“ Ryan represents the next generation of sports field managers by blending traditional agronomic principles with innovative, results-driven strategies. Through his work at a high-profile collegiate program and his involvement in the NCSFMA, he is influencing peers and helping move the industry toward more sustainable, data-informed decision-making. His ability to combine technical expertise, leadership, and innovation makes him a standout among his peers and a clear choice for a SportsField Management magazine Rising Star Award.”
RISING STAR AWARDS
Ryan Anderson, CSFM
Director of Athletic Grounds and Turf Management, University of North Carolina
“ I WAS REALLY DRAWN TO sports field management before I even knew it was a career path,” said Rising Star Award Winner Ryan Anderson, CSFM.“ My family and I would go to Baltimore Orioles games when I was between 5 and 10 years old. We had family in the Baltimore area, so we would go there all the time. I always wanted to get there really early and stay late so I could watch the grounds crew do their job.
“ It really wasn’ t until later in high school that I realized it was a career and what I wanted to pursue,” Anderson added.“ But what originally drew me to it was those early years at Baltimore Orioles games, walking out of that tunnel from the concourse and all of a sudden there ' s a beautiful baseball field ready to go.”
Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Anderson played youth soccer for the Richmond Kickers. The head coach of the youth club at the time was also the head coach of the Richmond Kickers professional soccer team.
“ I asked if they needed help in any particular area with the club,” said Anderson.“ I started doing equipment for the professional team – setting up cones and helping to ensure practice flowed well. That led to me talking to the GM and exploring every facet of sports.”
Anderson went on to work for the team in a variety of roles – from marketing to ticketing, game ops, coaching, equipment and more.
“ It wasn’ t until I worked with the grounds crew at the training facility that I was like,‘ this is what I want to do.’ That’ s when it all clicked,” he said.“ While I was still pursuing my soccer career, I interned with Richmond Flying Squirrels after I graduated high school. Then I went to Clemson, worked on the grounds crew for athletics, interned with the New York Red Bulls, and graduated in December of 2018.”
After graduating from Clemson, Anderson immediately went to work as an assistant field manager with the Washington Nationals, a role he held from 2019-2021.
Anderson’ s wife, Marion, is originally from Greenville, South Carolina. So, in 2022, seeking a job geographically located between their two families, he accepted a position at the University of North Carolina( UNC) as field supervisor for Boshamer Stadium, home of UNC baseball. He has since worked his way up to his current role as director of athletic grounds and turf management for UNC.
In that role, Anderson oversees the management of all UNC sports fields – synthetic and natural – which accounts for 35 to 40 acres of sports fields and landscaped grounds. That includes agronomic programs, cultural practices and landscape management, as well as equipment maintenance. Below Anderson, each of the UNC sports facilities has a supervisor, and some of the facilities have assistants as well. In total, there are 10 people, Anderson included, on the UNC athletic grounds and turf management staff.
“ A lot of this job is planning for the future and then being able to adapt that plan,” said Anderson.“ When dealing with as many sports teams as Carolina has, there’ s always something that pops up or schedules change. So there’ s a lot of planning, but also planning for the plan to change and having backup plans.”
Added Anderson,“ Our goal is to provide a safe playing surface for our student athletes and provide them the best surface possible so they can compete and achieve their goals on the field. We’ re all a big team and that ' s one common goal that we have.” According to Anderson, there are multiple aspects of the job that can be challenging.“ There’ s so much out of our control because we are dealing with a living object,” he said.“ We play outside for a lot of our sports, so there’ s the weather aspect of it. But the biggest thing for me is being able to adapt. More than likely, something will pop up, something will change to where you need to change your approach. Whatever it is, you need to be able to quickly identify the problem and adapt.”
Looking at his career thus far, Anderson feels fortunate for his experiences at each of his stops along the way.
“ I’ ve always had a leader, co-worker or boss who has been one of the top in the game,” he said.“ They are all mentors to me. I still talk to all of them, even if it’ s not as much as we should because we get so busy. Everyone I’ ve worked with has influenced me in this profession in some way. They’ ve all shown me how to be a good leader, how to communicate with coaches and administrators, and that a turf manager is much more than just growing grass.”
Anderson added that sports field management is a profession where there are a variety of ways to get to one goal. And although you might not have the answers, there is probably someone who has experienced the same problem or whatever it is that you’ re going through. So always reach out and ask questions.
“ It’ s great that we have organizations like the SFMA and the North Carolina SFMA to where we can all get together and learn and grow,” said Anderson.“ All of us have the same goal to provide a safe playing surface. So it’ s great that we can get together and keep raising the bar. That only happens when we all communicate, try new things and learn.”
When not at work, Anderson is focused on his family. He and Marion have a two-year-old son, Miles, and are expecting another baby boy, due in October. Along with their dog, Scout, the family just enjoys being together. In addition to work and family time, Anderson is also busy pursuing his master’ s degree in Sports Management from Western Carolina University.
“ Sports are changing so much that there’ s always room to learn,” he said.“ I’ m always trying to better myself to be the most prepared as possible for what’ s to come. It’ s great to work at a place like UNC, because they let you try to have the best worklife balance as possible, and they are also very supportive of continuing education.”
Anderson is proud to be entrusted to lead the group that provides the best surfaces possible for a Power 4 university.
“ I think that’ s a very big accomplishment,” he said.“ I got this role when I was 28, and I’ ve been very fortunate that my boss, Casey Carrick, was in this role before me. He has helped me along the way to continue to grow into this role. So for them to be able to trust me at such a young age to take this on has been very special. Also, getting my CSFM was a great accomplishment because it’ s a very hard thing to achieve. I’ m just proud to be able to provide the services we do for our student athletes. I feel very fortunate to be where I’ m at and accomplish the things along the way that I’ ve accomplished.”
According to his peers, Anderson has provided a measurable impact on the quality and consistency of athletic playing surfaces at UNC. He led a complete redesign of fertilization and cultural practice programs, resulting in improved field performance, enhanced player safety, and more efficient resource use. His strategic approach elevated surface quality across multiple venues and also reduced input costs, creating a more sustainable and fiscally responsible operation for UNC Athletics. He is also passionate about mentoring, and has consistently worked with interns, students, and young professionals throughout his career.
Anderson’ s advice to others is to always keep learning, don’ t be afraid to ask questions, and don’ t be afraid to make mistakes.
“ I’ ve made a lot in my short career,” he said.“ I still have a long way to go, and plenty of mistakes to be made. But it’ s all about how you come out of it. Use everything as a learning experience, whether something went right or something went wrong – just always aim to get better.
“ And make sure you’ re celebrating your accomplishments as well,” he added.“ This is a very tough job that we have. It’ s a job that doesn ' t always get appreciated as it should. Which is what I think is great about this recognition. We’ re recognizing young people in this industry.”
Anderson added that although it is his name on the Rising Star Award, it is a result of the efforts to everyone who has been a part of his career journey – from the Richmond Kickers to Clemson to the Flying Squirrels, Red Bulls, Nationals, and UNC.
“ They’ ve all had a part in creating the grounds manager that I am today,” he said.“ This reflects on them and our staff here. I can’ t do everything on my own. No grounds manager can. We need support. I’ m really thankful for all the people I’ ve met along the way and for our team here at North Carolina. It means a lot.”
WHAT THEIR NOMINATOR HAD TO SAY:
“ Ryan represents the next generation of sports field managers by blending traditional agronomic principles with innovative, results-driven strategies. Through his work at a high-profile collegiate program and his involvement in the NCSFMA, he is influencing peers and helping move the industry toward more sustainable, data-informed decision-making. His ability to combine technical expertise, leadership, and innovation makes him a standout among his peers and a clear choice for a SportsField Management magazine Rising Star Award.”