The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) Board of Directors has officially appointed Wayne Ryan as its next Executive Director. Ryan will step into the role on July 1, 2025, succeeding the retiring David Price. The announcement marks a significant leadership transition for the organization responsible for overseeing interscholastic sports and activities across West Virginia.
Ryan expressed deep appreciation for the trust placed in him by the board. “I appreciate the board of directors’ confidence in me,” he said. “It is an honor to serve in this position, and I am humbled by this opportunity. I am looking forward to working with the board and all stakeholders to continue to serve our student-athletes and our member schools.”
He also pledged to maintain a strong commitment to education-based athletics, stating, “Our staff will work very hard to better serve and support our member schools and help advance the mission of education-based athletics.”
Trent Sherman, President of the WVSSAC Board of Directors, emphasized Ryan’s dedication and readiness for the position. “The Board is confident that Wayne’s extensive background and unwavering commitment to education-based athletics will serve the WVSSAC well as he steps into this new leadership role. We look forward to the continued growth and success of interscholastic activities under his guidance.”
Ryan brings a rich history of service and leadership in West Virginia athletics. His current and past roles within the WVSSAC and beyond reflect a career rooted in sports administration, education, and student achievement.
Over the years, he has overseen a wide array of sports including football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, and track. He has played a vital role in improving sport administration, enhancing tournament operations, and handling essential responsibilities like ticketing, scholarships, awards, and school reimbursements.
Ryan has also held influential roles outside of the WVSSAC office. He has served as president of the West Virginia Athletic Directors Association and was a previous member of the WVSSAC Board of Directors.
His contributions extend to the WVSSAC Basketball Coaches Advisory Committee, Basketball Restructuring Committee, and Technology Committee. At the national level, he served on the NFHS Officials Advisory Committee.
A 1982 graduate of Hinton High School, Ryan was a standout athlete and was later inducted into the Bobcat Hall of Fame. He played college baseball at Alderson Broaddus, where he was recognized with the Phi Epsilon Outstanding Student Award in 1986.
He continued his academic journey with a master’s degree in communications from West Virginia University and a certification in educational leadership from Salem International University. He is also a Certified Athletic Administrator through the NIAAA.
Ryan’s 30-year career in the Summers County school system included roles as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and assistant principal. His most celebrated success came as head coach of the Summers County girls’ basketball team, guiding them to six state championships, including five straight Class AA titles from 2007 to 2011.
Under his leadership, the team achieved a state-record 105-game winning streak. His efforts earned him the 2010 West Virginia State Coach of the Year title from the West Virginia Sports Writers Association and the 2015 West Virginia Athletic Director of the Year award.
Outside his professional achievements, Ryan shares a life of dedication with his wife, Robin Hannah Ryan, a registered nurse and Clinical Solutions Delivery Consultant for Philips. The couple has been married for 31 years and have two grown children: Lindsay, 29, and Matthew, 27.
As Wayne Ryan prepares to take the helm of the WVSSAC, the organization looks forward to a new chapter led by a seasoned professional deeply rooted in West Virginia’s athletic and educational communities.
