University of Minnesota Athletics
Former Administrator Ryan Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
2/20/2026 12:36:00 PM | Athletics
Ryan retired this past June after a 40-year career at three schools
Release Courtesy of College Sports Communicators
Former University of Minnesota senior associate athletics director Marc Ryan was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the College Sports Communicators. The award is presented to individuals who have served at least 25 years in the athletics communications profession (as of July 2026) who are retiring or leaving the profession and the years of service vetted by the Special Awards Committee.
Ryan retired this past June after a 40-year career at three schools, starting as an SID before moving into senior administration.
A student assistant/intern as an undergraduate at Minnesota State University Moorhead under Hall of Famer Larry Scott, Ryan's first full-time position was at Macalester College (St. Paul, Minn.), where from 1985–87 he served as SID and coached cross country and track. He then went to Villanova, where he served as an assistant SID under Craig Miller from 1987–89. Ryan began his Gopher career in 1989 as an assistant under Hall of Fame Gopher SID Bob Peterson. He was named director when Peterson retired in 1994.
Ryan was promoted to assistant AD in 1999, associate AD in 2004, and senior associate AD in 2010. He oversaw multiple units in the department, served on several NCAA and Big Ten committees, and was a sport administrator for several Gopher teams over the final 21 years of his career. As a sport administrator, his Gopher teams won 36 Big Ten championships in 10 sports, and 16 student-athletes in six sports captured a total of 27 individual NCAA titles.
Ryan, who served on the USOC media relations staff at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, is a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead, where he was a two-time All-American and a member of 10 conference championship teams in cross country and track during his career for the Dragons. Ryan was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2007. He earned a master's degree in sports management from Minnesota. Ryan and his wife, Dianne, have three adult children, Sean, Keara and Kyle.
Marc Ryan — University of Minnesota Senior Associate Athletics Director (retired)
"I am so honored to receive the College Sports Communicators Lifetime Achievement Award! I wrote a paper when I was in high school saying that my goal was to one day become the sports information director at the University of Minnesota. So dreams really do come true! There are so many people that guided me and helped me along the way. Early in my career I was fortunate to be supported and mentored by some of the very best SID's in the business…Larry Scott at Minnesota State University Moorhead, Craig Miller at Villanova University (and USA Basketball) and the late Bob Peterson at the University of Minnesota. I was blessed to have a 40-year career in college athletics at three different institutions, the last 36 of those at Minnesota. Thanks again for this honor. I have so much respect for everyone in this business. Communications professionals are tireless workers and unsung stars, and more so than ever before, remain vitally critical to an athletics department's success on multiple fronts." — Marc Ryan, 2026 CSC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient
Mark Coyle, University of Minnesota Director of Athletics:
"Marc was a truly transformational leader within Gopher Athletics for more than 30 years. His commitment to our student-athletes, coaches and staff was unmatched. He impacted thousands of students during his time with the Gophers, leaving a lasting impact. He is the true definition of low ego, high output!"
Kelly Kremer, University of Minnesota Director of Swimming and Diving:
"Marc was my direct supervisor for almost the entirety of the 28 years I have coached at Minnesota. He is known among my colleagues in the B1G for being open, honest, and thoughtful. Marc took the time to get to know the coaches and athletes, not only from the U, but from the other schools within the B1G as well. He wanted to see the sport of swimming and diving as a whole succeed, and his leadership was always felt both on our campus, and within our sport in the B1G. During Marc's time at Minnesota, the Gophers won 15 B1G Team Championships in Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving."
Paul Rovnak, University of Minnesota Senior Associate Athletic Director / Communications:
"Marc dedicated his professional career to the service of others and was a standard-bearer for the University of Minnesota and Gopher Athletics. For 36 years, through wins and losses, he was an advocate for student-athletes and championed and cheered their success on and off the field. With an unwavering smile and a contagiously positive attitude, he uplifted others and left a legacy of leadership, innovation and friendship at Minnesota."
Sarah Moraw, University of Minnesota Gymnast:
"Truly, there is no one more deserving of this award. Last year, Marc closed the final chapter of a remarkable playbook in Gopher Athletics history. Not one written in X's and O's, but one defined by character, compassion, and a culture of excellence. Marc is, without a doubt, one of the most genuinely personable people I've ever met. From the moment I stepped on campus for my visit six years ago, he took the time to listen. He knew his athletes by name and made a point to check in — not just as athletes, but as people. His door was always open. And no matter how full his plate was, he was present. That level of care — consistent, sincere, and personal — left a lasting impact on me and so many others.
If you looked around at the sidelines at any sporting event, odds are you'd spot Marc. But it wasn't just games — it was practices, meetings, and banquets. He showed up. Over and over again. One of my favorite memories is from regionals. I had just stuck my vault, and as the team exploded in celebration, a video captured Marc — sitting solo in the rafters in Arkansas — leaping to his feet with pure excitement. That moment speaks volumes. Marc, thank you for being more than an administrator. Thank you for being present, for being a true supporter, and for celebrating with us every step of the way. I have a heart full of gratitude for Marc — for leading with grace, for showing up with heart, for inspiring with purpose, and for celebrating with pure joy. Marc has reminded me that the best leaders don't just run the game — they change it."
Joel Maturi, University of Minnesota Director of Athletics (Retired):
"Marc served student-athletes, administrators, coaches, staff and the public for nearly four decades at the University of Minnesota. No one was more loyal or dedicated to communicating the positiveness of athletics at Minnesota while never seeking individual attention. He was a valued colleague, an admired and respected mentor to many and a friend to all. Marc is a deserving recipient of the CSC's Lifetime Achievement Award."
Former University of Minnesota senior associate athletics director Marc Ryan was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the College Sports Communicators. The award is presented to individuals who have served at least 25 years in the athletics communications profession (as of July 2026) who are retiring or leaving the profession and the years of service vetted by the Special Awards Committee.
Ryan retired this past June after a 40-year career at three schools, starting as an SID before moving into senior administration.
A student assistant/intern as an undergraduate at Minnesota State University Moorhead under Hall of Famer Larry Scott, Ryan's first full-time position was at Macalester College (St. Paul, Minn.), where from 1985–87 he served as SID and coached cross country and track. He then went to Villanova, where he served as an assistant SID under Craig Miller from 1987–89. Ryan began his Gopher career in 1989 as an assistant under Hall of Fame Gopher SID Bob Peterson. He was named director when Peterson retired in 1994.
Ryan was promoted to assistant AD in 1999, associate AD in 2004, and senior associate AD in 2010. He oversaw multiple units in the department, served on several NCAA and Big Ten committees, and was a sport administrator for several Gopher teams over the final 21 years of his career. As a sport administrator, his Gopher teams won 36 Big Ten championships in 10 sports, and 16 student-athletes in six sports captured a total of 27 individual NCAA titles.
Ryan, who served on the USOC media relations staff at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, is a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead, where he was a two-time All-American and a member of 10 conference championship teams in cross country and track during his career for the Dragons. Ryan was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2007. He earned a master's degree in sports management from Minnesota. Ryan and his wife, Dianne, have three adult children, Sean, Keara and Kyle.
Marc Ryan — University of Minnesota Senior Associate Athletics Director (retired)
"I am so honored to receive the College Sports Communicators Lifetime Achievement Award! I wrote a paper when I was in high school saying that my goal was to one day become the sports information director at the University of Minnesota. So dreams really do come true! There are so many people that guided me and helped me along the way. Early in my career I was fortunate to be supported and mentored by some of the very best SID's in the business…Larry Scott at Minnesota State University Moorhead, Craig Miller at Villanova University (and USA Basketball) and the late Bob Peterson at the University of Minnesota. I was blessed to have a 40-year career in college athletics at three different institutions, the last 36 of those at Minnesota. Thanks again for this honor. I have so much respect for everyone in this business. Communications professionals are tireless workers and unsung stars, and more so than ever before, remain vitally critical to an athletics department's success on multiple fronts." — Marc Ryan, 2026 CSC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient
Mark Coyle, University of Minnesota Director of Athletics:
"Marc was a truly transformational leader within Gopher Athletics for more than 30 years. His commitment to our student-athletes, coaches and staff was unmatched. He impacted thousands of students during his time with the Gophers, leaving a lasting impact. He is the true definition of low ego, high output!"
Kelly Kremer, University of Minnesota Director of Swimming and Diving:
"Marc was my direct supervisor for almost the entirety of the 28 years I have coached at Minnesota. He is known among my colleagues in the B1G for being open, honest, and thoughtful. Marc took the time to get to know the coaches and athletes, not only from the U, but from the other schools within the B1G as well. He wanted to see the sport of swimming and diving as a whole succeed, and his leadership was always felt both on our campus, and within our sport in the B1G. During Marc's time at Minnesota, the Gophers won 15 B1G Team Championships in Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving."
Paul Rovnak, University of Minnesota Senior Associate Athletic Director / Communications:
"Marc dedicated his professional career to the service of others and was a standard-bearer for the University of Minnesota and Gopher Athletics. For 36 years, through wins and losses, he was an advocate for student-athletes and championed and cheered their success on and off the field. With an unwavering smile and a contagiously positive attitude, he uplifted others and left a legacy of leadership, innovation and friendship at Minnesota."
Sarah Moraw, University of Minnesota Gymnast:
"Truly, there is no one more deserving of this award. Last year, Marc closed the final chapter of a remarkable playbook in Gopher Athletics history. Not one written in X's and O's, but one defined by character, compassion, and a culture of excellence. Marc is, without a doubt, one of the most genuinely personable people I've ever met. From the moment I stepped on campus for my visit six years ago, he took the time to listen. He knew his athletes by name and made a point to check in — not just as athletes, but as people. His door was always open. And no matter how full his plate was, he was present. That level of care — consistent, sincere, and personal — left a lasting impact on me and so many others.
If you looked around at the sidelines at any sporting event, odds are you'd spot Marc. But it wasn't just games — it was practices, meetings, and banquets. He showed up. Over and over again. One of my favorite memories is from regionals. I had just stuck my vault, and as the team exploded in celebration, a video captured Marc — sitting solo in the rafters in Arkansas — leaping to his feet with pure excitement. That moment speaks volumes. Marc, thank you for being more than an administrator. Thank you for being present, for being a true supporter, and for celebrating with us every step of the way. I have a heart full of gratitude for Marc — for leading with grace, for showing up with heart, for inspiring with purpose, and for celebrating with pure joy. Marc has reminded me that the best leaders don't just run the game — they change it."
Joel Maturi, University of Minnesota Director of Athletics (Retired):
"Marc served student-athletes, administrators, coaches, staff and the public for nearly four decades at the University of Minnesota. No one was more loyal or dedicated to communicating the positiveness of athletics at Minnesota while never seeking individual attention. He was a valued colleague, an admired and respected mentor to many and a friend to all. Marc is a deserving recipient of the CSC's Lifetime Achievement Award."
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