# Steve Ryan (American football)

Steve Ryan is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for Morningside College, a position he has held since 2002. Ryan has led the Morningside Mustangs to three NAIA Football National Championships, in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Ryan graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois in 1989 with his undergraduate degree, where he was a four-time letter winner and three-year starter for the Thunder. He earned a master's degree in 1997 from National Louis University. Prior to his hiring at Morningside, Ryan served as an assistant coach at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas.

## Coaching career

Ryan took over as the head coach in 2002 and led the Morningside Mustangs to a 5–5 season. That inaugural season was considered a success as the Mustangs ended a streak of 15 consecutive losing seasons. Ryan has had only one losing season, 2003. Since that year, the Mustangs have appeared in the NAIA playoffs for 12 straight seasons, including the championship game in 2012. They have lost no more than three contests in any season since 2003.
In 2018, Ryan led the Mustangs to an undefeated, 15–0 season, culminating with a national championship win over the Benedictine Ravens. It was the first national championship for both the Mustangs and Ryan.

## Head coaching record

| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches$^#$ |
| Morningside Mustangs (NAIA independent) (2002) |||||||
| 2002 | Morningside | 5–5 | | | | |
| Morningside Mustangs (Great Plains Athletic Conference) (2003–present) |||||||
| 2003 | Morningside | 3–7 | 3–7 | 9th | | |
| 2004 | Morningside | 8–3 | 8–2 | 2nd | L NAIA First Round | 12 |
| 2005 | Morningside | 12–1 | 10–0 | 1st | L NAIA Semifinal | 3 |
| 2006 | Morningside | 9–3 | 8–2 | 3rd | L NAIA Quarterfinal | 13 |
| 2007 | Morningside | 9–3 | 8–2 | T–2nd | L NAIA Quarterfinal | 11 |
| 2008 | Morningside | 10–2 | 9–1 | 2nd | L NAIA Quarterfinal | 5 |
| 2009 | Morningside | 10–2 | 9–1 | 2nd | L NAIA Quarterfinal | 5 |
| 2010 | Morningside | 10–2 | 9–1 | 2nd | L NAIA Quarterfinal | 5 |
| 2011 | Morningside | 9–2 | 8–1 | 1st | L NAIA First Round | 9 |
| 2012 | Morningside | 13–1 | 9–0 | 1st | L NAIA Championship | 2 |
| 2013 | Morningside | 11–2 | 8–1 | 1st | L NAIA Semifinal | 4 |
| 2014 | Morningside | 11–2 | 8–1 | T–1st | L NAIA Semifinal | 3 |
| 2015 | Morningside | 12–2 | 9–0 | 1st | L NAIA Semifinal | 3 |
| 2016 | Morningside | 10–2 | 8–0 | 1st | L NAIA Quarterfinal | 5 |
| 2017 | Morningside | 13–1 | 8–0 | 1st | L NAIA Semifinal | 3 |
| 2018 | Morningside | 15–0 | 9–0 | 1st | W NAIA Championship | 1 |
| 2019 | Morningside | 14–0 | 9–0 | 1st | W NAIA Championship | 1 |
| 2020–21 | Morningside | 10–1 | 8–0 | 1st | L NAIA Semifinal | 3 |
| 2021 | Morningside | 14–0 | 10–0 | 1st | W NAIA Championship | 1 |
| 2022 | Morningside | 11–1 | 10–0 | 1st | L NAIA Quarterfinal | |
| 2023 | Morningside | 9–3 | 8–2 | T–2nd | L NAIA Second Round | T–10 |
| 2024 | Morningside | 12–2 | 10–0 | | L NAIA Semifinal | 6 |
| Morningside: | Morningside: | 240–47 | 186–21 | | | |
| Total: | Total: | 240–47 | | | | |
| National championship  Conference title  Conference division title or championship game berth |||||||
| $^#$Rankings from final NAIA Coaches' Poll. |||||||