Muck
Enjoy Every Sandwich
Congrats to the new head wrestling coach of The Ohio State Buckeyes!
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- Thread starter Muck
- Start date
I was hoping OSU would go withJim Heffernan, but i'm an Illinois guy.
It will be interesting to see what Ryan does though. He's done great things at Hofstra, but is still yet to coach even an NCAA finalist.
It will be interesting to see what Ryan does though. He's done great things at Hofstra, but is still yet to coach even an NCAA finalist.
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akronbuck
Legend
anyone can recruit ohio better then happy he's gone.
A lot of my friends growing up loved OSU but, went elsewhere and none of them said bad things about him just liked other coaches better but, to me he's in the bruce, cooper, eldon miller and randy Ayers category.
All of them Could not dominate ohio recruiting
A lot of my friends growing up loved OSU but, went elsewhere and none of them said bad things about him just liked other coaches better but, to me he's in the bruce, cooper, eldon miller and randy Ayers category.
All of them Could not dominate ohio recruiting
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CPD
4/27
Ryan looks to place OSU among elite
Thursday, April 27, 2006 Pat Galbincea
Plain Dealer Reporter
New Ohio State University wrestling coach Tom Ryan said there is no reason the Buckeyes shouldn't be a national powerhouse.
"I am pleased and amazed at how Ohio has embraced the sport of wrestling," said Ryan, coach at Hofstra the past 11 years. "So, one of the things I plan to do is build a strong relationship with the high school coaches throughout the state. In fact, I'd like to build a fence around it to make sure no great Ohio wrestler leaves the state.
"I think the OSU campus is an inspiring place to be. OSU was the last Big Ten campus I've visited, and I think they have the best campus. What an easy selling point this place is. I'm really excited about the task of helping make OSU an elite wrestling school."
Ryan did get one good piece of news Wednesday when four-time state champion Lance Palmer of St. Edward announced he is staying at OSU. When Russ Hellickson, who recruited Palmer, retired last month as head coach after 20 seasons, Palmer was free to go to another college by May 1.
"That's great news," said Ryan. "St. Edward does an incredible job of producing great collegiate wrestlers, and I want to establish a pipeline with them."
Ryan, 36, said his first priority is putting together an elite coaching staff. He is hoping to hire Olympic coach Lew Rosselli and two-time NCAA heavyweight champ Tommy Rowlands as assistant coaches. Rowlands, a 2005 OSU graduate, was an assistant last season under Hellickson. Ryan said both have shown interest.
"I learned a lot about wrestling from my college coach, Dan Gable," said Ryan, a 1992 graduate of Iowa. "He knew how to design a program and was great at training people. He knew when to push a wrestler and when not to.
"[OSU athletic director] Gene Smith said he wants wrestling to be successful. We're going full speed ahead to become a national powerhouse."
4/27
Ryan looks to place OSU among elite
Thursday, April 27, 2006 Pat Galbincea
Plain Dealer Reporter
New Ohio State University wrestling coach Tom Ryan said there is no reason the Buckeyes shouldn't be a national powerhouse.
"I am pleased and amazed at how Ohio has embraced the sport of wrestling," said Ryan, coach at Hofstra the past 11 years. "So, one of the things I plan to do is build a strong relationship with the high school coaches throughout the state. In fact, I'd like to build a fence around it to make sure no great Ohio wrestler leaves the state.
"I think the OSU campus is an inspiring place to be. OSU was the last Big Ten campus I've visited, and I think they have the best campus. What an easy selling point this place is. I'm really excited about the task of helping make OSU an elite wrestling school."
Ryan did get one good piece of news Wednesday when four-time state champion Lance Palmer of St. Edward announced he is staying at OSU. When Russ Hellickson, who recruited Palmer, retired last month as head coach after 20 seasons, Palmer was free to go to another college by May 1.
"That's great news," said Ryan. "St. Edward does an incredible job of producing great collegiate wrestlers, and I want to establish a pipeline with them."
Ryan, 36, said his first priority is putting together an elite coaching staff. He is hoping to hire Olympic coach Lew Rosselli and two-time NCAA heavyweight champ Tommy Rowlands as assistant coaches. Rowlands, a 2005 OSU graduate, was an assistant last season under Hellickson. Ryan said both have shown interest.
"I learned a lot about wrestling from my college coach, Dan Gable," said Ryan, a 1992 graduate of Iowa. "He knew how to design a program and was great at training people. He knew when to push a wrestler and when not to.
"[OSU athletic director] Gene Smith said he wants wrestling to be successful. We're going full speed ahead to become a national powerhouse."
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Link
Rosselli, Rowlands, Heskett announced as Ohio State assistants
<dl class="section"> <dd> DATE: 5/3/2006 5:16:00 PM </dd><dd> Columbus, Ohio </dd><dd> Ohio State wrestling head coach Tom Ryan announced Wednesday the selection of three assistant coaches to join the OSU staff. Lou Rosselli, who spent 14 seasons at Edinboro, and former Buckeye Tommy Rowlands were named to the staff. Joe Heskett, who competed at Iowa State, will be the Buckeyes’ volunteer assistant coach.
“Lou Rosselli has incredible international experience,” Ryan said. “He also has a proven track record of producing champions. Tommy Rowlands and Joe Heskett are the epitomes of great student-athletes coming from the state of Ohio. They will help us reach our goals at Ohio State.”
Jim Humphrey and Ross Thatcher also will remain on the Ohio State staff. Humphrey will continue to coach the Ohio Wrestling Club. Thatcher, who served as the program director of recruiting and conditioning in his first season with the Buckeyes in 2005-06, will become the director of operations this upcoming year.
As the assistant head coach at Edinboro, Rosselli’s duties included aiding in the coordination of practices and developing training schedules. Rosselli also worked extensively with recruiting. During his tenure, Rosselli helped coach the Fighting Scots to eight Eastern Wrestling League tournament championships, which included four consecutive crowns in two different spans (1998-01 and 2003-2006). The Fighting Scots won their seventh Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title in 2006 after securing the championship from 1998-2000 and 2002-2004. Individually, Rosselli coached 33 PSAC champions and 22 EWL champions.
On the national level, Edinboro had 70 NCAA Division I tournament qualifiers and 17 went on to become All-Americans between 1997 and 2006. During that span, The Fighting Scots were credited with one national champion and four runner-ups.
As a competitor, Rosselli was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1996 and a three-time national champion (1995, 96 and 99). At Edinboro, Rosselli was a two-time All-American in 1991 and 1993 at 118 pounds. In 1989, Rosselli was named EWL Freshman of the Year and became the first Edinboro freshman to earn a trip to nationals. A three-time PSAC champion, Rosselli earned EWL and PSAC Wrestler of the Year honors in 1993 after winning titles in both conferences.
Rosselli graduated from Edinboro with a degree in health and physical education.
Rowlands will begin his first season as a full-time assistant coach for Ohio State after one season as the Director of Program Operations and one as the volunteer assistant coach. The 2002 and 2004 NCAA heavyweight champion, Rowlands offers expertise that allowed him to conclude his career as the most decorated wrestler in Ohio State history. He is just the second Buckeye to win two national titles and the first to earn All-America honors four times.
Rowlands narrowly missed a spot on the U.S. Olympic team at 211 pounds in May of 2005, but regrouped at the World University Games in Izmir, Turkey, in August with a gold-medal performance. Rowlands claimed his fourth medal, including his first gold for Team USA in four competitions since completing his OSU career in 2004. The Hilliard, Ohio, native is the all-time leader at Ohio State in career wins (164), career team points (702.0) and career takedowns (705). His career record of 164-14 (.921) ranks fourth all-time in winning percentage at OSU, while his 44 wins in 2004 and 43 triumphs in 2001 rank fourth and fifth all-time in a single season.
Rowlands, who has volunteered as an instructor at offseason wrestling camps his entire college career, is thrilled to have the opportunity to stay involved with the program he helped carry to national prominence.
Rowlands graduated from OSU with a degree in business.
Heskett joins the wrestling staff after spending two seasons as the volunteer assistant coach at Cal Poly University San Luis Obispo.
A native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Heskett attended Walsh Jesuit High School where he was a three-time Ohio state champion from 1995-97 at 158 pounds and earned Outstanding Wrestler honors his junior and senior years. During his junior season, Heskett pinned every opponent throughout the sectional, district and state tournaments.
Heskett went on to wrestle at Iowa State, becoming the Cyclones’ eighth four-time All-American (1999-2002) with an overall record of 143-9. Third on ISU’s all-time wins list, Heskett finished third in 1999 at the NCAA tournament and second in 2000 and 2001, before claiming the 165-pound title in 2002. Heskett was a three-time Big 12 champion and three-time Midlands champion between the 1998-99 and 2001-02 seasons.
On the international circuit, Heskett was a 2004 Olympic alternate and a three-time U.S. National Team member. In 2004, Heskett was the Dave Schultz International champion, earning Outstanding Wrestler laurels. Heskett also became the 2002 New York Athletic Club Champion and earned a silver medal at the 2001 Pan American Games.
Heskett graduated from Iowa State with a degree in speech communications.
Humphrey is a former Buckeye and a 1972 graduate of Ohio State. He owns an extensive wrestling and coaching background that includes All-America honors and a 1972 Big Ten Individual Championship. A member of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame, Humphrey is a five-time freestyle national champion, as well as the 1977 World Games silver medalist. Humphrey's impressive head coaching resume consists of leading the 1984 Canadian Olympic Team and the 1988 U.S. Olympic squad. In the collegiate ranks, Humphrey was the head coach at Indiana from 1984-1989. Both of Humphrey's sons, Jordin and Reece, are members of the 2005-06 Buckeye squad.
Thatcher will enter his second year on the OSU staff and first as the director of operations. Thatcher was a Penn State letterwinner from 1997-2000 and served as an assistant coach at PSU from 2000-2003. While with the Nittany Lions, Thatcher was named captain and garnered All-America honors. Following his time at Penn State, Thatcher wrestled for the New York Athletic Club, where he was a two-time Sunkist International Open Champion, New York Athletic International Open Champion, Dave Schultz International Open Champion and North East Regional Outstanding Wrestler and Champion. A two-time Ohio state champion and a three-time Ohio state finalist at Bishop Ready High School in Columbus, Thatcher won bronze as a member of the 2001 U.S. Pan American team and was a member of the U.S. University World squad. </dd> </dl> <!-- End Page Content --><!-- ================================================= --><!-- InterMat Page Contents go below this comment line --> <!-- Footer -->
Rosselli, Rowlands, Heskett announced as Ohio State assistants
<dl class="section"> <dd> DATE: 5/3/2006 5:16:00 PM </dd><dd> Columbus, Ohio </dd><dd> Ohio State wrestling head coach Tom Ryan announced Wednesday the selection of three assistant coaches to join the OSU staff. Lou Rosselli, who spent 14 seasons at Edinboro, and former Buckeye Tommy Rowlands were named to the staff. Joe Heskett, who competed at Iowa State, will be the Buckeyes’ volunteer assistant coach.
“Lou Rosselli has incredible international experience,” Ryan said. “He also has a proven track record of producing champions. Tommy Rowlands and Joe Heskett are the epitomes of great student-athletes coming from the state of Ohio. They will help us reach our goals at Ohio State.”
Jim Humphrey and Ross Thatcher also will remain on the Ohio State staff. Humphrey will continue to coach the Ohio Wrestling Club. Thatcher, who served as the program director of recruiting and conditioning in his first season with the Buckeyes in 2005-06, will become the director of operations this upcoming year.
As the assistant head coach at Edinboro, Rosselli’s duties included aiding in the coordination of practices and developing training schedules. Rosselli also worked extensively with recruiting. During his tenure, Rosselli helped coach the Fighting Scots to eight Eastern Wrestling League tournament championships, which included four consecutive crowns in two different spans (1998-01 and 2003-2006). The Fighting Scots won their seventh Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title in 2006 after securing the championship from 1998-2000 and 2002-2004. Individually, Rosselli coached 33 PSAC champions and 22 EWL champions.
On the national level, Edinboro had 70 NCAA Division I tournament qualifiers and 17 went on to become All-Americans between 1997 and 2006. During that span, The Fighting Scots were credited with one national champion and four runner-ups.
As a competitor, Rosselli was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1996 and a three-time national champion (1995, 96 and 99). At Edinboro, Rosselli was a two-time All-American in 1991 and 1993 at 118 pounds. In 1989, Rosselli was named EWL Freshman of the Year and became the first Edinboro freshman to earn a trip to nationals. A three-time PSAC champion, Rosselli earned EWL and PSAC Wrestler of the Year honors in 1993 after winning titles in both conferences.
Rosselli graduated from Edinboro with a degree in health and physical education.
Rowlands will begin his first season as a full-time assistant coach for Ohio State after one season as the Director of Program Operations and one as the volunteer assistant coach. The 2002 and 2004 NCAA heavyweight champion, Rowlands offers expertise that allowed him to conclude his career as the most decorated wrestler in Ohio State history. He is just the second Buckeye to win two national titles and the first to earn All-America honors four times.
Rowlands narrowly missed a spot on the U.S. Olympic team at 211 pounds in May of 2005, but regrouped at the World University Games in Izmir, Turkey, in August with a gold-medal performance. Rowlands claimed his fourth medal, including his first gold for Team USA in four competitions since completing his OSU career in 2004. The Hilliard, Ohio, native is the all-time leader at Ohio State in career wins (164), career team points (702.0) and career takedowns (705). His career record of 164-14 (.921) ranks fourth all-time in winning percentage at OSU, while his 44 wins in 2004 and 43 triumphs in 2001 rank fourth and fifth all-time in a single season.
Rowlands, who has volunteered as an instructor at offseason wrestling camps his entire college career, is thrilled to have the opportunity to stay involved with the program he helped carry to national prominence.
Rowlands graduated from OSU with a degree in business.
Heskett joins the wrestling staff after spending two seasons as the volunteer assistant coach at Cal Poly University San Luis Obispo.
A native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Heskett attended Walsh Jesuit High School where he was a three-time Ohio state champion from 1995-97 at 158 pounds and earned Outstanding Wrestler honors his junior and senior years. During his junior season, Heskett pinned every opponent throughout the sectional, district and state tournaments.
Heskett went on to wrestle at Iowa State, becoming the Cyclones’ eighth four-time All-American (1999-2002) with an overall record of 143-9. Third on ISU’s all-time wins list, Heskett finished third in 1999 at the NCAA tournament and second in 2000 and 2001, before claiming the 165-pound title in 2002. Heskett was a three-time Big 12 champion and three-time Midlands champion between the 1998-99 and 2001-02 seasons.
On the international circuit, Heskett was a 2004 Olympic alternate and a three-time U.S. National Team member. In 2004, Heskett was the Dave Schultz International champion, earning Outstanding Wrestler laurels. Heskett also became the 2002 New York Athletic Club Champion and earned a silver medal at the 2001 Pan American Games.
Heskett graduated from Iowa State with a degree in speech communications.
Humphrey is a former Buckeye and a 1972 graduate of Ohio State. He owns an extensive wrestling and coaching background that includes All-America honors and a 1972 Big Ten Individual Championship. A member of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame, Humphrey is a five-time freestyle national champion, as well as the 1977 World Games silver medalist. Humphrey's impressive head coaching resume consists of leading the 1984 Canadian Olympic Team and the 1988 U.S. Olympic squad. In the collegiate ranks, Humphrey was the head coach at Indiana from 1984-1989. Both of Humphrey's sons, Jordin and Reece, are members of the 2005-06 Buckeye squad.
Thatcher will enter his second year on the OSU staff and first as the director of operations. Thatcher was a Penn State letterwinner from 1997-2000 and served as an assistant coach at PSU from 2000-2003. While with the Nittany Lions, Thatcher was named captain and garnered All-America honors. Following his time at Penn State, Thatcher wrestled for the New York Athletic Club, where he was a two-time Sunkist International Open Champion, New York Athletic International Open Champion, Dave Schultz International Open Champion and North East Regional Outstanding Wrestler and Champion. A two-time Ohio state champion and a three-time Ohio state finalist at Bishop Ready High School in Columbus, Thatcher won bronze as a member of the 2001 U.S. Pan American team and was a member of the U.S. University World squad. </dd> </dl> <!-- End Page Content --><!-- ================================================= --><!-- InterMat Page Contents go below this comment line --> <!-- Footer -->
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HineyBuck
Old newb
Ryan has put together a solid coaching staff. Bringing Joe Heskett back to Ohio was a great move that should help recruiting Northeast Ohio. Rosselli should be a great addition. And he just had to keep Tommy Rowlands on. Still, sorry to see that Mitch Clark was not kept on.
:osu:
:osu:
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HineyBuck
Old newb
Nice article on the new coaching staff. And nice move by O-Zone, adding wrestling coverage.
http://www.the-ozone.net/wrestling/2006-2007/kstimeandchange.htm
Wrestling
Ohio State Wrestling – Time & Change
By Kevin Schlosser
The Ohio State University Wrestling Program is a national power. Proof lies in the domino effect that was set off by Russ Hellickson’s early retirement. That event changed the landscape of college wrestling.
The college wrestling community recognized Ohio State as a sleeping giant and no one wanted to lose their coach. Legends retired to make way for new blood, coaches were fired so schools could hire their first choice; and other coaches saw their contracts extended or their programs resources improved to make it harder to leave.
Ohio State’s search to find the best coaching candidate was exhaustive and competitive as the list of applicants was long and accomplished. In the end, Tom Ryan emerged as the best man for the job and was selected as the new Head Wrestling Coach.
In order to take Ohio State wrestling to the next level, Gene Smith and Tom Ryan worked together to assemble one of the best coaching staffs in America. Lou Rosselli was brought in to work with the lightweights. As a former Olympian, respected college assistant and current US World Team coach, Rosselli’s hire helped to retain the services of Tommy Rowlands and recruit Joe Heskett. Rowlands and Heskett are both Ohio natives, four time All Americans, and were headed to the Olympic Training Facility if not for the Ryan hire. Rowlands will work with the upper weights, while Heskett will work with the middle weights. Jim Humphrey, an OSU alumnus, was invited to remain on the staff and lead Thee Buckeye Wrestling Club. Humphrey’s offers a wealth of knowledge gathered from years of international wrestling experience as a competitor and coach. Rounding out the staff is Ross Thatcher, a former all American and Ohio native, as the Director of Wrestling Operations. While championships are not built on credentials alone, you would be hard pressed to find a better collection of coaching talent, experience, diversity and competitiveness than the current Ohio State coaching staff.
In a relatively short amount of time, Ryan has given the Ohio State Wrestling Program an entirely new look, attitude and focus. With a fully funded program, a sanctioned Olympic Training Facility, an Olympic Caliber coaching staff, and Thee Buckeye Wrestling Club, the foundation for greatness has been laid.
Simply stated, the goal is “to build a team that is capable of being a perennial power in the Big Ten as well as contending for a National Championship year in and year out, ” said Head Coach Tom Ryan. Bold words from the new coach, but with resources and a team that believes; nothing is impossible. Thatcher sums it up best, “Tom Ryan made personal sacrifices to come to Ohio State and put this staff together. He has a clear vision and a plan to achieve it. He is a master motivator that develops the best in the individual to make the best team possible.”
Champions are not born over night. The next step in Tom Ryan’s master plan is to open all channels of communication with the Ohio High School wrestling community. The staff has quickly worked to set up regional meet and greets with the Ohio high school wrestling community. In the networking process, the staff will be able to update and expand their recruiting database. With two-thirds of the staff from Ohio, they recognize the importance of keeping the best talent at home. To further reach out to community, Russ Hellickson and Tom Ryan will be working the Ohio State Summer Wrestling Camps together. Additionally, Ohio State has set up a home match against Northwestern to be hosted by perennial power, Lakewood St. Edwards on February 4, 2007. If Tom Ryan and company can erect a Tressel-like fence around the state, the sky is the limit when it comes to Ohio State wrestling.
Wrestling season is still six months away but the future is now. While Russ Hellickson was the most successful coach in Ohio State wrestling history, Tom Ryan and company are prepared to take this team to unprecedented levels in the future. With a young and talented team, Coach Humphreys believes, “this team has the core to contend for a national title within the next four years, but the goal for now is to win.”
Success breeds success and the future for Ohio State wrestling is bright. There is a realistically opportunity for a dramatic turnaround. Last season ten out of eleven teams in the conference were ranked, so to finish in the top half of the Big Ten is both a goal and an accomplishment. Every wrestler, coach and fan has high expectations for the Ohio State Wrestling Program to which Rowland’s responds, “They are ready for us to be NCCA Champions and while they expect it, we believe it”.
http://www.the-ozone.net/wrestling/2006-2007/kstimeandchange.htm
Wrestling
Ohio State Wrestling – Time & Change
By Kevin Schlosser
The Ohio State University Wrestling Program is a national power. Proof lies in the domino effect that was set off by Russ Hellickson’s early retirement. That event changed the landscape of college wrestling.
The college wrestling community recognized Ohio State as a sleeping giant and no one wanted to lose their coach. Legends retired to make way for new blood, coaches were fired so schools could hire their first choice; and other coaches saw their contracts extended or their programs resources improved to make it harder to leave.
Ohio State’s search to find the best coaching candidate was exhaustive and competitive as the list of applicants was long and accomplished. In the end, Tom Ryan emerged as the best man for the job and was selected as the new Head Wrestling Coach.
In order to take Ohio State wrestling to the next level, Gene Smith and Tom Ryan worked together to assemble one of the best coaching staffs in America. Lou Rosselli was brought in to work with the lightweights. As a former Olympian, respected college assistant and current US World Team coach, Rosselli’s hire helped to retain the services of Tommy Rowlands and recruit Joe Heskett. Rowlands and Heskett are both Ohio natives, four time All Americans, and were headed to the Olympic Training Facility if not for the Ryan hire. Rowlands will work with the upper weights, while Heskett will work with the middle weights. Jim Humphrey, an OSU alumnus, was invited to remain on the staff and lead Thee Buckeye Wrestling Club. Humphrey’s offers a wealth of knowledge gathered from years of international wrestling experience as a competitor and coach. Rounding out the staff is Ross Thatcher, a former all American and Ohio native, as the Director of Wrestling Operations. While championships are not built on credentials alone, you would be hard pressed to find a better collection of coaching talent, experience, diversity and competitiveness than the current Ohio State coaching staff.
In a relatively short amount of time, Ryan has given the Ohio State Wrestling Program an entirely new look, attitude and focus. With a fully funded program, a sanctioned Olympic Training Facility, an Olympic Caliber coaching staff, and Thee Buckeye Wrestling Club, the foundation for greatness has been laid.
Simply stated, the goal is “to build a team that is capable of being a perennial power in the Big Ten as well as contending for a National Championship year in and year out, ” said Head Coach Tom Ryan. Bold words from the new coach, but with resources and a team that believes; nothing is impossible. Thatcher sums it up best, “Tom Ryan made personal sacrifices to come to Ohio State and put this staff together. He has a clear vision and a plan to achieve it. He is a master motivator that develops the best in the individual to make the best team possible.”
Champions are not born over night. The next step in Tom Ryan’s master plan is to open all channels of communication with the Ohio High School wrestling community. The staff has quickly worked to set up regional meet and greets with the Ohio high school wrestling community. In the networking process, the staff will be able to update and expand their recruiting database. With two-thirds of the staff from Ohio, they recognize the importance of keeping the best talent at home. To further reach out to community, Russ Hellickson and Tom Ryan will be working the Ohio State Summer Wrestling Camps together. Additionally, Ohio State has set up a home match against Northwestern to be hosted by perennial power, Lakewood St. Edwards on February 4, 2007. If Tom Ryan and company can erect a Tressel-like fence around the state, the sky is the limit when it comes to Ohio State wrestling.
Wrestling season is still six months away but the future is now. While Russ Hellickson was the most successful coach in Ohio State wrestling history, Tom Ryan and company are prepared to take this team to unprecedented levels in the future. With a young and talented team, Coach Humphreys believes, “this team has the core to contend for a national title within the next four years, but the goal for now is to win.”
Success breeds success and the future for Ohio State wrestling is bright. There is a realistically opportunity for a dramatic turnaround. Last season ten out of eleven teams in the conference were ranked, so to finish in the top half of the Big Ten is both a goal and an accomplishment. Every wrestler, coach and fan has high expectations for the Ohio State Wrestling Program to which Rowland’s responds, “They are ready for us to be NCCA Champions and while they expect it, we believe it”.
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Dispatch
OHIO STATE WRESTLING
New coach traveling state to raise program’s profile
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Jeremy McLaughlin
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"> <tbody><tr><td align="center">
</td></tr> <tr><td align="center">
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Of all the candidates who interviewed to be Ohio State’s wrestling coach last spring, Tom Ryan figured he faced the biggest disadvantage.
He had been an All-American wrestler at Iowa. He had been a successful coach at Hofstra for 11 seasons. Those were his strong points and eventually led to his hiring.
What he lacked was a tie to Ohio. Ryan had attracted some northeast Ohio wrestlers to New York, but for the most part his name was not widely recognized.
To counter what he viewed as a weakness, Ryan presented a plan to establish relationships with Ohio’s high school wrestling coaches and fans. Getting their support would help Ohio State recruit the state’s top wrestlers and build the Buckeyes into a national contender.
Included in his proposal were informal meetings with coaches and fans across the state to introduce himself and his staff. The first of those meetings is tonight at Oregon Clay near Toledo. Six gatherings are scheduled over the next three weeks.
"Personalizing the coaching staff is something that it’s important for us," Ryan said. "(Those attending) will get to know us as people.
"(Our presentation) will cover coaching philosophies and who we are. We want to give people in the state a good assessment and let them know there is a group of people who want to win and want to win the right way."
Interest appears high. Beavercreek coach Gary Wise, president of the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaching Association, said he has received several calls about the meeting at his school.
"The fact that they are going out into the areas is a little bit different than previous years," Wise said.
Ryan’s novel approach varies somewhat from the methods of former coach Russ Hellickson. That is not a condemnation that Hellickson was out of touch, Hilliard Davidson coach and former OSU wrestler Dominic DiSabato said. Rather, Ryan has increased the excitement level.
"You see it all the time when there is a new guy that there is a new energy," DiSabato said. "They’ve done some things that will bring excitement … the ideas he had right from the get-go were impressive." One idea is to increase Ohio State’s presence in northeast Ohio, the hotbed of high school wrestling. Ryan and his staff will hold a presentation at Lakewood St. Edward, winner of 10 consecutive big-school state championships. They have also agreed to move the Buckeyes’ match against Northwestern to the school in February.
"Tom Ryan is doing a tremendous job of promoting the sport of wrestling," St. Edward coach Greg Urbas said.
Comments such as those can only help as Ryan rebuilds the OSU wrestling program, which has finished last in the Big Ten the previous two seasons. He is hopeful his meetings will further strengthen that relationship and eventually lead to more recruits staying close to home.
"(The meetings are) not recruiting based, it is friendship based and sharing where we want to go, how we can help them and how they can help us," Ryan said.
"I’m not sure if we will have 500 people and coaches or 50 people there, but I think the main thing is I want to establish that I want to build a strong relationship with the state and I’m willing to do whatever it takes do to that."
[email protected]
OHIO STATE WRESTLING
New coach traveling state to raise program’s profile
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Jeremy McLaughlin
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"> <tbody><tr><td align="center">
Of all the candidates who interviewed to be Ohio State’s wrestling coach last spring, Tom Ryan figured he faced the biggest disadvantage.
He had been an All-American wrestler at Iowa. He had been a successful coach at Hofstra for 11 seasons. Those were his strong points and eventually led to his hiring.
What he lacked was a tie to Ohio. Ryan had attracted some northeast Ohio wrestlers to New York, but for the most part his name was not widely recognized.
To counter what he viewed as a weakness, Ryan presented a plan to establish relationships with Ohio’s high school wrestling coaches and fans. Getting their support would help Ohio State recruit the state’s top wrestlers and build the Buckeyes into a national contender.
Included in his proposal were informal meetings with coaches and fans across the state to introduce himself and his staff. The first of those meetings is tonight at Oregon Clay near Toledo. Six gatherings are scheduled over the next three weeks.
"Personalizing the coaching staff is something that it’s important for us," Ryan said. "(Those attending) will get to know us as people.
"(Our presentation) will cover coaching philosophies and who we are. We want to give people in the state a good assessment and let them know there is a group of people who want to win and want to win the right way."
Interest appears high. Beavercreek coach Gary Wise, president of the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaching Association, said he has received several calls about the meeting at his school.
"The fact that they are going out into the areas is a little bit different than previous years," Wise said.
Ryan’s novel approach varies somewhat from the methods of former coach Russ Hellickson. That is not a condemnation that Hellickson was out of touch, Hilliard Davidson coach and former OSU wrestler Dominic DiSabato said. Rather, Ryan has increased the excitement level.
"You see it all the time when there is a new guy that there is a new energy," DiSabato said. "They’ve done some things that will bring excitement … the ideas he had right from the get-go were impressive." One idea is to increase Ohio State’s presence in northeast Ohio, the hotbed of high school wrestling. Ryan and his staff will hold a presentation at Lakewood St. Edward, winner of 10 consecutive big-school state championships. They have also agreed to move the Buckeyes’ match against Northwestern to the school in February.
"Tom Ryan is doing a tremendous job of promoting the sport of wrestling," St. Edward coach Greg Urbas said.
Comments such as those can only help as Ryan rebuilds the OSU wrestling program, which has finished last in the Big Ten the previous two seasons. He is hopeful his meetings will further strengthen that relationship and eventually lead to more recruits staying close to home.
"(The meetings are) not recruiting based, it is friendship based and sharing where we want to go, how we can help them and how they can help us," Ryan said.
"I’m not sure if we will have 500 people and coaches or 50 people there, but I think the main thing is I want to establish that I want to build a strong relationship with the state and I’m willing to do whatever it takes do to that."
[email protected]
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Congrats to Coach Ryan for the team's second consecutive national runner-up finish, and for winning the National Coach of the Year, which was awarded after the NCAA meet yesterday.
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Props to him and his staff
HineyBuck;1435759; said:
I think he's got one more left in him, that will be the year the Buckeyes win the National Title. After that, he'll be snakebitten in that National titles will be the expectation year after year, and I'm ALL for that.
I thought it was cool last night when they were talking about Coach Ryan and how "J" was actually on the search commitee for the new coach. And, "J' loved the look in Coach Ryans eyes and wanted him on the spot. This guy is a gem, and methinks (sorry Hiney, had to steal that one) he will be here a long time, once he makes it THE elite program in the country.
Peace.
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