Accomplishments: Voted the 1990 NCAA Division III Coach of the Year after North Central College finished seventh at the national meet; honored as Coach of the Year four times by the Illinois Swimming Association and three times by the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW); coached 102 CCIW Champions and 47 NCAA Division III All-Americans; coached the team to three conference championships; served as head coach for 27 years, beginning in 1974 for the men’s team and 1986 for the women’s team.
Dennis Ryan served a 27-year tenure as head coach of North Central College’s swimming teams, beginning in 1974 for the men’s squad and 1986 for the women’s team. In 1990, he was voted NCAA Division III Coach of the Year thanks in part to his team’s seventh-place finish at the national meet. He was awarded College Coach of the Year four times by the Illinois Swimming Association.
“Because swimming is not as prominent in college athletics as sports such as football and basketball, swimming athletes and coaches sometimes get overlooked,” said North Central College softball coach Jim Kulawiak. “This was not the case for Dennis. He was well versed in his field and therefore highly respected by his coaching peers. His athletes were often honored for their accomplishments.”
Under Ryan, the Cardinals boasted 102 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) individual champions and 47 NCAA Division III All-Americans including Maureen Szweda ’02, the 1999 national champion in the 200-yard butterfly and a 2007 North Central College Hall of Fame inductee. He coached his teams to three CCIW championships from 1979-1981, and Ryan was awarded CCIW Coach of the Year in each of these three seasons.
Growing up in Pennsylvania, Ryan swam competitively for George Williams College in Illinois, and later earned a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University. He coached at Hinsdale South High School before assuming head coaching duties at North Central in 1974. He has said that his coaching style was influenced by fellow Hall of Famer Al Carius, head coach for North Central College men’s track & field and cross country, who stresses fun and personal achievement.
Also a professor of health and physical education, Ryan coached and taught until 2003. At its 2005 Commencement ceremony, North Central College awarded Ryan the Harold and Eva White First Citizen of the College Award, which recognizes an individual who exemplifies “the best of North Central College.” In 2006, the CCIW began honoring a Dennis Ryan Most Outstanding Participant for its conference championship meet.
