South Arkansas College is proud to announce the hiring of John Thomas Ryan as the new Head Coach of the SouthArk Women’s Basketball Program.
Coach Ryan brings a deep passion for student-athlete development, competitive excellence, and community engagement. With coaching experience across NAIA and NCAA Division III levels, he has built a strong foundation in program building, recruiting, player development, and scouting.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Ryan to the SouthArk family,” said Jenny Sanders, Athletic Director and Provost at South Arkansas College. “His commitment to integrity, academic excellence, and performing competitively aligns perfectly with the vision we have for our women's basketball program. We believe he will lead with both heart and discipline.”
Most recently, Coach Ryan served as Assistant Women's Basketball Coach and JV Head Coach at Crowley’s Ridge College. Prior to that, he played a pivotal role at John Brown University, helping lead the team to an undefeated conference season, a 27-game win streak, and a berth in the second round of the national tournament. His career also includes coaching stints at University of the Ozarks and Ecclesia College.
Ryan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Ouachita Baptist University and a Master’s in Liberal Arts at Arkansas Tech University.
“I am excited and honored to be given the opportunity to serve as the head women’s basketball coach for South Arkansas College,” Coach Ryan said. “I look forward to building a program based on respect, hard-work, and a competitive spirit that will make SouthArk and El Dorado proud.”
Coach Ryan is expected to begin his duties July 1, with a focus on recruiting, community engagement, and preparing the team for the upcoming season.