Ryan Keener: Head on Straight
1/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
by Brock Lewandowski, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Captain defender Ryan Keener is unmistakable on the soccer field. Many people have their own nicknames, but according to the talent on Big Ten Network, he's the "best hair in the Big Ten."
"People would always give me a bunch of grief for that," said Keener. "I started growing my hair out freshman year. All of the freshmen had a competition to see who would get a haircut first. Whoever wouldn't, would get Chipotle, so that's how this started, and I won as you can see.
"I didn't get a haircut then and before I knew it, it was just a thing. I probably will have to trim it up once I hit the real world. It's living it's last few months here."
Following an impressive second-straight Elite Eight run, Keener prepares for the future by reflecting on his beginnings in soccer and the influence his sisters had on him.
"My older sisters played soccer so it was probably just a family thing," Keener said. "My family was very sports-oriented, so I swam, played golf, basketball and it was just another activity at the time. Most of my time was spent watching my older sisters play, just getting brought along to family trips here and there. Anytime they'd go to a tournament, they were always in the back seat.
"I feel like I spent most of my childhood going around and watching my sisters play, which was a lot of fun and where I learned the cool side of the game - the relationships. That's really what they got out of it, and I was able to see that."
After visiting games at Michigan State with his father during high school, the Grand Blanc, Michigan, native was drawn in to the program by the values he learned from his sisters.
"A lot of the other programs will preach about how it's one big family, but when it comes down to it, I don't know a lot of programs practice what they preach," said Keener. "I kind of got the feeling that Michigan State was the real deal and went on that feeling.
"They talk about the Spartan Family and being a Spartan for life. Being here, I can attest that's a very real thing. That's probably been the most special part about my time at Michigan State.
"There are so many [memories] - probably on the bus after road wins, when we do our little secret cheer. That's always special. It blends together, but every once in awhile we'll be sitting on the bus, reminiscing and bringing this time or that time up. There are so many that it's hard to pick out just one, but in a few years, when we're all sitting around and talking about the season, there will be plenty."
He remembers both personal and in-game moments with his teammates.
"As far as team victories go, playing at awesome places like Creighton, Akron or Maryland, those were all really special," Keener said. "Those were the times that when you're playing, you get a minute to stop and look around, and you're like, `this is what I came for.' You know? It was really special. As far as team wins, I would say winning the Big Ten Tournament that year (2012) when we really had no business being there and just kept on going. That was a big one."
In addition to his everyday memories, Keener has consistently contributed to the program at Michigan State.
 | You grow up. I don't know if that's just college in general, my experiences or the culmination of all of it. It's a new level of maturity and understanding. Once you look back, now I'm feeling pretty old, but at the same time, you feel thankful for what you got from it. |
A four-year starter and letterwinner, Keener totaled six goals and six assists as a Spartan. Named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2011, he went on to become a three-year Academic All-Big Ten honoree and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. In 2014, he capped off his career earning Second-Team All-Big Ten and First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American honors, only the second Spartan all-time to receive the recognition.
With all the accolades, Keener wishes to be remembered in a different light.
"I would want to be remembered as someone who worked his way up," said Keener. "I wasn't always a big recruit or anything, so it's worth the wait to get to where you're going. I got there and kept working. For as much grief as we give the younger guys, we hope to be a good role model to them and really show them the way the program is meant to be, the direction we're going and the values we have.
"The older guys before me did a great job and that's where I learned everything I know about the program, so I hope that I'm doing a good job of passing that on to the younger guys and really just being known as someone who never quit working and always tried to be better."
Thanking both the team leadership and the coaching staff including head coach Damon Rensing, Keener sees a positive effect in his life from those that came before him.
"You grow as a soccer player, you watch your video and you improve everyday, but the cool part about it is what you get off the field," Keener said. "You grow up. I don't know if that's just college in general, my experiences or the culmination of all of it. It's a new level of maturity and understanding. Once you look back, now I'm feeling pretty old, but at the same time, you feel thankful for what you got from it."
Keener now prepares to step off the field and into a different kind of practice as he furthers his career into dentistry.
"I kind of stumbled upon it," said Keener. "I started out in physical therapy because I was an athlete, and I thought it would be a cool career path. I went from there to P.A. to M.D. and finally came upon dentistry. I think it really just offered a really good mix of what I wanted to get out of my career and the lifestyle I wanted to be able to live. It's been good."
Keener will be attending the University of Michigan School of Dentistry starting in June. Even though he may change the hair, there will never be a question that his head is on straight.
"I come from a divided family, but I'll always feel a little more allegiance towards MSU."
