UCLA men’s soccer head coach Ryan Jorden finalizes staff

LOS ANGELES (Via UCLA) – New UCLA men’s soccer head coach Ryan Jorden finalized his coaching staff on Tuesday, announcing the hiring of Bruin alum Eric Reed as an assistant coach and the retention of assistant coach Matt Taylor.

Reed and Taylor were teammates on the 2002 and 2003 UCLA squads, helping the team to the 2002 National Championship.

“I’m very excited about the way the staff has come together for the future of UCLA soccer,” said head coach Ryan Jorden. “In Matt Taylor and Eric Reed, we have two UCLA soccer alums who understand the nature of the university and the traditions of the soccer program. They are passionate about the student-athlete experience and are excited to be part of shaping the future of the program.”

Reed most recently served as the head coach at Division II Malone University in Canton, Ohio. In his one year with the Pioneers, he led the team to a five-win improvement over the 2017 squad in one of the biggest turnarounds in program history.

Prior to that, Reed made assistant coach stops at Bowling Green, Davidson College, and San Francisco.

While at Bowling Green, he helped the Falcons accrue 39 wins over four seasons while primarily working with the goalkeepers. He was named the NSCAA Great Lakes Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2014 after the Falcons won their most games in 17 years (14-6-1) and reached the Mid-American Conference Final for the first time in 11 years.

A Mission Viejo, Calif. native, Reed spent two seasons working with the goalkeepers at Davidson prior to his time at Bowling Green. He was also the goalkeeper coach for the men’s and women’s teams at the University of San Francisco for the 2007 campaign.

Reed was a three-year starter at UCLA from 2004-06, making at least 16 appearances in each of those seasons. He was an All-Pac-10 First Team and All-Far West Region Third Team selection as a junior in 2005, as he helped the Bruins to a conference title. He was also the starter for the 2006 team that finished as the national runner-up. He recorded three shutouts in five games during the 2006 NCAA Tournament and made seven saves in the national title game.

“I couldn’t be more excited to return to UCLA and be a part of the Bruin soccer program once again,” said Reed. “I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity and it is an honor to be part of the staff that will be working to get this team back to the top of collegiate soccer. The history and tradition of UCLA soccer runs deep and I am excited to get to work and put my passion into developing some of the best student-athletes in the country.”

Taylor is set to enter his second season as an assistant coach with the Bruins.

In 2018, he helped guide the Bruins back to the NCAA Tournament. Working mostly with the team’s attackers, Taylor helped groom midfielder Frankie Amaya into the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 MLS Draft. Amaya also spent a significant amount of time with United States U-20 National Team, locking down a starting role and helping the red, white, and blue win the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship to qualify for this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup.

“I am excited and honored to have the opportunity to be part of this next chapter of Bruin soccer,” said Taylor. “UCLA holds a special place in my heart and I am ready to get started with fellow alum Eric Reed and Coach Jorden to bring championships back to Westwood.”

An Irvine, Calif. native, Taylor was the 2003 Pac-10 Player of the Year and a key figure on the 2002 National Championship squad.

Taylor earned All-NCAA Tournament honors in 2002 after leading the team in scoring with five goals en route to the national title. During his senior year campaign in 2003, the Irvine, Calif. native was named a Second Team All-American and MAC Hermann Award Semifinalist on top of his conference player of the year honors. That season, he led the Bruins in scoring for the second consecutive year with 14 goals and 36 points.

Taylor remains the program leader in hat tricks with three while also top-5 in game-winning goals (12), multiple goal games (7) and consecutive games with a goal (4). He played in 87 games for UCLA making 55 starts and totaled 86 points with 33 goals.

Stay up-to-date on all things UCLA Soccer by following the team Twitter account at @UCLAMSoccer.