Ryan Palmbaum has been appointed as the new assistant coach for the Radford University men’s soccer team, according to an announcement made by head coach Andy Cormack. Palmbaum will join the program ahead of the 2026 season.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to join such a dedicated staff and program,” said Palmbaum. “What Coach Cormack, myself, our players, the athletic department, and the community are building here at Radford aligns with me to my core, and I could not be more ready to show everybody who we are and what we can do.”
Cormack expressed his enthusiasm about Palmbaum’s arrival: “I am thrilled to welcome Ryan to our program and the Radford community. He has built a strong reputation for his commitment to player development, attention to detail, and ability to build meaningful relationships with his student-athletes. He brings tremendous energy and a growth mindset that aligns perfectly with our culture and vision. Beyond the field, Ryan is someone who will invest in our campus and local community, building authentic connections and representing our program with pride. We are excited about the leadership and perspective he brings as we continue to move our program forward.”
Palmbaum brings experience from various levels of collegiate soccer including NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA, as well as professional playing experience internationally. Before joining Radford, he was an assistant coach at Kansas Wesleyan University for two seasons where he led recruitment efforts that resulted in 99 new players over two years. In 2025, he became head coach at Kansas Wesleyan University and led the team to a 13-4-3 record.
His playing career includes time in Europe and South America with teams such as Boca Juniors Academy in Argentina (2011-2014), Kallithea FC in Greece (2016), CE Sabadell and CF Badalona in Spain before moving back to play college soccer in the United States. At Northern Michigan University from 2019 through 2021, Palmbaum served as team captain as a freshman and earned several honors including GLIAC Freshman of the Year (2019), three All-GLIAC selections, and two All-Region awards. He later transferred to University at Albany where he played until May 2023.
In addition to coaching responsibilities, Palmbaum founded Dabbl Discovery in 2023—an educational technology company aimed at helping high school and early college students identify academic or professional interests using short-form video content.
During his tenure at Kansas Wesleyan University, Palmbaum’s athletes achieved notable academic success; forty-one student-athletes maintained GPAs above 3.0 while the varsity team averaged a GPA of 3.61. The team also saw six players receive KACA All-Conference honors—including Goalkeeper of the Year—and four earn Academic All-Region recognition.
For updates on Radford men’s soccer activities or results fans can follow their official social media channels on X (@RadfordMSOC), Instagram (@radfordmsoc), or Facebook (Radford Men’s Soccer).
