Georgetown University's Head Men's Soccer Coach Brian Wiese will welcome Ryan Nelsen to the pitch this season as he joins the staff. Nelsen comes to the Hilltop following a decorated playing career as well as coaching stints.

"I've known Ryan since he played at Stanford when I was an assistant coach there, and in my 28 years of coaching I would rate him as one of the best leaders I've ever come across," said Wiese. "He has played in the World Cup and extensively in the EPL, and his experiences as a player and a coach will be a great addition for our program. He'll be a wonderful mentor for our players this Fall."

Nelsen brings a wealth of soccer experience to Georgetown. His coaching career includes the head job at Toronto FC as well as playing experience in the English Premier League and with New Zealand's national team making more than 400 professional appearances.

Nelsen began his soccer career with Christchurch United in New Zealand, making 96 team appearances and posting 12 goals between 1995 and 1998. In 1998, he moved to the United States on a university scholarship, playing for North Carolina's Greensboro College in the NCAA and later transferring to Stanford University for his final two years of college soccer. At Stanford, Nelsen was named MVP as a junior and an All-American his senior season.

Drafted fourth overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United, Nelsen spent four years with the club where he played a key role in bringing the team its fourth championship. During his tenure at D.C. United, he made 81 appearances, posting seven goals and five assists. He served as team captain from 2003-05 and was twice named as MLS's Best XI.   

In 2005, Nelsen moved to the English Premier League, playing for Blackburn Rovers from 2005-12, posting 195 appearances in all competitions and scoring eight goals. He was named captain less than a month after his arrival with the team. In 2012, he signed with Tottenham Hotspur as a free agent on a six-month contract. He made nine appearances, five League and four FA Cup, scoring one goal in all competitions for the Spurs.

In 2012, Nelsen signed with Queens Park Rangers and made 21 appearances for the club with one goal to his credit before swapping his boots for a whistle.

In 2013, Nelsen accepted an offer to become head coach of Toronto FC. He won his first game as a head coach in the home opener against Sporting Kansas City in a 2–1 victory and went on to coach for the entire 2013 season as well as part of the 2014 campaign. Nelsen was 17-29-18 as a head coach.

Nelsen had more than 40 caps for New Zealand's All Whites National Team and he captained the All Whites at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and at the 2012 London Olympics.

The Christchurch, New Zealand native graduated from Stanford with a degree in political science. In 2011, Nelsen was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to football. He also co-authored a book with fellow New Zealander Tony Smith called Ryan Nelsen's Road to the World Cup.

Off the pitch, Nelsen has stayed active in athletics on the tech side serving as executive chairman for Roar Basketball/Rugby and director of SportInvest US LLC.