Twin Cities Tundra Announce Ryley Licata as General Manager

The Twin Cities Tundra are proud to announce Ryley Licata as General Manager of the franchise as the Developmental Football Association prepares for its Spring 2026 launch.

Licata joins the Tundra front office bringing competitive experience, coaching exposure, and a clear football philosophy centered on discipline, development, and long term championship standards. Originally from Blaine, Minnesota and currently residing in Coon Rapids, he is a 2018 graduate of Blaine High School and is pursuing Business Marketing and Sports Marketing studies at Rochester Community and Technical College.

Licata’s football foundation was built in the trenches. He has played offensive line, defensive line, tight end, and long snapper since the age of eight. His playing career includes time at Blaine High School from 2014 to 2018, the Minnesota Storm from 2019 to 2020, the Twin Cities Sabercats from 2020 to 2021, and RCTC from 2022 to 2023, where he competed in the 2023 JUCO National Championship.

During his first season of semi professional football, Licata earned All Pro CAFL honors as a center after only five games and later earned scholarship opportunities back to college. His progression from semi pro competition back into collegiate football reflects both performance and perseverance.

Beyond playing, Licata has invested in leadership development. He served as Assistant Head Coach for the Coon Rapids 5th grade youth football team in 2021 and worked as a coaching assistant focusing on special teams, tight ends, and long snappers for the St. Paul Pioneers from 2023 to 2024. He has trained extensively with specialist development programs including PHASE3KICKING, Special Team Football Academy, and Special Teams University.

Licata’s leadership philosophy is direct and structured.

He believes in building a physically dominant, disciplined football team that wins from the inside out. Character, toughness, and football intelligence are foundational traits in every player brought into the organization. Investment in the trenches, true competition at every position, and alignment between the front office and coaching staff are non negotiable standards.

Special teams, in his view, are not an afterthought but a competitive advantage. Field position, hidden yardage, and situational discipline are treated with the same urgency as offense and defense. His objective is sustained championship level success built through demanding culture and unified vision.

Licata is passionate about building a career in the sports industry and views this opportunity as both a responsibility and a platform. His vision for the Tundra’s inaugural 2026 season is to establish an unshakable foundation. That begins with signing and developing a roster capable of competing immediately while simultaneously securing partnerships and sponsorships that support long term organizational stability.

A lifelong fan of the Minnesota Vikings, Licata aspires to one day work within that organization. He closely studies coaching leaders such as Brian Flores, Klint Kubiak, Ben Johnson, Andy Reid, Mike Vrabel, and Mike Macdonald as examples of structured, demanding leadership at the highest level.

Outside of football, Licata’s focus remains on family. In October 2025, he and his girlfriend welcomed their first child, a milestone that drives his commitment to building a future defined by opportunity, stability, and achievement.

With Ryley Licata stepping into the General Manager role, the Twin Cities Tundra continue building a disciplined, development focused organization aligned with DFA standards and committed to long term success.