Bio

Ryan Joiner has returned to his South Mississippi home in 2023 to take over as head women’s soccer coach at Gulf Coast. The Ocean Springs High School graduate arrives after five successful seasons at East Central and three state championships at St. Stanislaus.

He compiled a 37-22-5 record in his final four seasons at Decatur, including taking the Warriors as high as No. 2 in the NJCAA rankings. His team in spring 2021 finished 11-3-2 and second in the MACCC North, advancing to the Gulf District Tournament semifinals. The following year’s team made it to No. 2 in the poll and finished 9-5.

In 2019, Joiner’s ECCC team finished 9-7-1 and lost in penalty kicks to Jones in the MACJC quarterfinals.

Joiner’s St. Stanislaus boys teams won MHSAA Class 4A state championships in 2013-14, 20114-15 and 2015-16. The Rockachaws had a 57-15-3 record in his three seasons, and he was named Mississippi Coach of the Year three times by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. He was also the Sun Herald’s South Mississippi Coach of the Year three times and the Clarion-Ledger Mississippi Coach of the Year in 2014.

Joiner returned to his alma mater in 2016 where he was the girls soccer coach. He led Ocean Springs to a Class 6A runner-up finish in 2017.

Joiner was a standout keeper for OSHS before playing college soccer at Meridian Community College. He was twice named to the All-MACJC First Team and the All-NJCAA Region 23 Team, earning NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention in 2006.

He started his coaching career in 2011 at Meridian before beginning his championship run in high school.

Joiner has a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s in teaching in community college education from Mississippi State University. He holds a United States Soccer Association B License, National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Diploma, and Level III Goalkeeper Certificate.

He and his wife Kylie have one daughter, Lennon Layne Joiner, 2.