Ryan Fahey joined Chris Gbandi’s staff as the Associate Head Coach in February 2021. Fahey previously served as the Head Coach of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's soccer program beginning in the 2020 season.
At CMS, Fahey had the daunting task of managing the program through a year of no competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then rebuilding the team back up after heavy roster turnover. The Stags didn't miss a beat, finishing with their first undefeated regular season in SCIAC play since 1994, and ending with the first undefeated regular season against Division III opponents in program history (the only regular season defeat was an overtime loss to Westmont from the NAIA). For his efforts, Fahey and assistant coaches Trevor Swartz and Stefan Gonzalez were named the SCIAC Coaching Staff of the Year, after compiling a 14-2-3 record and 10-0-2 mark in league games.
Fahey was a first-team All-SCIAC and third-team NSCAA All-Far West selection for the Stags, who he led to a SCIAC title and an NCAA Tournament appearance as the team's goalkeeper in 2009. After graduation, he stayed with CMS as an assistant coach for three years, beginning a decade-long coaching career which has seen his teams (CMS, Dartmouth, Notre Dame) achieve consistent success at every stop.
Prior to CMS, Fahey spent seven years as an assistant under Chad Riley, the last two at Notre Dame after they spent five seasons together at Dartmouth. Riley and Fahey have led the Fighting Irish to two NCAA bids in the last two years, including the fourth NCAA Quarterfinals appearance in program history in 2018, when they picked up shutouts over Michigan and Virginia to advance through the first two rounds. While on the Notre Dame staff, Fahey was responsible for the program's national recruiting efforts, as well as coordinating goalkeeper training sessions.
Riley and Fahey had tremendous success at Dartmouth, helping the Big Green to four straight Ivy League Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances over their final four years from 2014-17. During their tenure, Dartmouth set program records for most wins and most conference wins over a four-year span.
While at Dartmouth, Fahey helped develop players who earned a combined 35 All-Ivy League accolades, including one All-American and two Academic All-Americans. The Big Green also had four players sign professional contracts with Major League Soccer and the United Soccer League, including goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland, who was picked by the Chicago Fire in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft after earning the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Award.
In addition to coaching Dartmouth's goalkeepers, Fahey was also responsible for recruiting domestically and internationally, and organized practice plans for the program. During the summer, he was the camp coordinator for Hanover Soccer Academies, coordinating camp activities for an average of 130 campers and 20 staff members.
Fahey began his coaching career at CMS with immediate success, helping the Stags to three straight SCIAC Tournament championships and NCAA bids from 2010-12. CMS was stellar defensively in the postseason during those championship years, allowing only one goal in six SCIAC Tournament games combined, as well as earning a 1-0 NCAA Tournament win over Chapman in 2011.
During his time in Southern California, Fahey also served as the head coach of the Foothill Storm U14 Club in Claremont, coached with the Chivas USA Youth Academy in Pomona, served as a trainer at the CATZ Sports Performance Center in Yorba Linda and Pasadena, and worked as a private goalkeeping instructor. He was also the director of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Boys' Soccer Camp in the summer.
Beginning with his senior season as a player at CMS, Fahey was a part of 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in 11 seasons. He helped CMS to four straight conference titles and NCAA bids (one as a player, three as a coach), and after missing on the postseason in his first season at Dartmouth in 2013, he has coached in the NCAA Division I Tournament for six straight years (four at Dartmouth, two at Notre Dame).
Originally a native of Bellevue, Washington, where he attended Interlake High School, Fahey graduated from Claremont McKenna in 2010 with a degree in history. He holds a United Soccer Coaches Advanced Diploma and United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeper I and II Diplomas.
Fahey currently resides in West Hartford, CT with his wife, Ali and son, Fritz.