One of the top runners in the fabled history of La Salle's men's cross country program, Joe Ryan was a three-time All-Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC) selection, a three-time All-Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) honoree, and was named All-American in 1968.
As a sophomore in 1966, he led the Explorers to a MAC title and was the top finisher for the team in every competition that year and for the next two seasons. A school-record holder at Belmont Plateau and Van Cortlandt Park cross country courses, Ryan was a team captain in 1968.
On the track, Ryan made his mark as he set school records in three separate events – the two-mile run, three-mile run and 3,000-meter steeplechase. He was a three-time All-MAC selection and competed at NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. In 1969, he was named team captain and ran anchor for La Salle's distance-medley relay team that won College Division gold at Penn Relays.
Following graduation in 1969, Ryan went on to a highly-acclaimed coaching career that saw him spend 16 seasons as head cross country and track & field coach at Philadelphia Textile. His teams produced 20 All-Americans and Ryan was named District Coach of the Year twice in track & field. He was inducted into the Jefferson University [Philadelphia Textile] Hall of Fame in 2021.
Ryan continues to pay it forward in the world of cross country and track & field. He has officiated countless meets in the Philadelphia area, and has been chief official at Penn Relays, where he has been an official for over 55 years, as well as officiating numerous NCAA National Championships meets in all three NCAA Divisions in Track and Cross Country.
