Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving
Head Coach John Ryan

Head coach John Ryan has completed twelve years at the helm of the Trinity University swimming and diving program.  He came to Trinity from Wesleyan University (Connecticut) in 1992 and has since led the men to a 62-12 meet record, with the women posting an even more impressive 68-6 mark. The Tiger women's team has won three consecutive Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference titles, taking home the 2002 team trophy after scoring a near record-setting 915 points. Trinity's men likewise captured the 2002 SCAC team title by virtue of an all-time high 944.5 points, winning the meet by the narrowest of margins thanks to a remarkable team effort. Ryan earned SCAC Coach-of-the-Year honors for the 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002, and 2003-2004 seasons.  His teams have traditionally performed exceptionally well at their end-of-year championship meets, often surprising opponents with their spirit and competitiveness.

Coach Ryan graduated from Bowdoin College (Maine) in 1969 and subsequently served as an officer in the US Army for four years. From 1970-1972, he was the swimming coach for the United States Modern Pentathlon Training Center, then located at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. There he prepared American athletes for the Munich Olympic Games while with also working as the head age group coach for the San Antonio Aquatic Club.  Ryan helped Coach Bill Walker guide SAAC to the 1972 TAGS team title, breaking a long string of consecutive wins by Dad's Club YMCA of Houston.

Upon completing his military obligation in 1973, Ryan began graduate studies at The College of William and Mary in Virginia. While working on his M.A. in Education, he founded and coached the Peninsula YMCA Swim Team. His club quickly became a Virginia AAU power and one of the country's best "Y" teams, only to lose its sponsorship in the summer of 1975. The following year, Coach Ryan returned to San Antonio to assume leadership of the aquatic programs for the North East ISD and the San Antonio Aquatic Club. He founded a summer swim league in his school district, grew SAAC to over 300 swimmers and, together with coaches Peter Williams and George Block, organized the Alamo Area Aquatic Association. Between 1977 and 1982, Ryan developed many prominent state and nationally ranked swimmers. Several won NJO titles and one, Cassie Cochran, established two American AAU short course meter records in Paris, France, during the 1978 winter season. While directing the NEISD program, three of Ryan's protegés received TISCA "High School Swimmer-of-the-Year" awards for their performances at the Texas UIL state meet.

In 1982, Coach Ryan accepted the women's head coaching job at SMU and moved to Dallas. His 1984-85 team enjoyed an undefeated dual meet season and a top 10 finish at the NCAA Division I Championships. The following year, he accepted a position at Wesleyan, where he served as aquatic director and head coach of men's and women's swimming.  He brought new energy to Wesleyan's program and, after losing nearly every meet in his first season, transformed the Cardinals into a consistent winner. During his final winter in Connecticut, Ryan's 1991-92 team enjoyed a combined record of 16-2. When Ryan left the program that summer, it was one of the best in the New England region. He had athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships 26 times and saw his swimmers earn All-American honors on 15 occasions. Ryan was voted 1991 New England Division III Coach-of-the-Year by his peers.

Coach Ryan returned to San Antonio to become Trinity's first-ever varsity head coach of an NCAA swimming and diving program.  He thinks the city is a great place to live, and felt Trinity would quickly become a competitive program.  It has, thanks to the fact it readily attracts young men and women seeking both a quality undergraduate education and a rewarding athletic experience.  Coach Ryan strives to find a way to help his swimmers achieve whatever potential they may have as collegiate athletes.  He believes that everyone benefits when each and every swimmer makes a personal commitment to the team concept.  Good fellowship, a common purpose, and hard work all combine to create the kind of team experience that Ryan feels is memorable for all participants.  Judging from the success of the T.U. program, the formula works.