Debbie Ryan

For the actress and singer, see Debby Ryan.

Debbie Ryan
Debbie Ryan in 2014
Biographical details
Born (1952-11-04) November 4, 1952 (age 72)
Titusville, New Jersey, U.S.
Playing career
1971–1975Ursinus
Position(s)Point guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1977–2011Virginia
Head coaching record
Overall739–324 (.695)
Bowls56
Tournaments69
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3× NCAA Regional—Final Four (1990, 1991, 1992)
11× ACC regular season champion (1984, 1986–1988, 1991–1996, 2000)
3× ACC tournament champion (1990, 1992, 1993)
Awards
7× ACC Coach of the Year (1984, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2000)
Naismith College Coach of the Year (1991)
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Medal record
Women's Basketball
Head coach for  United States
World University Games
Gold medal – first place 2001 Beijing Team Competition
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2003 Santo Domingo Team Competition

Debbie Ryan (born November 4, 1952)[1] is a former women's basketball coach who coached at the University of Virginia. Ryan also coached the American women's basketball team at the 2003 Pan American Games. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2000 but is currently in remission.[2] She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. Ryan was also inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.[3]

The US Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) awarded her the Coach of the Year award in 1991.[4] She was also named the Naismith College Coach of the Year.[5]

Ryan started as an assistant coach at Virginia under head coach Dan Bonner.[5] In 1977, Ryan, who had recently completed graduate school in Virginia, was asked to become the head coach of the women's basketball program. She accepted, to become only the third head coach in the program's history.[2] Ryan resigned after 34 years of head coaching duties at UVA at the completion the women's 2010–11 basketball season.[6][7] After her resignation, Ryan was a volunteer assistant coach of Seattle Storm for the 2011 WNBA season, reuniting with her former player Jenny Boucek, who is an assistant coach there.[8] In 2014, Ryan was honored as one of the Library of Virginia's "Virginia Women in History" for her contributions to women's basketball and her actions as a cancer treatment advocate.[9]

US basketball

Ryan served as the head coach of the US representative to the 1999 World University Games (also known as the Universiade). The event was held in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The US team opened with a 134–37 win over South Africa. The second game was against Canada, which the US team lost in a close match 68–67. The US could not afford to lose another game if they wished to win a medal, and won the next game against Japan 106–66. They next faced undefeated Russia, and fell behind by twelve points at halftime, but came back and won 79–68. The US fell behind in their next game against undefeated China, but rallied and went on to win 89–78. They beat Brazil to advance to the semi-final, where they faced Lithuania. The game was not close, with the US winning 70–49. That set up a rematch with China, on their home court with 18,000 spectators. The USA only had a four-point lead at halftime, but did better in the second half, and won 87–69 to claim the gold medal.[10]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Virginia (ACC) (1977–2011)
1977–78 Virginia 8–17 1–5 6th
1978–79 Virginia 16–12 2–4 6th
1979–80 Virginia 20–12 3–5 6th WNIT Second Round
1980–81 Virginia 22–10 5–2 4th AIAW First Round
1981–82 Virginia 17–11 2–5 5th
1982–83 Virginia 15–13 4–9 6th
1983–84 Virginia 22–7 11–3 1st NCAA First Round
1984–85 Virginia 21–8 9–5 3rd NCAA First Round
1985–86 Virginia 26–3 13–1 1st NCAA First Round
1986–87 Virginia 26–5 12–2 1st NCAA Sweet 16
1987–88 Virginia 27–5 12–2 T-1st NCAA Elite 8
1988–89 Virginia 21–10 8–6 4th NCAA Sweet 16
1989–90 Virginia 29–6 11–3 2nd NCAA Final Four
1990–91 Virginia 31–3 14–0 1st NCAA Runner-Up
1991–92 Virginia 32–2 15–1 1st NCAA Final Four
1992–93 Virginia 26–6 13–3 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1993–94 Virginia 27–5 15–1 1st NCAA Sweet 16
1994–95 Virginia 27–5 16–0 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1995–96 Virginia 26–7 13–3 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1996–97 Virginia 23–8 12–4 2nd NCAA Sweet 16
1997–98 Virginia 19–10 9–7 5th NCAA Second Round
1998–99 Virginia 20–9 12–4 2nd NCAA First Round
1999–00 Virginia 25–9 13–3 1st NCAA Sweet 16
2000–01 Virginia 18–14 8–8 5th NCAA First Round
2001–02 Virginia 17–13 9–7 T-3rd NCAA First Round
2002–03 Virginia 17–14 9–7 3rd NCAA Second Round
2003–04 Virginia 13–16 6–9 7th
2004–05 Virginia 21–11 8–6 5th NCAA Second Round
2005–06 Virginia 20–12 5–9 9th WNIT Quarterfinals
2006–07 Virginia 19–15 5–9 8th WNIT Quarterfinals
2007–08 Virginia 24–10 10–4 T-3rd NCAA Second Round
2008–09 Virginia 24–10 8–6 T-5th NCAA Second Round
2009–10 Virginia 21–10 9–5 3rd NCAA First Round
2010–11 Virginia 19–16 5–7 8th WNIT Quarterfinals
Virginia: 739–324 (.694) 160–92 (.635)
Total: 739–324 (.694)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References

  1. ^ "Women's Basketball Coaches Career". NCAA. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Friedman, Vickie (June 2011). "The End of Two Eras". Coaching Women's Basketball (Post-convention issue): 22.
  3. ^ "WBHOF Inductees". WBHOF. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  4. ^ "USBWA Women's Honors". USBWA. Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  5. ^ a b Leung, Brian; Holland, Terry (September 15, 2016). 100 Things Virginia Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die. Triumph Books. ISBN 9781633196742.
  6. ^ "Virginia coach Ryan to step down after 34 years". Fox News. Associated Press. March 27, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  7. ^ (2011-03-26 )"Debbie Ryan's career ends as Virginia's late run isn't enough to beat Charlotte", ESPN. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
  8. ^ "News Archive".
  9. ^ "Virginia Women in History: Deborah A. "Debbie" Ryan". Library of Virginia. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "Twentieth World University Games – 2001". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on April 29, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.