ERIE, Pa. – As the calendar prepares to flip into June, it marks the end of May which acts as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. And for one man on the Mercyhurst University Campus, it is his Asian Pacific background and roots that drive him to be the person that he has become today.
Before the opening whistle blows on September 3rd 2022, the date that the Mercyhurst Football Team is scheduled to begin their 2022 season, Filipino-American Ryan Riemedio has already made history after he became the first NCAA head football coach of Filipino descent following his appointment by Mercyhurst University on January 1.
Riemedio was born and raised in Seaside/Marina, CA of Monterey Bay. He grew up in one of the most culture rich areas around the world. He attended Seaside High School where he was a team captain, all county team member, won a Monterey Bay League Championship, and a berth to the CCS Playoffs before attending Monterey Peninsula College (Junior College). While Riemedio was at MPC, the team went 19-3, winning two conference championships and one state title. From there he went to Minot State to finish his education and close out his playing career. While at Minot State, he was a two-year starter at inside linebacker, as well as the long/short snapper on special teams. In his two years at MSU, Riemedio was part of a Dakota Athletic Conference Championship team and named a team captain his senior year.
He started at Mercyhurst back in 2012 after coaching at MPC for three years. He was hired as a graduate assistant, primarily focused on coaching Tight Ends, Full-Backs, and Strength & Conditioning. After serving two years at that role, Riemedio was promoted to a full-time position as the Defensive Line Coach and continued his strength role in 2014. He was named the Recruiting Coordinator for the Lakers in the Spring of 2015 before being elevated to the Assistant Head Coach position after the 2017 season. He then earned the defensive coordinator role in 2020, however due to the Covid-19 pandemic, his first true season orchestrating the Laker defense was this past fall where he led a Mercyhurst defense that was top-50 in the country in Total Defense, Rushing Defense, and Passing Yards Allowed.
We sat down with Riemedio and asked him the following questions to learn a little more about his Filipino heritage and descent.
Q: Who was the first person/people in your family to immigrate to America? Can you briefly describe their journey coming to America?
A: The first people in my family to come to America were my grandparent's Federico and Anatalia Riemedio and their children on my father's side. My grandfather was born and raised in Hawaii and migrated to the Philippines when he was a teenager with his family. Years later he met and married my grandmother in the Philippines and went on to have eight beautiful children (Two of which passed away at a young age due to illness). While still living in the Philippines my grandfather served for the US Army and fought in World War II.
Their journey to America was in the late 1970s/early 1980s. They migrated to the San Francisco Bay Area where many of my family members still reside today. Without my grandparents, my family and extended family wouldn't have had the opportunity to live in the USA. Sadly, I never got to meet my grandfather because he passed away a year before I was born but am forever grateful to him for changing the trajectory of my family.
Q: What does Asian Pacific American Heritage Month mean to you?
A: Asian Pacific American Heritage month means a lot to me. Growing up in a Filipino household with two parents that migrated from the Philippines, I would have never thought I would be in the position I am in today. My parent's afforded me this opportunity and pushed me to chase my dreams of playing and coaching college football. It wasn't common for a Filipino American to play football at the high school or even the college level. This month gives me a chance to reflect on my family's journey, the struggle, and what it took to live the American dream. This month also celebrates my heritage, culture, upbringing, and family which all has shaped me to be who I am today.
Q: How important is your Filipino descent to you? How has it molded you into the man and coach that you are today?
A: My Filipino descent is important because it has taught me about family, respect, and honor. The Philippines fought for its freedom and independence from the Spaniards, the perseverance and resilience of my ancestors resonates with me every day. It is a direct reflection on who I am and how I coach and live every day.
Q: Not a lot of people can describe themselves as the first of their descent or background to do something. What does being the first NCAA Head Football Coach with Filipino descent mean to you?
A: When I was hired and given this opportunity to become only the sixth head coach in Mercyhurst University's history, I was ecstatic and looked forward to spearheading the program. It wasn't until I went to the AFCA National Convention this past January in San Antonio, when a fellow coach said, "You've made history. You are the First Head Football Coach of Filipino Descent in NCAA history." I didn't register until I spoke at the GA Forum at the centennial conference, when I was approached by many young Asian American coaches who said, "Thank you for inspiring us to chase our dreams." Being able to reflect on it, I realized how special it is to be in the position I'm in.
Seeing head coaches like Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat and Mike Magpayo of UC Riverside do it before in the game of basketball, gave me inspiration to go after what I want to accomplish in this coaching world. I am very appreciative that my players look at me as coach and nothing else, but I now know how important and groundbreaking it is to be the first Filipino head football coach for an NCAA institution. It gives you hope as an underrepresented culture in sports. Basketball is king in the Philippines and will always be, but being able to represent my culture in the sport of football is monumental.
Q: What brings you joy about your heritage and culture?
A: There are many things that bring joy about my heritage and culture. In my day-to-day life I try to incorporate my heritage & culture not only for myself, but for my ten-year-old daughter, Amelia, so she can be proud of who she is and where she comes from. I speak Tagalog (the Filipino national language) fluently and Amelia has an eagerness to learn the language as much as possible. We cook traditional dishes, Sinigang (Filipino Stew) is our favorite entree and Ube (the purple, Filipino yam) is our favorite dessert/treat. And In June, I am wearing the traditional Filipino dress shirt, the Barong, at my wedding. I am so proud of my heritage & culture, and I try to integrate it into my everyday life so even though we are 1,000s of miles away from my family, my daughter still grows up with the same upbringing that I had.
Q: Does your family have any traditions that are especially important to you?
A: A tradition that my family has always done and is especially important to me is the gathering we have around Christmas time. Christmas in the Philippines is a festival, and we try to do the same here in the US. It's a chance for my family members to come together in one place to celebrate and be together.
Q: Who influenced your decision to get into coaching, any Asian-Pacific Islanders Americans mentors along the way?
A: Getting into this profession there weren't many Asian-Pacific Islander coaches to begin with in the NCAA. My biggest influences that helped pave the way for me were Coach Ramussen (MPC), Coach Castillo (MPC), Coach Alfred Avila (Seaside High School), and Coach Quenga (Seaside High School). Of the four, the only coach of Asian-Pacific Islander descent was Coach Quenga (Guam).
It wasn't until after getting into the profession when I began to idolized coaches with Asian-Pacific Islander backgrounds like Norm Chow (Former Head Coach of Hawaii), Navy Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo, BYU Head Coach Kalani Sitake, Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman, Hawaii Head Coach Timmy Chang, Eugene Chung (NFL), Kevin Mawae (NFL HOF), University of Charleston Head Coach Quinn Sanders, and Balboa High School CIF State Champion Coach, Fred Velasquez.
Q: Do you think that your hiring will open up the door for fellow Filipino Americans who want to get into coaching football?
A: I believe it will! My hope is that my hiring opens the doors for all coaches and shows that no matter your cultural background, there is hope and a chance in the coaching profession. Being the First Filipino American Head Football Coach in the NCAA is special and I look forward to continuing to use my platform to represent the underrepresented, my heritage, and culture in the game of football.
