Gable met all of my expectations. He was a master at training people, of saying and doing exactly what was needed. He had a crystal ball. I have been looking everywhere for one.
USA Wrestler: In your junior year, what are your memories of the NCAA finals match on the home mats in Iowa against NCAA champ Pat Smith of Oklahoma State, a tough 7-6 loss? Ryan: I was blessed to wrestle for Gable. I appreciated the
passion there. Despite moving on and living a very fulfilling life, that loss was a painful one. I was convinced I would win. I was very well prepared. I remember going out of bounds with 25 seconds left and up by one point. A brief, momentary thought entered my mind that I would attain what I had worked so hard for. I remember thinking that I was going to be the NCAA champ as I walked back to the center. I had never thought like that before in any match. While I was thinking improperly, I imagine Pat was thinking I have to get to his leg. Opposing thoughts at the same instant. Advantage to the hungrier man. Advantage Pat. He took me down and was able to hold me the last 20 sec- onds. Ironically, after Ohio State won the NCAA's this year a friend sent me the last 20 seconds of the match. He congratu- lated me for losing to the first 4x NCAA Champ and helping coach the fourth one. He said that my headgear was illegally grabbed to keep me down. I sent the video clip to a few people, including Gable and Stieber. Logan said, "Coach I can't believe that. Send it to the NCAA and maybe they will let you re-wrestle the last 20 seconds.” Gable said, "You just won the NCAA TEAM title. Let me watch that." Pat proved to be one of the best and I was part of his story. The match made me a better coach.
USA Wrestler: As a senior you placed third at NCAAs, falling to Ray Miller of Arizona State in the semis. How hard was it to wrestle back to third, knowing it was your last NCAA meet? Ryan: It was not hard. It was the only option for me. This sport is not about trophies or titles but about self growth. I have never and would never disrespect myself or anyone else by giv- ing a marginal effort. I was hurt a lot my senior year. I just didn't get to train the way I wanted and needed to. I had way too much respect for Gable and the program to not fight. Taking third meant I went out with a win. That’s certainly a better end than a loss.
USA Wrestler: Why did you decide to become a wrestling coach, and what were the top things you learned about coach- ing at Iowa and as an assistant coach at Indiana? Ryan: I was asked by Coach Duane Goldman to be an assis-
tant while competing at the Big Ten's my senior year. That was a blessing. God had a plan for me despite me thinking some- thing much different. At Iowa, I learned how to organize a train- ing plan. Gable's system was physiologically brilliant. He under- stood work and rest, the power of words and the way people think. I saw that you can put people on different training plans and still be a team. The lessons from Gable were endless. I learned at Indiana that coaching was more difficult than compet- ing. I had a lot of growth ahead of me to be a good coach.
USA Wrestler: What were the biggest challenges when you went home and became Hofstra’s head coach? Ryan: The biggest challenge for any leader is the leader. I was young. My core was weak. I was 25 years old. There were a lot of things that I was unaware of. The good news is I loved to work hard and had a big vision for the program. The chal- lenges looking back were endless but I focused on the opportu- nities. The AD, Harry Royle made it clear that if we did well, he would increase the program from 3 to 4 scholarships. He then
went from 4 to 5. My last season at Hofstra, we were a fully funded program. Changing the culture was the challenge. Getting recruits to believe in the program took time. Slowly we grabbed some huge recruits. Eric Schmiesing and Roman Fleszar were huge pick ups that got us rolling. The year I left for Ohio State, I believed we were in a position to win the NCAA's. I am forever grateful to all the student-athletes and donors who helped me there. Without their support, I would have never had the opportunity to get an interview at Ohio State.
USA Wrestler: It took five years for your Hofstra team to win your conference title, then you ran off six straight titles. What was the key to keeping Hofstra ahead of its rivals? Ryan: The early years were tough. We lost three straight titles by a few points. Those were long summers. Like any endeavor, it takes hard work and a vision. It takes the right peo- ple. Tireless recruiting. It takes trust. People have to believe what you are telling them. Our success and my Gable connec- tion offered recruits that belief. We found men who are willing to sacrifice for the team. A friend, Scott Arnel, got involved. He was a successful businessman. He was and still is a great friend. He helped me fund an assistant coach among other things. Coaches with knowledge who love to serve make a difference. I had some great ones with me.
USA Wrestler: What were your top achievements at Hofstra, and what wrestlers are you most proud of? Ryan: The greatest achievement is that my wife and I made it through some very tough times and my children are doing well. No success outside of home can replace failures in it. I have two sons at Ohio State and my second is fighting for a starting spot. My 14-year-old daughter inspires me every day. I am also proud of bringing the program from three scholarships and no paid assistants to a fully funded program. I had a lot of great wrestlers at Hofstra, several multiple All- Americans. Eric and Roman stand out as they were my first believers. They were high level recruits that believed in the unseen. Others fol- lowed… Mike Patrovich, Jon Masa, Chris Weidman, Chris Skretkowicz, Tom Noto, Jason Debruin, Dave Tomasette, Charles Griffin, Paul Simon, Dennis Papadatos, Noel Thompson, Joe Catalannato. The list is long. So many tough, hard working men.
USA Wrestler: Explain the love and support you received from the wrestling community when your son Teague passed away, and how that helped you and your family. Ryan: There are no words that could justly explain the love we felt. We didn't cook for months. Friends helped pay for the funeral. Cards by the hundreds flooded our mailbox. We saw the very best in the human race. One would say that we wit- nessed the extension of our creator. Wrestling has many ser- vant minded people. There is an instant bond that is founded in the intense challenges that come with the sport. It’s a right of passage, regardless of level, to have been beaten down by somebody else. It allows us to connect through humility.
USA Wrestler: There were big coaching changes in the spring of 2006, and you became Ohio State’s head coach. Why did you take on that opportunity, and what did you find different there from being at Hofstra? Ryan: God had a plan for us. It's that simple. The timing was perfect and awful. After all, it was this great Hofstra team that ultimately led to me getting noticed by Gene Smith and Heather Lyke, the head of the committee. Despite my professional suc-
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