Ryan is the owner of a double life, as he calls it.

In his normal life, Ryan is a PhD student studying Linguistics at the University at Buffalo, New York where he researches Catalan Language Policy and Planning, along with immigrants and their feelings and thoughts on Catalan policies enacted by the Generalitat.

In his second life, he is involved in all things soccer related. He is the founder of Center Holds It, which is a featured blog on BigSoccer (centerholdsit.bigsoccer.com) where he discusses all things La Liga. He is also the founder of the Sevilla Offside page on The Offside, one of the weekly panel members of The Offside Podcast and also contributor to the Spain World Cup Blog. He is also a member of the Peña Sevillista Puerta de America, the only official Sevilla peña that exists in the United States.

His love for Spain comes from having lived in the land of Paella and Sangria on two occasions. First, Ryan lived in Sevilla where he took classes (if you can call them that) and lived directly across from the Sanchez Pizjuan, where he became a Sevillista hasta la muerte. The second time around, Ryan turned in his flamenco and feria for the vendemia and pueblo that was Villacañas, Spain, a town of about 10,000 nestled in the heart of Castilla-La Mancha. Ryan was a headmaster at an English Academy where he taught English to kids of all ages and actually played semi-pro Basketball, since he was the tallest person in his town.

To add to his love of footy, Ryan is President and General Manager of Queen City FC, a semi-pro soccer club located in Buffalo, New York. Queen City Football Club is Buffalo's premier soccer organization since 2007. Combining a winning tradition on the pitch with a standard of excellence within the community, QCFC remains the height of achievement in amateur sport. QCFC were the 2007 Eastern Conference Champions and 2007 NPSL Runners-Up.

For more information about the club, check out www.queencityfc.com or www.nationalpremiersoccerleague.com.

After graduating with his PhD sometime soon, Ryan will take on a Masters in Sport Administration at Canisius College and will look for a job back in Spain upon graduation in 2009.