HOUSTON – HBU head men's soccer coach, Steve Jones, has announced the hiring of Ryan Pratt as assistant coach.

"I am very excited to have Ryan join our staff," says Jones. "Ryan has an extensive back ground in coaching at the DI level as an assistant as well as a head coach, bringing in some great experience.  He has some great connections with recruiting and brings many years of experience in that area.  Ryan will also bring some great experience from a defensive perspective. I am looking forward to working with Ryan and feel he will help us continue to move forward as a program."

Pratt comes to HBU from Jacksonville, Fla., as he spent two seasons as the head men's soccer coach at Jacksonville University. The Dolphins qualified both times for the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. Under Pratt's leadership, the team received back-to-back National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Awards while coaching five All-Conference selections.

Prior to his time at JU, Pratt spent two years as an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Va., from 2010-12. During his time, the Rams had back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2003-04. He also coached three NSCAA All-Region players and 10 All-Colonial Athletic Association members.

Pratt spent nine seasons as the head men's soccer coach at the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Ala. He had an overall record of 99-61-12 and a 43-17-2 conference mark. He set the program record with 18 wins in 2007 and had a perfect conference record (6-0) in 2008. The Falcons went to the NCAA Division II National Tournament four times and were national semifinalists in 2007. Pratt is the school record holder for all-time wins and all-time winning percentage.

He played semi-professional soccer for both the Alabama Saints and Nashville Metros for the United Systems of Independent Soccer League.

Pratt earned his BA at UAB in 1998. He was a four-year letter winner for the Blazers' men's soccer team. The team went 54-21-3 and made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1994. The Blazers were Conference USA Regular Season Champions the following season, in 1995. "Having played as a defender at the DI level, Ryan will bring some great experience from a defensive perspective," says Jones. "I feel he will help make us a better defending team."