Tom Ryan (wrestling)

TomRyan is an American former NCAA wrestler who is currently the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes wrestling team.

He is a member of the Hofstra University Athletics Hall of Fame. ^[1]

Coaching career

Ryan coached at Hofstra University from 1995 through 2006, winning 1 ECWA team title and 5 CAA titles in his time as head coach at Hofstra where he coached 65 NCAA qualifiers and produced 11 All-America honorees. During his tenure, he has coached 157 NCAA tournament qualifiers and 75 All-Americans. 6 Wrestlers have won NCAA championships under Ryan, for a total of 13 championships. He has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year 3 Times, in 2015, 2017 and 2018. And twice, he was named NCAA Coach of the Year - 2009 and 2015. ^[2]

NCAA Champions under Tom Ryan ^[3]

• J Jaggers (2x)
• Myles Martin
• Jesse Mendez (2x)
• Kyle Snyder (3×)
• Logan Stieber (4×)
• Nathan Tomasello

Personal life

Family

Ryan and his wife Lyn have 2 sons -- Jordan and Jake -- and a daughter -- Mackenzie. His son Jake wrestled for Ryan at Ohio State University where he was a 2-time letter winner and qualified for the NCAA Men's Tournament in 2016. ^[4]

2004 death of son

On February 16th, 2004, Ryan's five year old son Teague, the second youngest of four children, suffered a heart attack and tragically died. ^[5]

2024 traffic accident

On April 23, 2024, Ryan was driving a car in suburban Columbus, Ohio when it collided with the back of a semi-truck trailer parked on the shoulder.  Ryan lost consciousness following the collision and suffered multiple fractures to his femur and petalla in his left leg, as well as a torn bicep and rotator cuff. He spent 12 days at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and four months in physical therapy recovering from his injuries. ^{[6] [7]}

References

1. "Tom Ryan (2023) - Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame". Hofstra University Athletics. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
2. "Tom Ryan | Head Coach | Ohio State Wrestling". Ohio State. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
3. "2024 WR Record Book 8924" (PDF). Ohio State. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
4. "Jake Ryan | 2017-18 | Wrestling". Ohio State. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
5. Corey, Nick (2024-05-29). "Tom Ryan: Recovering, Again". The Mangled Ear: Sports, Stories, Rants. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
6. Harding, Whitney (October 24, 2024). "Ohio State wrestling coach battling back after accident". NBC4, Columbus.
7. Corey, Nick (2024-05-29). "Tom Ryan: Recovering, Again". The Mangled Ear: Sports, Stories, Rants. Retrieved 2025-06-08.