Kagan adds Ruiz-Williams to Women's Soccer Staff
February 07, 2019 | Women's Soccer
Jenny Ruiz-Williams spent last season with CSUN.
Corvallis – Oregon State first-year head women's soccer coach Matt Kagan announced Thursday the addition of Jenny Ruiz-Williams as an assistant coach.
Ruiz-Williams arrives at OSU after serving the last year as an assistant coach at CSUN and a coach for the Real So Cal Soccer Club. Before that, she served as a director and coach of the Nashville Football Club and worked as a selection and district training coach for the Tennessee Olympic Development Program and Player Development Program.
"I am extremely happy to have Jenny here," said Kagan. "She is someone I targeted from the beginning. I know I am getting someone I trust, an unbelievable person and someone I know I want to be around on a daily basis.
She is going to add so much to our staff in terms of balance. Jenny is a fantastic communicator, engaging with everyone around her, very tactical and brings so much soccer knowledge with her. She was an extremely high level player and has now transitioned into an extremely high level coach. She is someone that our team can look up to because she played at the highest level and strived for peak performance."
While at CSUN, Ruiz-Williams worked with the team's defense helping the Matadors post three shutouts and having two defenders win all-conference honors in 2018.
"It was a no-brainer for me to join Matt at Oregon State when I was offered the opportunity," said Ruiz-Williams. "Matt is known in the soccer community for being successful wherever he goes because he is a grinder and works so hard.
I jumped at the chance to be able to learn and grow alongside him. I am so excited to get to work with him because he is just a natural leader. I think I can bring experience and knowledge that will compliment both Matt and Jeremy extremely well as we move forward."
Ruiz-Williams will bring extensive playing experience to Oregon State's sidelines in addition to her coaching background.
A U-16 national champion and U-17 national champion runner-up, Ruiz-Williams became a four-year letterwinner at UNLV. She helped the Rebels become one of the top defenses in the Mountain West Conference. A two-time All-Mountain West selection, she helped the Rebels win the regular season conference title and clinch their first ever NCAA appearance in 2004 as UNLV allowed just 14 goals that season. She also netted three goals during her collegiate career.
Ruiz-Williams played international soccer with the Mexican National Team, helping the squad win a bronze medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. After a seven-year hiatus from the team, Ruiz-Williams returned to the national squad in 2011 where she helped guide Mexico to another Pan American bronze medal with a game-winning goal against Columbia.
Ruiz-Williams competed at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, making two starts at midfield. She also helped Mexico win another bronze medal at the Pan American Games that same year. Her international resume also consists of appearances in the Algarve Cup, Australian Cup, Tournament of Brazil and Tournament of Nations in China.
Ruiz-Williams played club soccer for the Bay Area Breeze of the Women's Premier Soccer League from 2011-12 before joining the Seattle Reign FC in the National Women's Soccer League in 2013.
"One of the biggest things I bring is my energy," said Ruiz-Williams. "I want to be infectious and help serve these players, the staff and this community in the best way possible to help propel the program forward.
I have been blessed to play this game at a very high level and be around players that have brought so much to this sport. Everything I do I try to do to the best of my ability. I will give everything I have to honor and serve the people I work with. I am 100 percent bought into the program and being a Beaver. I am so excited to get to represent the Orange and Black."
Ruiz-Williams graduated with a degree in communications from UNLV in 2005 before earning a master's degree in education from Loyola Marymount.
Ruiz-Williams joins Beaver Nation with her husband, Kevin, and their two kids Paige and Levi.
For updates on Oregon State women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter or Instagram @BeaverWSoccer.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
Ruiz-Williams arrives at OSU after serving the last year as an assistant coach at CSUN and a coach for the Real So Cal Soccer Club. Before that, she served as a director and coach of the Nashville Football Club and worked as a selection and district training coach for the Tennessee Olympic Development Program and Player Development Program.
"I am extremely happy to have Jenny here," said Kagan. "She is someone I targeted from the beginning. I know I am getting someone I trust, an unbelievable person and someone I know I want to be around on a daily basis.
She is going to add so much to our staff in terms of balance. Jenny is a fantastic communicator, engaging with everyone around her, very tactical and brings so much soccer knowledge with her. She was an extremely high level player and has now transitioned into an extremely high level coach. She is someone that our team can look up to because she played at the highest level and strived for peak performance."
While at CSUN, Ruiz-Williams worked with the team's defense helping the Matadors post three shutouts and having two defenders win all-conference honors in 2018.
"It was a no-brainer for me to join Matt at Oregon State when I was offered the opportunity," said Ruiz-Williams. "Matt is known in the soccer community for being successful wherever he goes because he is a grinder and works so hard.
I jumped at the chance to be able to learn and grow alongside him. I am so excited to get to work with him because he is just a natural leader. I think I can bring experience and knowledge that will compliment both Matt and Jeremy extremely well as we move forward."
Ruiz-Williams will bring extensive playing experience to Oregon State's sidelines in addition to her coaching background.
A U-16 national champion and U-17 national champion runner-up, Ruiz-Williams became a four-year letterwinner at UNLV. She helped the Rebels become one of the top defenses in the Mountain West Conference. A two-time All-Mountain West selection, she helped the Rebels win the regular season conference title and clinch their first ever NCAA appearance in 2004 as UNLV allowed just 14 goals that season. She also netted three goals during her collegiate career.
Ruiz-Williams played international soccer with the Mexican National Team, helping the squad win a bronze medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. After a seven-year hiatus from the team, Ruiz-Williams returned to the national squad in 2011 where she helped guide Mexico to another Pan American bronze medal with a game-winning goal against Columbia.
Ruiz-Williams competed at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, making two starts at midfield. She also helped Mexico win another bronze medal at the Pan American Games that same year. Her international resume also consists of appearances in the Algarve Cup, Australian Cup, Tournament of Brazil and Tournament of Nations in China.
Ruiz-Williams played club soccer for the Bay Area Breeze of the Women's Premier Soccer League from 2011-12 before joining the Seattle Reign FC in the National Women's Soccer League in 2013.
"One of the biggest things I bring is my energy," said Ruiz-Williams. "I want to be infectious and help serve these players, the staff and this community in the best way possible to help propel the program forward.
I have been blessed to play this game at a very high level and be around players that have brought so much to this sport. Everything I do I try to do to the best of my ability. I will give everything I have to honor and serve the people I work with. I am 100 percent bought into the program and being a Beaver. I am so excited to get to represent the Orange and Black."
Ruiz-Williams graduated with a degree in communications from UNLV in 2005 before earning a master's degree in education from Loyola Marymount.
Ruiz-Williams joins Beaver Nation with her husband, Kevin, and their two kids Paige and Levi.
For updates on Oregon State women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter or Instagram @BeaverWSoccer.
OUR MISSION
Oregon State Athletics strives to Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes (Go BEAVS).
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