way. I genuinely believe that. They're not trying to cut corners.
“In terms of Bobby, regardless of his soccer stuff, he's a great guy. He's a really good person. He's from the heart and someone that I generally think anyone would enjoy working for.
“In terms of his experience, I want to be a sponge, I want to learn, I want to listen to how he does things, I want to learn from him. The most important piece, I want to be an asset to this organization. As I continue to work my way up the ladder, having someone like Bobby who's been around the block, it's great to work with someone of that pedigree.”