View source for Randy Ragan

{{Short description|Canadian soccer player (born 1959)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{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 (association football)|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 (NASL)|Toronto Blizzard]]
| clubs2 = [[Toronto Blizzard (NASL)|Toronto Blizzard]] (indoor)
| clubs3 = [[Toronto Blizzard (1986–1993)|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 U-20 men's national soccer team|Canada U20]]
| nationalteam2 = [[Canada men's national soccer team|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}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[CONCACAF Championship]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1985 CONCACAF Championship|1985 North America]]|}}
}}

'''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|High Prairie, Alberta]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> At age six, his family moved to [[Fraser Valley Regional District|Fraser Valley]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> He graduated from Aldergrove High School in 1976, earning the valedictorian shield.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He obtained a degree in psychology from [[Simon Fraser University]] and later graduated from law school at [[York University]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref>

==Career==

=== Club ===
While studying at Simon Fraser, he played on the men's soccer team.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 1979, Ragan served as captain of the Canadian team at the [[FISU World University Games|World University Games]].

In 1980, he was the first draft choice of the [[Toronto Blizzard (NASL)|Toronto Blizzard]] for the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]], and picked ninth overall.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 [[Canadian National Soccer League|National Soccer League]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 1987, he again played for the [[Toronto Blizzard (1986–1993)|Blizzard]] in the [[Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992)|Canadian Soccer League]] where he was a 1987 First Team All Star.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> In 1990 he played with the [[Victoria Vistas]]. In 1991, he spent one season with the [[North York Rockets]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorsoccer/stats/p-raganran001|title=Randy Ragan soccer Statistics on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>

=== 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 [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canadian national team]].<ref name=":1">{{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}}</ref> His first game was a 4–0 win over [[New Zealand national football team|New Zealand]] on September 15, 1980. His last was a 1–0 loss to [[China national football team|China]] on August 31, 1986. He played all three games for Canada during the [[1986 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> 

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 [[Football at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympic soccer tournament]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Canada Men's Olympic Team 1984 |url=https://heritage.bcsoccer.net/entries/canada-mens-olympic-team-1984}}</ref>

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

=== 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.<ref>[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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
He and his wife Janet have four sons.<ref name=":0" /> Aside from his soccer and coaching career, he also worked as a legal aid attorney.<ref name=":1" /> In 2010, he was appointed Chief Technical Officer of the [[Ontario Soccer Association]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Canada'''
*[[CONCACAF Championship]]: [[1985 CONCACAF Championship|1985]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Canada Soccer player|id=2654}} / [[Canada Soccer Hall of Fame]]
* [http://nasljerseys.com/Players/R/Ragan.Randy.htm NASL stats]
* {{FIFA|56593}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|randy-ragan}}
* {{COC profile|randy-ragan}}
* {{SR/Olympics profile|ra/randy-ragan-1}}

{{Canada Squad 1984 Summer Olympics}}
{{Canada squad 1985 CONCACAF Championship}}
{{Canada Squad 1986 World Cup}}
{{Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ragan, Randy}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Soccer people from Alberta]]
[[Category:Canada men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:Canada Soccer Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Canadian soccer coaches]]
[[Category:Canadian men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992) players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor players]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players]]
[[Category:North York Rockets players]]
[[Category:Olympic soccer players for Canada]]
[[Category:People from Big Lakes County]]
[[Category:Simon Fraser Red Leafs men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Toronto Blizzard (1986–1993) players]]
[[Category:Toronto Blizzard (1971–1984) players]]
[[Category:Canada men's youth international soccer players]]
[[Category:Canadian National Soccer League players]]
[[Category:CONCACAF Championship–winning players]]
[[Category:Guelph Gryphons men's soccer coaches]]
[[Category:Guelph Gryphons women's soccer coaches]]
[[Category:Victoria Vistas players]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen]]