In early March, Steve Ralston was in Guadalajara, Mexico, assisting U.S. Olympic head coach Jason Kreis with preparations for Concacaf qualifying. When the tournament was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ralston returned to his San Francisco Bay Area home, and was soon faced with another unexpected change of plans. Ralston’s wife, Rachel, an attorney, accepted a job offer in Philadelphia, so he again began packing.
Ralston has proven adept at making quick moves. After the Tampa Bay Mutiny folded following the 2001 MLS season, Ralston shipped up I-95 to begin a nine-year stay with the New England Revolution.
“This was similar,” Ralston said. “Then, we had one child, two dogs and a boat I was hauling. Little more challenging driving across the country with three kids, two dogs and a hamster.”
