Randy Ragan

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Randy Ragan

| image =

| full_name = Randy Lee Ragan

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|6|7}}

| birth_place = High Prairie, Alberta, Canada

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}

| position = Midfielder, defender

| collegeyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1979

| college1 = Simon Fraser Clan

| years1 = 1980–1984

| years2 = 1980–1981

| years3 = 1986–1987

| years4 = 1990

| years5 = 1991

| clubs1 = Toronto Blizzard

| clubs2 = Toronto Blizzard (indoor)

| clubs3 = Toronto Blizzard

| clubs4 = Victoria Vistas

| clubs5 = North York Rockets

| caps1 = 117

| caps2 = 17

| caps3 = 19+

| caps4 = 11

| caps5 = 4

| goals1 = 6

| goals2 = 3

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 2

| goals5 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 1976

| nationalyears2 = 1980–1986

| nationalteam1 = Canada U20

| nationalteam2 = Canada

| nationalcaps1 = 6

| nationalcaps2 = 40

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2007

| manageryears2 = 2008–

| managerclubs1 = Guelph Gryphons (men's assistant)

| managerclubs2 = Guelph Gryphons (women's)

| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|CAN}}}}

}}

Randolph "Randy" Lee Ragan (born June 7, 1959) is a former Canadian elite professional soccer player, who was considered one of the top midfield players in Canada in the 1980s.

Early life and education

Ragan was born in High Prairie, Alberta.{{Cite news |date=1987-03-24 |title=High Prairie native signs new deal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tribune-high-prairie-na/166497306/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=The Daily Herald-Tribune |pages=7}} At age six, his family moved to Fraser Valley.{{Cite news |last=Konotopetz |first=Gyle |date=1980-10-07 |title=Sky is the limit for Canada's 'Big Bird' in soccer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-sky-is-the-limit-for-cana/166497104/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=Calgary Herald |pages=60}} He graduated from Aldergrove High School in 1976, earning the valedictorian shield.{{Cite news |date=1976-06-03 |title=Valedictorian shield |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/langley-advance-valedictorian-shield/166498187/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=Langley Advance |pages=1}} He obtained a degree in psychology from Simon Fraser University and later graduated from law school at York University.{{Cite news |last=Parrish |first=Wayne |date=1986-05-24 |title=Randy Ragan toils tirelessly in obscurity |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-randy-ragan-toils-tirel/166499068/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=The Toronto Star |pages=7}}{{Cite news |last=Saxon |first=Tony |date=2002-05-17 |title=Lack of desire hurts soccer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/guelph-mercury-lack-of-desire-hurts-socc/166499586/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=Guelph Mercury |pages=3}}

Career

= Club =

While studying at Simon Fraser, he played on the men's soccer team.{{Cite news |date=1980-03-05 |title=Ragan signs for the Blizzards |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/langley-advance-ragan-signs-for-the-bliz/166497486/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=Langley Advance |pages=27}} In 1979, Ragan served as captain of the Canadian team at the World University Games.

In 1980, he was the first draft choice of the Toronto Blizzard for the North American Soccer League, and picked ninth overall.{{Cite news |date=1979-12-11 |title=Blizzard picks Ragan in draft |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hamilton-spectator-blizzard-picks-ra/166497952/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=The Hamilton Spectator |pages=27}}{{Cite news |date=1979-12-11 |title=Ebert top NASL pick |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-ebert-top-nasl-pick/166497714/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=The Standard |pages=28}} He played for the Blizzard from 1980 to 1984, including one indoor NASL season. In 1986, he played with the Blizzard during their 1986 season in the National Soccer League.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/560057236/?terms=randy+ragan+toronto+blizzard|title=Waiters remains uncertain who can suit up for Cup|date=April 4, 1986|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=Alberni Valley Times|page=8|language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}} In 1987, he again played for the Blizzard in the Canadian Soccer League where he was a 1987 First Team All Star.{{Cite web |url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1987.html#CSL |title=The Year in American Soccer - 1987 |access-date=April 8, 2010 |archive-date=July 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708232716/http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1987.html#CSL |url-status=dead }} In 1990 he played with the Victoria Vistas. In 1991, he spent one season with the North York Rockets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorsoccer/stats/p-raganran001|title=Randy Ragan soccer Statistics on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}

= International =

In 1976, Ragan played for the Canada U-20 men's national soccer team during its unsuccessful qualification campaign for the 1977 FIFA World Youth Championship.

He went on to play 40 times for the Canadian national team.{{Cite news |last=Lovegrove |first=Dan |date=1988-07-07 |title=Steelers begin roster shuffle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hamilton-spectator-steelers-begin-ro/166499910/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=The Hamilton Spectator |pages=22}} His first game was a 4–0 win over New Zealand on September 15, 1980. His last was a 1–0 loss to China on August 31, 1986. He played all three games for Canada during the 1986 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web | url=https://heritage.bcsoccer.net/entries/canada-mens-world-cup-team-1986/#:~:text=In%201986%2C%20the%20Canadian%20men%27s%20soccer%20team%20made,leaving%2017%20nations%20to%20fight%20for%20the%20other | title=Canada Men's World Cup Team 1986 }}{{Cite news |date=1986-07-08 |title=Midfielder's lifestyle hits low gear |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sault-star-midfielders-lifestyle-hi/166499421/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=The Sault Star |pages=8}}

Ragan also played nine games with the Canadian Olympic team and was a member of the 1984 Olympic Canadian soccer team which went to the quarterfinals of the 1984 Olympic soccer tournament.{{Cite news |last=Koep |first=Bob |date=1984-07-28 |title=Soccer Olympians to rely on defence |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-soccer-olympians-to-rel/166500852/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=The Toronto Star |pages=30}}{{cite web |title=Canada Men's Olympic Team 1984 |url=https://heritage.bcsoccer.net/entries/canada-mens-olympic-team-1984}}

In April 2002, Ragan was inducted into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame.{{cite web | url=https://canadasoccer.com/news/hall-of-fame-names-eight-inductees/ | title=Hall of Fame Names Eight Inductees }}

= Coaching =

Ragan coached the Guelph Royals 1994 Boys A team who play in the Western Ontario Youth Soccer League. In 2007, he served as coach with the University of Guelph men's soccer team. On May 16, 2008, the university hired Ragan as the head coach of the Gryphons Women's team.[http://www.sportuniversitaire.ca/e/print_story.cfm?ID=11920 Randy Ragan named head coach of Guelph Gryphon program] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706203742/http://www.sportuniversitaire.ca/e/print_story.cfm?ID=11920 |date=2011-07-06 }}{{Cite news |last=Massey |first=Rob |date=2010-10-14 |title=Gryphs click on a goal idea |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/guelph-mercury-gryphs-click-on-a-goal-id/166500496/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=Guelph Mercury |pages=B5}}

Personal life

He and his wife Janet have four sons. Aside from his soccer and coaching career, he also worked as a legal aid attorney. In 2010, he was appointed Chief Technical Officer of the Ontario Soccer Association.{{Cite web |last= |date=2010-03-31 |title=OSA Hires former Canadian National Player Randy Ragan as new CTO - Futsal Canada |url=https://futsalcanada.ca/osa-hires-former-canadian-national-player-randy-ragan-as-new-cto/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=futsalcanada.ca |language=en-CA}}

Honours

Canada

CONCACAF Championship: 1985{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/conca85det.html|title=Torneo Premundial 1985 (IX Campeonato de Naciones (NORCECA) CONCACAF)|access-date=April 20, 2024}}