Broken bones from a car crash can't keep Ohio State's legendary wrestling coach down for long.
On Friday, Ohio State and Tom Ryan agreed to a three-year contract extension, keeping the 19-year Buckeyes wrestling coach in Columbus through 2027.
"We are excited to announce Tom has accepted a contract extension to continue leading our wrestling program," Ohio State senior associate athletic director Carly Grimshaw Rusnov said in a statement. "Tom is an exceptional leader and has demonstrated a strong commitment to our student-athletes, both on and off the mat. This extension is well deserved and we are confident that Tom’s vision for the program will continue to elevate Buckeye wrestling in the future."
When Ryan arrived at Ohio State from Hofstra in 2006, the Buckeyes were fresh off finishes of 50th and 45th place at their last two NCAA Tournaments. Through 18 seasons under Ryan, they've only finished outside the top 10 twice.
Ryan's crowning achievement came in 2015 when Ohio State captured its first NCAA national championship. Under his leadership, the Buckeyes have had 13 individual national champions and 73 All-Americans. They've also won 213 dual meets.
“It has been a blessing for my wife and me to raise our children here and to be given the sustained trust in building a championship wrestling program," Ryan said in the release. "We are grateful for the support of the administrative leadership, deep-rooted relationships with supporters, passionate fan base and an elite staff of co-wrestling coaches. We are optimistic about the future of Ohio State wrestling. Thank you, Buckeye Nation.”
Ryan suffered a non-life-threatening car accident in May, causing severe injuries in his left leg that required surgery. He's back to walking without the assistance of a walker or crutches now, however, and eager to lead his program forward.
The Buckeyes return a talented roster led by defending 141-pound national champion Jesse Mendez in 2024-25, fresh off an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
