Coaching Staff

Bo Ryan, Head Coach

It was a short-lived retirement to say the least.

After more than two decades of coaching success at Bradley University, Bo Ryan retired from the school in late May. Less than a month later Ryan returned to coaching, lured out of retirement by Illinois Central College to head its men’s golf program.

“I wasn’t expecting this opportunity,” Ryan said. “I’m extremely honored Illinois Central College has put its confidence in me to guide its men’s golf program. ICC is one of the best community colleges not only in the state, but in the entire country. The school’s academic aggressiveness to educate and its commitment to national caliber athletic teams is long standing.

“I accept this challenge and I’m excited at the opportunity to carry on this tradition. I look forward to moving forward with what good friend and former coach Richard Craig as put in place, what all the previous coaches have put in place, and continue to give ICC student-athletes a true championship experience.”

At Bradley, Ryan coached the men’s team for seven years, both the men’s and women’s teams four years and the women’s team his final 13 years.

The men’s team at Bradley recorded the school’s highest conference finish in more than 20 years under Ryan’s guidance. His 1995 team won a school record four tournaments, but coaching the women’s program was where Ryan achieved his greatest success.

Bradley’s women’s golf program reached unprecedented heights of success under Ryan’s leadership. In his 13 years as head coach, Ryan transformed a team that never finished higher than fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, won no tournaments and produced no all-conference players into a team that has won four MVC titles (1999, 2002, 2003 and 2006), has won 12 tournaments and finished in the top three a total of 30 times since the start of the 1998-99 season, while producing 17 all-conference players. His Braves have been ranked as high as 39th nationally and have the first three NCAA post-season appearances for women’s programs at Bradley. Ryan was twice named Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year.

A two-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year (1999 & 2006), his 2000-2001 squad had a record-breaking season, winning tournaments at Arkansas, Illinois State and Missouri State while establishing a school record for 18-, 36-, and 54-hole scores with rounds of 295-306-306—907 at the Arkansas-Little Rock Invitational. Moreover, Bradley featured five of the MVC’s top six scoring averages during the fall 2000 season.

Under Ryan’s guidance Bradley gained the University’s first NCAA bid for any of its women’s teams by winning the 2002 conference tournament. In 2003, Bradley became the only current MVC member at that time to repeat as women’s golf champions by stunning a heavily favored Illinois State team. The Braves were the only conference team to beat ISU in a collegiate event during the 2002-2003 season.

In 2005-06, the Braves won three of their final four regular-season tournaments and placed in the top five in nine of 10 events. Meaghan LeBlanc won individual titles in three of those events, including defending her individual title at the State Farm MVC Tournament. In addition to capturing the team’s fourth Valley title in the last eight years, the Braves also claimed team titles at the NIU Snowbird and the Saluki Invitational.

But to Ryan, who was educated in the Springfield, Ill., school system and who earned both his B.A. and M.S. degrees from Western Illinois University, golf is the game we play, but we attend Illinois Central College for the educational opportunities it offers. "We can never lose sight of our number one reason for being at ICC, and that is for an education," said Ryan. "Golf may leave you one day, either by choice or not by choice, but they can never take your education away."

Known as a "players coach", Ryan possesses a unique ability to communicate with his team members about both golf and school issues and relate to each one on a personal basis as well. A regular on the local amateur tour, Ryan has participated in several state, regional and national golf events.

Ryan helped host and orchestrate the 1993, 1999, 2007 women’s Missouri Valley Golf Championships as well as securing the site and directing the 1996 MVC Men’s Golf Championship at Annbriar Golf Club in Waterloo, Ill.

Bo and his wife Liz, a former Gateway/MVC All-Conference softball player, have four daughters: Keegan, 20 and a junior at Bradley, Cagney, 18 and freshman at ICC; 14-year-old Delainey and 13-year-old Chandler.