By Tim Robertson
Bigger may not always be brighter for Tom Ryan. The new Ohio State wrestling coach and former Pride commander left Hempstead Saturday for Columbus, Ohio, but leaves behind a national contender planning to stay atop the rankings.
Ryan, who called Ohio State University “one of the most inspiring campuses” he has been on, will coach a team that struggled last season.
According to Ohio State’s athletic website, Ryan will reportedly sign a five-year contract to coach a Buckeye team that finished 5-13 in the regular season in 2005-06 and placed 44th at the NCAA tournament. The Pride finished 11th.
“It shocked me at first,” Pride senior captain Mike Patrovich said. “But when I really thought about it, it was understandable.”
“No one is happy to see him go, but we are happy that he is getting the opportunity at Ohio State,” added sophomore Joe Rovelli.
Ryan served 11 years at the helm of a now nationally recognized program, earning his 100th win this past season, along his team’s respect.
“He was a good guy to have around. This is a new experience, and still a little confusing,” sophomore Charles Griffin said.
“Coach is important to our lives and not just to our wrestling careers,” Patrovich said.
Executive associate director of athletics Danny McCabe said Ryan put the team in a place where it can attract highly qualified people toa apply ffor the opening he created with his departure.
“He really put his heart and soul into making this team known,” McCabe said. “Now it is an attractive job where coaches will recognize Hofstra’s name.”
Now the hunt for a replacement starts. McCabe’s office started fielding calls Monday, two days after Ryan’s announcement and two days before the job opening was officially posted on the University’s website.
“Everybody wants to see who the coach will be, then go from there,” McCabe said of future recruits and possible players leaving. “It is just a natural curiosity.”
McCabe could not release the names of potential coaches interested in the position for privacy reasons.
Rovelli and Patrovich agreed that who ever takes over will have big shoes to fill.
“Mr. Hayes [athletic director Jack Hayes] and his staff will have a big decision to find someone to replace coach,” said Patrovich, who said although Ryan is out of his everyday life, the two will try to remain close.
The team knows it will have to stick together and will look to continue to win at the national tournament.
“Nothing will get worse next year and we will do whatever has to be done, regardless,” Griffin said.
The new coach, whoever it turns out to be, will have the responsibility of building upon Ryan’s success of taking a team that was “in the gutter to a top 10 team,” Patrovich said.
“No other program is sitting back and allowing the Pride to enter into the ranks, we are not sitting back either,” McCabe said.
McCabe and the team are looking to adapt to the new coach’s system and his ability to bring in good student-athletes that can succeed in the classroom and on the mat.
“I’m a pretty anxious to see who the new coach is and his style,” said Rovelli.
McCabe also reinforced his confidence in finding an able replacement for Ryan.
“Coaches leaving for the Big 10 shows the success of our programs and allows us to look at a better candidate pool,” McCabe said.