Ryan Hurst ‘15 was a standout defender during his time at Wofford, playing in 77 career games for the black and gold, the most all-time in Terrier history. After an injury ended his sophomore season, Hurst came back as a junior and produced two goals and two assists, the most points he would score in any year. He was named All Tournament Team for the 2012 Coastal Carolina Invitational and 2014 All SoCon Second Team. Hurst was also on the SoCon Academic Honor Roll from 2012-2015. Currently residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, Hurst is working on his doctorate degree and lives with his wife Alex (former women’s soccer player Alex Kachulis) and their 4-month-old golden retriever.

How did you decide to attend Wofford?

Being from Greenville, SC, I played a couple club games on Snyder Field and was always blown away by Wofford’s campus. I was looking for a smaller school with a strong academic backbone, especially in Biology, and Wofford just checked all the boxes. It also helped that the year before, they won the SoCon and went to the NCAA tournament!

What is your favorite Wofford Soccer memory?

It would be easy to say that winning the SoCon Regular Season was my favorite memory; however, even more so I loved the time spent with the guys inside and outside of practice and games. They were my brothers and still are a part of my family. Most of my teammates were at my wedding with three of them being best men in my wedding. The memories of just being with guys is something I will always cherish and think back upon.

How would you describe your life as a student athlete?

Balancing athletics with schoolwork was the most difficult aspect about being a student-athlete. At Wofford, academics always comes first, and I’ll be honest in saying it took me about a year to figure this out. Once I got used to the flow of the schedule, the intensity of the athletics, and the work required to succeed academically, I began to do a better job balancing them all out. I knew that if I wanted to continue to be a college athlete, I would need to first ensure I was a successful college student. I used my planner to section out times to study and finish schoolwork and the coaches were very accommodating to any academic need. It also helps that there is more than likely someone on the team that has already taken the classes you are taking and can be a wealth of knowledge...especially on those long bus rides.

Could you tell us a little about what you're doing now?

I currently live in Raleigh, North Carolina with my wife (former women’s soccer player Alex Kachulis) and our 4-month-old golden retriever puppy. I am currently full-time in graduate school obtaining my doctorate in nurse anesthesia practice and will be graduating next August, becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. I still work part-time in the Medical ICU at UNC hospital as a registered nurse helping take care of COVID-19 patients.

How did Wofford prepare you for your career path?

Wofford did an excellent job of preparing me for where I am now. Learning the delicate balance of academics and athletics taught me how to prioritize my time, a skill I will use for the rest of my life. The athletic portion of my time at Wofford taught me to be a team player, a leader, and how to keep a level head in stressful situations. The academic portion of my time at Wofford is the key to my success in graduate school as it taught me how to properly study, use, and retain the information I learned. Overall, Wofford molded me into the person I am today, and I can truly say I am a better man coming out of Wofford than I was coming into Wofford.

What was it like being apart of the 2013 team that won the SoCon Regular Season Title?

Being a part of the 2013 SoCon Regular Season Title team was surreal. It was an achievement that I think everyone within the Wofford soccer program at the time knew we could achieve. That year we changed our style of play to better fit our identity. We were a team that could possess the ball and wear teams down by having them chase. This allowed us to be in the top ten in the country in scoring offense and one of the most efficient teams in the country. The comradery and brotherhood that was developed that year was unbelievable. We were so close as a team, literally doing everything together. I think that played a major role in how we played on the field. 

What advice would you give to current/incoming student-athletes?

Cherish every opportunity spent with your teammates. You will become closer to these guys than anyone else. They will become your best friends, your best men, and, in my case, your neighbors. Get your schoolwork in order. For most of us, soccer won’t last forever and ensuring you have a strong academic backbone will allow you to be successful in life after your time at Wofford. Most importantly, enjoy college, it will be some of the best years of your life and trust me when I tell you, when you get together with all the guys 5 or 6 years after graduating, you will always reminisce in the glory days at Wofford. Stay humble. Conquer and Prevail.