He moves to San Jose after three seasons as head coach of the Toronto Sceptres and stepping down from the Canadian national women's team program.
"I'm honored and incredibly excited to help build this organization in San Jose," Ryan said.
He noted that expansion creates a rare opportunity to shape everything with intention, from standards and culture to community connection.
Ryan emphasized the goal of building a competitive team that elevates women's hockey in California.
"We want to build a team that plays with purpose, represents The Bay Area with pride, and helps to continue to grow women's hockey on the West Coast," he said.
Hefford described Ryan as a consummate professional and culture driver who has excelled in leadership roles in the PWHL and with Canada's national team.
She said his diverse experiences and competitive spirit make him a strong fit for the dual responsibilities.
The immediate duties for both executives involve building hockey operations staffs and preparing for the expansion player signing process and the PWHL Draft.
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The signing process will begin in two weeks, followed by the 2026 PWHL Draft scheduled for June 17 in Detroit.
