USL Welcomes Ryan Madden as VP of Communications, PR

The United Soccer League today officially welcomed Ryan Madden as the organization’s Vice President of Communications and Public Relations. Madden brings experience from Major League Soccer, where he served as Senior Director of Communications for the Colorado Rapids, as well the Olympic movement, where he worked as head of Communications for the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

“We are extremely excited to bring a professional with Ryan’s experience and insight into our organization,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “Ryan’s reputation as an outstanding communications professional is well known throughout North American soccer circles and we are delighted he has joined us to spearhead our communications and public relations initiatives.”

Madden joined the Rapids in June 2017 and led the club’s public relations and media operations while also serving as the club’s official spokesperson. He joins the USL at a key moment in the organization’s growth and is looking forward to what the future holds.  
“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” said Madden. “No one is working harder to grow the game across North America than the USL, and I’m very grateful to be a part of it. The future is bright.”

Prior to joining the Rapids, Madden worked for the USADA, where he oversaw the organization’s strategic communications initiatives. During his time with the USADA, Madden acted as the organization’s spokesperson, while also overseeing all content initiatives and serving as the primary contact for all national and international media.

In the run up the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Madden helped oversee numerous high-profile media projects, including television segments with CBS’s 60 Minutes, as well as NBC, CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera, among others. He also acted as the organization’s liaison for print outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and numerous others across the United States and Europe.

Prior to joining USADA, Madden covered the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup as a writer for CONCACAF.com, while also serving as Assistant Director of Athletics Communications at the College of Charleston. Madden was also a regular contributor for The Huffington Post between 2012 and 2014 and got his start in sports interning with the Strategic Communications wing of the University of Missouri Athletics Department.

Madden earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri and his Master of Arts degree from Ohio University’s Center for Sports Administration. He can be found and followed on Twitter @Ry_Madden.

About USL: The USL is one of the most successful professional soccer leagues in the world, reaching a population of more than 84 million and fueling the growth of the game across North America. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, the USL provides unparalleled club support with a growing team of more than 50 professionals across 17 departments, ranging from operations to marketing, communications and sponsorship.
 
The USL has a national media partnership with ESPN, wherein all league matches are broadcast on ESPN+, ESPN3 and across linear channels. The league also operates USL Productions, which includes a state-of-the-art facility that produces and distributes more than 500 league matches and more than 1,000 hours of original content to national partners, local affiliates and international markets throughout the 2018 season.