University of Minnesota Athletics
Ryan Announces Retirement After 36 Years at Minnesota
5/8/2025 1:55:00 PM | Athletics
Senior Associate Athletics Director will retire on June 15, 2025
University of Minnesota Senior Associate Athletics Director Marc Ryan has announced his upcoming retirement. Ryan, who has been a staple with Gopher Athletics for 36 years, is the most tenured employee in the department. He will retire on June 15, 2025, and will finish his career at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which are held June 11-14, 2025, in Eugene, Ore.
Ryan is one of the most recognizable faces in Dinkytown and is the sport administrator for nine teams: women's cross country, men's cross country, women's swimming & diving, men's swimming & diving, women's indoor track & field, women's outdoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field, gymnastics and softball.
He also serves as the director for both the Gopher Athletics Internship Program, and the Gopher Graduation Program, which is an initiative to help former Gopher student-athletes return to Minnesota and complete their undergraduate degrees. In addition, Ryan is a member of the Gopher Athletics Drug & Alcohol Review Committee. He is also the athletic department's liaison to housing and residential life, where he coordinates the program's reserved, on-campus residence hall space for all 22 sports.
"It's been an absolute honor and privilege to work alongside so many incredibly dedicated and talented student-athletes, coaches and staff for more than 36 years," said Ryan. "I loved my experience, and I am proud of what we were able to accomplish together. One of the things that I enjoyed the most was the ability to mentor and work with so many young people who went on to achieve great things inside and outside of athletics. I gave the department everything that I had and tried to make a small difference every day. It was a difficult decision, but the timing feels right to see what the next chapter holds. Go Gophers!"
Ryan has also served on numerous local, Big Ten and NCAA committees during his career. He was a member of the Meet Minneapolis Board of Directors and served two consecutive terms from 2009-13. During that time, he also was a member of the Meet Minneapolis Local Organizing Committee, as well as the Hotel Improvement Task Force Committee.
Ryan, who served on the Big Ten's Governance Task Force, has also been a member of the Big Ten Conference Sports Management Committee / Olympic Sport Oversight Committee since 2005 and is a liaison to the league's swimming & diving coaches.
He served a four-year term (2008-12) as a member of the NCAA Cross Country/Track Field Committee. In that role he was the committee chair for the 2012 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boise, Idaho.
"Marc has done it all and seen it all at Minnesota," said Director of Athletics Mark Coyle. "He has worked with nearly every team and every unit in the department, but his focus was always on the student-athletes and their experience. He wanted the best for them in every aspect of their daily life. Marc was a true servant-leader and devoted his career to helping others succeed. He spent countless hours, nights and weekends on campus, but he was also always there for his wife, Dianne, and three children, Sean, Keara and Kyle. We will miss Marc and his dedication to the Maroon and Gold, but he will always be a Gopher."
Ryan began his Gopher career in 1989 as an Assistant Sports Information Director for the Men's Athletics Department under Hall of Fame Gopher sports information director Bob Peterson. Ryan was named Director of Media Relations when Peterson retired in 1994 and during his tenure, he received 22 awards for excellence in publications from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
In 1999, Ryan was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for External Relations and oversaw media relations, GopherSports.com, marketing/sales, photography/video and the spirit squad.
Ryan was the Associate Athletics Director for Sport Administration and Championships from 2004-10. In that role he served as the primary sport administrator for nine teams: football, women's cross country, men's cross country, women's indoor track & field, men's indoor track & field, women's outdoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field, women's swimming & diving and men's swimming & diving.
He also coordinated the bid preparation, planning and implementation for all championships (NCAA, Big Ten and WCHA) where Minnesota served as the host institution. Ryan was the tournament director for 33 championship events, including the 2003 (regional), 2006 (regional) and 2009 (first/second rounds) NCAA Men's Basketball Championships; the 2005, 2009 and 2010 NCAA Men's Hockey Regionals; the 2004, 2005 and 2007 NCAA Women's Basketball first/second rounds; and the 2002 and 2011 NCAA Men's Hockey Frozen Fours. He also served as the media coordinator for the 2001 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four at the Metrodome.
Ryan was also the sport administrator for football from 2004-12 and served as the day-to-day administrative liaison to the football staff. He was also involved with the hiring of coaches and was the department's bowl committee planning director for five bowl game appearances between 2004-2009. Ryan also negotiated and finalized the Gophers' non-conference football scheduling agreements in this role.
In 2006, Ryan worked with former Director of Athletics Joel Maturi to bring the leadership of the "M" Club within Gopher Athletics for the first time in history. To this day, the move to bring the "M" Club in-house continues to foster a renewed sense of commitment and engagement with Gopher letter winners.
Visit Saint Paul bestowed its "Hometown Hero" award upon Ryan for his efforts with the 2011 NCAA Men's Frozen Four. The U.S. Women's Gymnastics Coaches named him Regional Administrator of the Year in both 2023 and 2008. In 2009, the Lake Conference honored the Rosemount High School alum with its Distinguished Alumni Award.
Prior to his time at Minnesota, Ryan was an Assistant Sports Information Director at Villanova University from 1987-89. He also served as Sports Information Director, Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track Coach at Macalester College from 1985-87.
Ryan also worked national and international events through the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The USOC selected him to work on the media relations staffs at the 1987 (Raleigh-Durham, NC), 1990 (Twin Cities) and 1991 (Los Angeles) U.S. Olympic Festivals.
In addition, USA Basketball selected him for their media relations staff for the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle where he worked with USA Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski and Assistant Coach Jim Boeheim.
Following those experiences, he served on the USOC staff at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, where he helped coordinate the media relations efforts for the USA men's and women's track & field teams, and the men's soccer team.
Ryan is a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead with a bachelor's degree in mass communications. He was a two-time All-American and a member of 10 conference championship teams in cross country and track & field during his career for the Dragons, and he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2007. He is also a lifetime member of the University of Minnesota's Alumni Association, as he earned his master's degree in sports management from Minnesota.
Ryan and his wife Dianne have three adult children, Sean, Keara and Kyle.
Ryan is one of the most recognizable faces in Dinkytown and is the sport administrator for nine teams: women's cross country, men's cross country, women's swimming & diving, men's swimming & diving, women's indoor track & field, women's outdoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field, gymnastics and softball.
He also serves as the director for both the Gopher Athletics Internship Program, and the Gopher Graduation Program, which is an initiative to help former Gopher student-athletes return to Minnesota and complete their undergraduate degrees. In addition, Ryan is a member of the Gopher Athletics Drug & Alcohol Review Committee. He is also the athletic department's liaison to housing and residential life, where he coordinates the program's reserved, on-campus residence hall space for all 22 sports.
"It's been an absolute honor and privilege to work alongside so many incredibly dedicated and talented student-athletes, coaches and staff for more than 36 years," said Ryan. "I loved my experience, and I am proud of what we were able to accomplish together. One of the things that I enjoyed the most was the ability to mentor and work with so many young people who went on to achieve great things inside and outside of athletics. I gave the department everything that I had and tried to make a small difference every day. It was a difficult decision, but the timing feels right to see what the next chapter holds. Go Gophers!"
Ryan has also served on numerous local, Big Ten and NCAA committees during his career. He was a member of the Meet Minneapolis Board of Directors and served two consecutive terms from 2009-13. During that time, he also was a member of the Meet Minneapolis Local Organizing Committee, as well as the Hotel Improvement Task Force Committee.
Ryan, who served on the Big Ten's Governance Task Force, has also been a member of the Big Ten Conference Sports Management Committee / Olympic Sport Oversight Committee since 2005 and is a liaison to the league's swimming & diving coaches.
He served a four-year term (2008-12) as a member of the NCAA Cross Country/Track Field Committee. In that role he was the committee chair for the 2012 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boise, Idaho.
"Marc has done it all and seen it all at Minnesota," said Director of Athletics Mark Coyle. "He has worked with nearly every team and every unit in the department, but his focus was always on the student-athletes and their experience. He wanted the best for them in every aspect of their daily life. Marc was a true servant-leader and devoted his career to helping others succeed. He spent countless hours, nights and weekends on campus, but he was also always there for his wife, Dianne, and three children, Sean, Keara and Kyle. We will miss Marc and his dedication to the Maroon and Gold, but he will always be a Gopher."
Ryan began his Gopher career in 1989 as an Assistant Sports Information Director for the Men's Athletics Department under Hall of Fame Gopher sports information director Bob Peterson. Ryan was named Director of Media Relations when Peterson retired in 1994 and during his tenure, he received 22 awards for excellence in publications from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
In 1999, Ryan was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for External Relations and oversaw media relations, GopherSports.com, marketing/sales, photography/video and the spirit squad.
Ryan was the Associate Athletics Director for Sport Administration and Championships from 2004-10. In that role he served as the primary sport administrator for nine teams: football, women's cross country, men's cross country, women's indoor track & field, men's indoor track & field, women's outdoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field, women's swimming & diving and men's swimming & diving.
He also coordinated the bid preparation, planning and implementation for all championships (NCAA, Big Ten and WCHA) where Minnesota served as the host institution. Ryan was the tournament director for 33 championship events, including the 2003 (regional), 2006 (regional) and 2009 (first/second rounds) NCAA Men's Basketball Championships; the 2005, 2009 and 2010 NCAA Men's Hockey Regionals; the 2004, 2005 and 2007 NCAA Women's Basketball first/second rounds; and the 2002 and 2011 NCAA Men's Hockey Frozen Fours. He also served as the media coordinator for the 2001 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four at the Metrodome.
Ryan was also the sport administrator for football from 2004-12 and served as the day-to-day administrative liaison to the football staff. He was also involved with the hiring of coaches and was the department's bowl committee planning director for five bowl game appearances between 2004-2009. Ryan also negotiated and finalized the Gophers' non-conference football scheduling agreements in this role.
In 2006, Ryan worked with former Director of Athletics Joel Maturi to bring the leadership of the "M" Club within Gopher Athletics for the first time in history. To this day, the move to bring the "M" Club in-house continues to foster a renewed sense of commitment and engagement with Gopher letter winners.
Visit Saint Paul bestowed its "Hometown Hero" award upon Ryan for his efforts with the 2011 NCAA Men's Frozen Four. The U.S. Women's Gymnastics Coaches named him Regional Administrator of the Year in both 2023 and 2008. In 2009, the Lake Conference honored the Rosemount High School alum with its Distinguished Alumni Award.
Prior to his time at Minnesota, Ryan was an Assistant Sports Information Director at Villanova University from 1987-89. He also served as Sports Information Director, Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track Coach at Macalester College from 1985-87.
Ryan also worked national and international events through the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The USOC selected him to work on the media relations staffs at the 1987 (Raleigh-Durham, NC), 1990 (Twin Cities) and 1991 (Los Angeles) U.S. Olympic Festivals.
In addition, USA Basketball selected him for their media relations staff for the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle where he worked with USA Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski and Assistant Coach Jim Boeheim.
Following those experiences, he served on the USOC staff at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, where he helped coordinate the media relations efforts for the USA men's and women's track & field teams, and the men's soccer team.
Ryan is a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead with a bachelor's degree in mass communications. He was a two-time All-American and a member of 10 conference championship teams in cross country and track & field during his career for the Dragons, and he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2007. He is also a lifetime member of the University of Minnesota's Alumni Association, as he earned his master's degree in sports management from Minnesota.
Ryan and his wife Dianne have three adult children, Sean, Keara and Kyle.
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