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ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ has a long tradition of alumni pursuing careers in athletics, and Ryan Conry’14 is one of many Lancers turning that passion into a profession. Now serving as safeties coach and special teams coordinator at the University of Texas Permian Basin, Conry has steadily climbed the coaching ranks through hard work, adaptability and a lifelong commitment to learning.

 

At ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½, Conry was a multi-sport athlete who played defensive end and wide receiver for the Lancers. Football was always a passion, but a key opportunity during his senior year helped set his career path. Through a connection with former teammate Jimmy Rooney ’14 and his father, Jim Rooney ’86, Conry completed his senior project with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

 

Working alongside the Northeast Ohio scout, he gained firsthand experience in professional football operations, assisting with draft preparation, attending a Pro Day at Kent State and even spending time in the Steelers’ draft-day warroom.

 

“That experience opened my eyes to the behind- the-scenes work that goes into building a team,” Conry said.

 

After graduating, Conry continued to pursue opportunities in football while attending The Ohio State University. Although he initially wasn’t planning to work with the Buckeyes program, his experience with the Steelers helped him land a position as a recruiting intern. Over the next several years, he worked his way up within the program, learning what it takes to operate one of the nation’s top college football programs.

 

As part of the recruiting department, Conry helped identify and evaluate players during summer camps and managed high-level communication between coaches and recruits. He later transitioned into a cornerbacks intern role, where his responsibilities included film breakdown, signaling plays and preparing the scout team.

 

In 2019, Conry moved west to become a defensive backs graduate assistant at the University of California Berkeley under head coach Justin Wilcox. One of the most memorable moments of his career came that season when Cal defeated rival Stanford 24-20 on the road for the first time in 10 years.

 

After three seasons at Cal, Conry joined Texas Tech University as a defensive quality control coach. When NCAA rules later allowed quality control staff to take on more direct coaching responsibilities, he began working closely with the nickel and star defensive positions. In 2025, he added special teams assistant duties as the RedRaiderscapturedthefirstBig12Championship in school history.

 

“It’s never really about one person,” Conry said. “When you win something like that, it’s a team accomplishment.”

 

In 2026, Conry took the next step in his career, accepting the role of safeties coach and special teams coordinator at the University of Texas Permian Basin.

 

The path to that opportunity has required relentless dedication. A typical day for Conry begins at 5:30 a.m. with a workout before a full schedule of staff meetings, film study, player development and practice that often stretches late into the evening.

 

“Every day is a grind,” he said. “But I love what I do.”

 

At the highest levels of college football, the demands are constant— and Conry credits the foundation he built at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ with preparing him to meet them. Coaches like former Lancer football coach Sean Dodd helped shape his understanding of the game, while teachers and administrators such as Dean of Students David Pfundstein ’93 and former Director of the Upper School Jon Wanders emphasized the importance of communication and intellectual curiosity.

 

The school’s Socratic seminars also left a lasting impact on his life and career.

 

“You had to defend your ideas and think critically,” Conry said. “You can’t just copy someone else’s game plan or even ChatGPT it. You have to understand the why.”

 

Those lessons have helped him navigate the competitive world of college football, where adaptability and teamwork are essential.

 

“Work ethic and communication are huge,” he said. “You have to show up prepared, stay ahead and always be willing to learn.”

 

Conry remains connected to the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ community, following both the school and the athletic social media handles and staying in touch with friends spread across the country. In fact, a group of classmates even traveled to Lubbock last year to watch him coach at Texas Tech.

 

For anyone hoping to work in sports, Conry offers simple advice: take advantage of every opportunity.

 

“Very few people start at the top,” he said. “You start wherever you can, work hard and keep learning. If you dream about it, keep pursuing it.”

 

Looking back, Conry would give his high school self one piece of advice: stay humble and keep working.

 

“Sports will humble you,” he said. “But if you keep putting in the work, things have a way of taking care of themselves.”