Erin Lycan Ridley serves as the Head Coach of the San Jose Earthquakes Academy U15 team and assistant coach for the U17 Academy team. A USSF A licensed coach, she has also served as an assistant coach the U17 women’s national team for US Soccer.
Contact Erin Ridley at eridley@sjearthquakes.com
Ridley’s 18-year coaching career has overseen the development of numerous college standouts, youth national team players, and professional players. Ridley’s collegiate teams have captured three different NCAA conference championships as well as an NCAA Tournament College Cup (Final Four) appearance.
Beyond her 11 seasons of Division I college soccer, she has also worked with nationally ranked club and nationally ranked high school programs, state and region Olympic Development Programs, and with multiple cycles of the US Soccer’s U17 Women’s National Team staff as well as serving as a US Soccer SheChampions Mentor and a US Soccer scout. She also spent two seasons serving as head coach of the semi-pro WPSL Chattanooga FC Women (earning Southeastern Coach of the Year honors in 2018).
Ridley came to the Bay Area to lead the U19s and U17s of the San Jose Earthquakes Girls Development Academy, where the staff was named the 2018-19 US Soccer DA West Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. Ridley also represented the Quakes Academy at the 2019 NorCal Soccer Symposium as an on-field presenter. She lives in San Jose with her husband, Tim Ridley, a registered nurse and former collegiate strength and conditioning coach.
Background and Playing History
Ridley grew up as a multi-sport athlete in Chattanooga, Tennessee. An All-State goalkeeper from Soddy Daisy High School, she was recruited by top NCAA Division I schools, including the University of Virginia, Stanford, Rice, and Rutgers. She opted to play for the University of Virginia Cavaliers, and in 2001, was part of the Soccer Buzz ranked number one recruiting class in the country.
She led UVA to a program first ACC tournament championship in 2004 as a co-captain. She earned her undergraduate degree in Anthropology from the University of Virginia. She also played with two semi-pro W-League teams (Memphis Mercury, Hampton Roads Piranhas). She was medically disqualified and retired from playing in the spring of 2005 of her senior year of college due to multiple concussions.
2020-Present: San Jose Earthquakes Boys Academy
Role: U15 Academy Head Coach. U17 Academy Assistant Coach.
Honors: U15 2023 GA Cup Group winners. U17 2022-23 final four of playoffs. First female head coach in MLS Academy history. Elite Formation Coaching License candidate (cohort 5).
2018-2020: San Jose Earthquakes Girls Academy
Role: U19 Academy Head Coach and U17 Academy Head Coach. U15 Assistant Coach.
Honors: U15 GDA National Champions. US Soccer DA West Coaching Staff of the Year. NorCal Soccer Symposium on-field presenter.
2018-2022: US Soccer U17 Women’s National team
Role: Assistant Coach
Honors: 2022 CONCACAF Champions and 2022 World Cup qualifiers
2017-2018: WPSL Chattanooga FC Women
Role: Head Coach
Honors: Southeast Conference Champions. WPSL Southeast Conference Coach of the Year.
2017-2018: Baylor School
Role: Assistant Coach
Honors: TSSAA High School Boys State Champions. Top Drawer National Ranking: #10.
2015-2017: George Washington University
Role: Assistant Coach/Goalkeeper Coach
Honors: Atlantic 10 Champions. 12 shutouts (program record). Nation's longest winning streak (13). League-best 0.76 goals-against average. Team Awards: A10 Defender of the Year. A10 Rookie of the Year. A10 Coach of the Year.
2011-2015: Virginia Tech
Role: Assistant Coach/Goalkeeper Coach
Honors: 12 shutouts in multiple seasons (program record). NCAA Sweet Sixteen twice. ACC Tournament Finalist. Earned an NCAA Tournament #1 Seed for the first time in program history. NCAA Tournament College Cup final four (first appearance in program history) Most wins/fewest losses in program history. Highest RPI National ranking: #4.
2008-2011: Davidson College
Role: Assistant coach/Goalkeeper coach
Honors: Southern Conference Champions. First NCAA appearance in program history.
2007-2008: Stephen F. Austin State University
Role: Assistant coach/Goalkeeper coach and interim head coach
Honors: Southland Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions (program first).