St. Mary’s Ryken Names Brandon Kaelin as New Head Coach for Boys Soccer Program

St. Mary’s Ryken is proud to announce Brandon Kaelin as the new Head Coach of the Boys Soccer Program. A familiar face on campus and a dedicated leader, Coach Kaelin brings a wealth of experience, energy, and vision to the program.

Coach Kaelin previously served as the JV Head Coach at SMR and worked closely with former Head Coach Lamar Broadhead, who laid a strong foundation rooted in core values and high expectations. Kaelin is committed to building on that legacy.

“My immediate goals are to create stability through leadership and respect, and accountability through core values and team goals,” Coach Kaelin said. 

Kaelin's coaching philosophy is grounded in mentorship and experience. He holds multiple US Soccer coaching certifications and recently received his ‘D’ License, demonstrating his commitment to growth and excellence.

“My leadership experience combined with hard work and dedication will set the tone for success,” Coach Kaelin shared. “What makes each coach unique is how they apply lessons learned from mentors and experience to develop their own style.”

A member of the St. Mary’s Ryken soccer program for the past two years, Kaelin is well-acquainted with the level of talent and competition in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC).

“The WCAC is full of top-tier programs. We will avoid complacency and push ourselves to meet high standards,” he said. “This begins at practice—with daily preparation and a shared commitment to excellence.”

In his first season, Kaelin is focused on advancing to at least the second round of the WCAC playoffs. He is equally dedicated to recruiting and retaining high-character student-athletes.

“I want to build a program rooted in integrity and mutual respect—one that local players are proud to be part of,” he said. “This program will support student-athletes on and off the pitch.”

St. Mary’s Ryken Athletic Director, Jon Lombardo, added, “We are thrilled to welcome Coach Kaelin as our Head Boys Soccer Coach. Brandon has done an excellent job leading the program this off-season as the interim head coach. Through the interview process, Coach Kaelin displayed the ability to create a transformational experience through establishing a championship culture. He has served as our head JV Boys Coach and has built great relationships with the SMR community through his mission-first, team-first approach. We are excited to continue supporting Coach Kaelin and the Boys Soccer program through our mission and Xaverian Values. I have full confidence that Brandon will lead our program to positive growth on the field and lifelong impact off the field.”

“It’s an honor and a privilege to lead this program,” Coach Kaelin said. “I see great potential in this team, and I can’t wait to get started.”

To view the upcoming game schedule for the Boys Soccer Program, visit https://www.smrhs.org/athletics/teams/boys-soccer. 

For more information about the SMR Boys Soccer program, please contact Athletic Director Jon Lombardo at jonathan.lombardo@smrhs.org.