In her first year at the helm of the program, Nemzer led the Terps to a 4-8-5 overall record. Maryland finished with three wins in Big Ten play, the most since 2019. Of those three wins, Nemzer led the team to the first-ever program victory over Michigan in the Big Ten opener, along with recording the first ever back-to-back road conference wins since the program joined the Big Ten in 2014.

A Maryland native, 2021 Big Ten Champion and National Semifinalist Meghan Ryan Nemzer was named the new head coach of the Maryland women's soccer program by Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics Damon Evans on December 10, 2021.  

Nemzer, a native of Crofton, Maryland, who graduated from St. Mary's High School in Annapolis returned to her home state after spending the last 14 years on the coaching staff at her alma mater, Rutgers University. 

Nemzer spent eight seasons as Rutgers' Associate Head Coach between 2014-21, helping the Scarlet Knights to the 2021 College Cup, which they played in last weekend, and a final ranking of No. 3 in the nation. Rutgers captured the 2021 Big Ten Championship, going undefeated in conference play (10-0) and posting an overall record of 19-4-2. 

This past season, the Scarlet Knights earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament on the way to the College Cup, where they dropped a narrow 1-0 decision to eventual champion Florida State. With Nemzer, Rutgers earned bids in the last 10 NCAA Tournaments and 12 times in her 14 years on staff with two NCAA College Cup appearances. In 2021, the Scarlet Knights posted the first undefeated season in Big Ten conference play since 2005.

Nemzer was part of the 2021 North Region Staff of the Year, led by head coach Mike O'Neill. In 2018, she was named one of the Top 5 Associate/Assistant Coaches in the NCAA by Top Drawer Soccer. 

Over the last 14 years with Nemzer on staff, Rutgers posted 12 seasons with double-figure victories. Since joining the Big Ten Conference in 2014, the Scarlet Knights have a 111-32-29 overall record for a 73 percent winning percentage, the second-best record among all Big Ten schools during that time. In Big Ten games, they compiled a record of 56-15-18, also for a 73 percent winning percentage. The 15 conference losses are the fewest by any Big Ten team since 2014.

Throughout Nemzer's coaching tenure with the Scarlet Knights, the program has produced eight MAC Hermann Trophy candidate selections, 13 United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA) All-American selections, 35 United Soccer Coaches All-Region honorees, 34 All-Big Ten selections, including 14 first-team honorees. 

This season, Rutgers had two semifinalists (Gabby Provenzano and Frankie Tagliaferri) for the MAC Hermann Trophy and has had a semifinalist for the National Player of the Year award for three straight seasons and fourth in the last five years - Amirah Ali (2020), Amirah Ali (2019), Casey Murphy (2017).

Rutgers also earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the 2020-21 season, marking the 11th consecutive year the Scarlet Knights have been awarded.

With Nemzer as the orchestrator of the RU defense, the Scarlet Knights have not posted a goals-against average higher than 1.06 in Nemzer's coaching career (since 2008), 10 times recording a GAA under 1.00 and nine times posting a GAA under 0.68 – including the College Cup season of 2021.

Under Nemzer's guidance, eight Scarlet Knights went on to play professional soccer over the last six seasons with six being drafted into the NWSL. 

On the club level, Nemzer has excelled with Players Development Academy (PDA) as the head coach of PDA the Arsenal and assistant coach of the PDA Slammers. Nemzer coached the Arsenal to a 2015 U17 ECNL National Championship, and has won two other ECNL national titles as an assistant with the Slammers (2014, 2013). She was the first female head coach in ECNL history to win a national championship.

As head of the Arsenal, Nemzer has guided the club to continued success. The Arsenal finished 2016 third at the U-18 ECNL National Championships, capturing the ECNL Northeast Conference title. The team ended the 2014 season in first place in the ECNL Northeast Division en route to a No. 5 national ranking. In 2012, Nemzer coached the Arsenal to the No. 2 spot in the nation and won the ECNL Northeast Conference U14 Championship. The squad finished third at nationals that year.

Nemzer served as a co-captain for the Scarlet Knights for three consecutive seasons (2005-07), starting with her sophomore year. After an injury caused her to miss her freshman campaign, she started 67 of 75 games through the rest of her career. Nemzer was a key figure on a defense that allowed 0.85 goals per match in 2004 and boasted a 0.88 goals-against average in 2005. That season the team post clean sheets against eight opponents. In 2006 Nemzer anchored a defense that was arguably one of the best in the country. The team finished 16-3-4, allowing a mere six goals and posting 16 shutouts, the most in the program's history.

Nemzer was a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star, a three-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Defensive Player of the Week and a SoccerBuzz Elite Team of the Week honoree once. After her junior year, she was named Second Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region by SoccerBuzz magazine in 2006, and after her senior year in 2007, she was given an All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Rutgers in 2008. 

Meghan and her husband, Joe Nemzer, welcomed their daughter, Bethany, in September 2020.

What they're saying

"Meg is an excellent coach , recruiter, and woman of high integrity. Her proven influence at Rutgers and strong belief in fundamental defensive principles will guide Maryland towards great heights. Meg’s recruiting contacts across the east coast and within the Big Ten footprint will attract additional  hard working, talented players. The current players are fortunate to have a new leader with a high drive and a rich pedigree of success at both the club and collegiate power 5 level." - Lori Walker-Hock, Head Coach Ohio State Women's Soccer

“I know Meg will be the type of coach that will get the best out of everyone around her. Every single day she strives to be a better version of herself. She will not only make her players great players, but she will make them better people. Few people get to have their dream job and go back home and coach in the same place where they fell in love with the game. I know how much this opportunity means to her and Maryland could not have chosen a better person for this job. I have no doubt she will have an impact in a way that only Meg can." - Karina LeBlanc, General Manager Portland Thorns FC

“Meghan has distinguished herself as one of the most talented coaches in the country. No one will be surprised as she establishes the University of Maryland into a consistent Big Ten and national Championship contender. She is a master recruiter, tactician and most importantly inspiring leader of women. This is an outstanding hire for Maryland.” - Katie Shields, Head Coach St. Louis Women's Soccer

"We are incredibly proud and excited for Meghan. There aren't words to describe what she means to our Rutgers women's soccer family. From her time as a player to a coach on staff, she has done so much for this program and our players. We wish her all the best in her next chapter." - Mike O'Neill, Head Coach Rutgers Women's Soccer  

Updated June 24, 2023.

Personal Information

Full Name: Meghan M. Ryan Nemzer

Hometown: Crofton, Maryland

Education: Rutgers, 2008 (communication)

Husband: Joe

Children: Bethany

Playing Experience

2004-07: Rutgers, defender

Coaching Experience

2008-14: Rutgers, Assistant Coach

2014-21: Rutgers, Associate Head Coach

2021-present: Maryland, Head Coach

Career Coaching Record

Maryland

Year

Record

Pct.

Conf.

Pct.

Finish

2022

4-8-5

.382

3-7

.300

11th

1 Year

4-8-5

.382

3-7

.300

Total

4-8-5

.382

3-7

.300