By investing a total of 40 years at Eckerd College, Ryan has carved out his own respectable legacy at the institution as a student-athlete, coaching figure, administrator and member of the department's hall of fame.
Ryan was named the department's Acting Director of Athletics in May 2017 and was formally announced as the department's fourth Director of Athletics in October 2018.
Under the leadership of Ryan, Eckerd produced one of its most successful seasons in the 2022-23 year. Eckerd's Academic Success Rate (ASR) of 92 ranked tied for 19th nationally. The Tritons received the Presidents' Award for its ASR for the 12th consecutive year and is one of just eight schools to earn the award every year since its inception. The Tritons reached the national stage five times during the year with volleyball, women's basketball (Sweet 16), open sailing, women's sailing, and women's golfer Amelie Alcantara (tied for sixth) reaching the postseason. The five appearances are the second-most in program history, one off the record. EC also produced five All-Americans, tied for the most in a year in program history. The Tritons also set a new mark for Sunshine State Conference Players of the Week while producing the most All-SSC players since 2005-06.
Additionally, in the 2022-23 season, Eckerd set new benchmarks in fundraising, including records for the November Month of Giving, the 19th annual Matthew T. McDermott Golf Tournament, and the 14th annual "An Evening With The Tritons Dinner Auction." The November Month of Giving campaign raised $83,555 from 274 donors. The 19th annual Matthew T. McDermott Annual Golf Scholarship Tournament set a new record for participants, sponsors, and engagement with alumni. Finally, after a four-year hiatus, Ryan brought back the Tritons Dinner Auction in April 2023 for a record-setting fundraising night.
In his first three years as the Director of Athletics, Ryan completed a $3.5 million renovation of the McArthur Center. Phase one of the renovations included a new entrance, sports medicine facility, locker rooms for volleyball and basketball, and lounge for all student-athletes. Phase two was completed in the fall of 2021 with upgrades to the interior of the gymnasium including, navy bleachers, sound system, branding, new court design, and an upper-level viewing deck.
He also reached additional marks in fundraising, including new levels of engagement with alumni and friends of the program as well as records for the Athletics Annual Scholarships and the McDermott Annual Golf Scholarship in the 2019-20 year.
In 2021, the Matthew T McDermott Golf Tournament again set new records for the MTM Annual Golf Scholarship, including a record number of participants and sponsors.
In the tenure of his administrative role, Ryan has also increased scholarships for all of Eckerd's programs.
In the summer of 2020, he launched the Athletic Diversity Action Committee (ADAC). ADAC consists of student-athletes, coaches, staff, a professor, and alumni aimed to assess, advise, and take action within Eckerd Athletics regarding diversity. In January 2022, ADAC was named a finalist for the Division II Award of Excellence.
Each December, Ryan and his family, along with retired Dean of Students Lena Wilfalk, and local businessmen Billy Hume organize the annual "Christmas for Kids” event, which helps families in need in the St. Pete community with toys, food, and household items. Ryan also enlists the hep of the men's and women's basketball programs for the event each year, with 2022 marking the 13th year of the event. Through the work of "Christmas for Kids," Eckerd has been named a finalist for the Division II Award of Excellence three times in the past five years.
Ryan's success and contributions to Eckerd athletics were recognized in April 2017 when he was officially announced as one of the two newest inductees to the Eckerd Athletics Hall of Fame.
The EC graduate wrapped up a legendary coaching career after the 2018-19 season, his 23rd as head coach. He was only the second man in Eckerd history to stand on the sidelines of the McArthur Center hardwood, following the legendary Jim Harley. Ryan surpassed his mentor as the program's all-time wins leader on February 21, 2018, with his 421st victory.
Weeks later, Eckerd dominated top-seeded Barry in the SSC Tournament Championship to claim the program's fifth tournament title. The Tritons then advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third time in program history before losing in the final seconds. Eckerd ended the year with a record of 26-7, one win shy of tying the program's single-season record.
After a record-setting campaign in 2015-16, Ryan again led the Tritons to a 20-win season and a bid to the NCAA South Regional tournament. Eckerd finished tied atop the SSC standings with Barry at the end of the regular season and advanced to the semifinals of the conference championships.
Eckerd made program history in the 2015-16 season by winning the Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament championships in the same year for the first time. The Tritons' 25 wins tied the watermark for the second-most in school history.
Ryan has led the Tritons to 10 NCAA Tournament berths as a head coach and has been a part of 12 tournament teams during his overall tenure.
In 2011-12, Ryan navigated the Tritons to another appearance in the Big Dance and Lance Kearse was crowned with Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year recognition.
He achieved yet another milestone by recording his 300th career coaching victory on Feb. 2, 2012, against Nova Southeastern University.
The Tritons made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2007 and 2008, part of a run that saw the Tritons reach the NCAA national tournament six times in eight years.
Arguably Ryan’s most memorable season came in 2002-03, which saw the Tritons reach the Elite Eight for the first time in program history. Eckerd set a new school record for wins (25), breaking the old mark of 22.
He has been named the SSC Coach of the Year three times: 1997-98, 2000-01 and 2015-16. Ryan has coached three SSC championship teams, winning the SSC tournament title in 1994 and the regular season crown in 1995 before taking both titles in 2016.
In 2001, he was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coach of the Year, and the NABC-Chevrolet South District Coach of the Year.
As a head coach, Ryan has coached three All-Americans (Bryan Galuski, Lance Kearse, Drushaun McLaurn) as well as two Academic All-Americans.
Prior to becoming head coach in 1996, Ryan was an assistant to legendary Eckerd coach Jim Harley for nine seasons.
As a student-athlete, Ryan was a point guard under Harley (1983-87) and helped the Tritons win 66 games, including back-to-back 18-win seasons.
He has also made an impact on the administrative side. Ryan has previously served as the athletic department’s facilities director and compliance officer. He was an assistant athletic director from 1989-2004 before being promoted to associate athletic director.
He completed work on his Master of Arts in Education from Nova Southeastern University in 1994.
A native of Fort Lauderdale, Ryan earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from Eckerd in 1987.
Ryan resides in St. Petersburg with his wife, Kristy (Eckerd '91) and their four children: Thomas Joseph IV, Delaney Shaye, Colton Michael and Emory.
| YEAR |
OVERALL |
SSC |
NOTES |
| 1996-97 |
10-17 |
1-13 |
|
| 1997-98 |
14-12 |
8-6 |
|
| 1998-99 |
13-15 |
5-9 |
|
| 1999-00 |
18-10 |
7-7 |
|
| 2000-01 |
22-8 |
10-4 |
NCAA National Tournament |
| 2001-02 |
21-7 |
10-4 |
|
| 2002-03 |
25-7 |
10-4 |
NCAA Elite Eight |
| 2003-04 |
21-11 |
8-6 |
SSC Tournament Champions
NCAA National Tournament |
| 2004-05 |
21-11 |
11-5 |
NCAA National Tournament |
| 2005-06 |
21-8 |
10-6 |
|
| 2006-07 |
27-6 |
12-4 |
SSC Tournament Champions
NCAA National Tournament Sweet 16
|
| 2007-08 |
19-10 |
11-5 |
NCAA National Tournament |
| 2008-09 |
13-14 |
5-11 |
|
| 2009-10 |
19-9 |
11-5 |
|
| 2010-11 |
22-8 |
11-5 |
|
| 2011-12 |
21-9 |
11-5 |
NCAA National Tournament |
| 2012-13 |
20-8 |
11-5 |
NCAA National Tournament |
| 2013-14 |
17-14 |
7-9 |
|
| 2014-15 |
12-16 |
4-12 |
|
| 2015-16 |
25-7 |
12-4 |
SSC Regular Season Co-Champions
SSC Tournament Champions
NCAA National Tournament |
| 2016-17 |
21-9 |
13-5 |
NCAA National Tournament |
| 2017-18 |
27-6 |
14-6 |
SSC Tournament Champions
NCAA National Tournament Sweet 16 |
| 2018-19 |
19-10 |
12-8 |
|
