Ryan Byrne, a highly successful football assistant coach and a respected faculty member at Diablo Valley College, has been named the new Director of Athletics at Santa Barbara City College, the school announced Thursday.
Byrne will officially start the job on July 5. He replaces Ellen O’Connor, who served as SBCC’s interim director of athletics for the past two years.
“My first order of business is to meet with the department and campus community and listen to the coaches and staff to learn about the unique qualities of the program,” Byrne said in an email to Presidios Sports. “The program has a rich history and a very talented team of staff and faculty. It has been clear that Ellen O’Connor has provided excellent leadership over the past two years and it shows.
“I am energized by the campus community and look forward to working with this dynamic group to continue to improve the program and support the mission of the institution, which is to serve the students in the best way we can.”
He will hit the ground running as the school needs to hire a baseball coach.
Ryan Byrne will take over the Director of Athletics position at SBCC on July 5.
Byrne has been instrumental in helping student-athletes at Diablo Valley complete their academic credits in two years as the Director of Student Academic Success Program.
Besides his teaching and administrative duties, he served as the offensive coordinator for the DVC football team for four years, and the team averaged more than 30 points and 460 yards of offense a game. He is a member of the school’s physical education adjunct faculty, teaching such courses as Student-Athlete Success and Theory of Coaching.
Byrne worked in athletic administration and compliance at Santa Rosa Junior College and at Sonoma State University. Also, he was the lead instructor for the Athletic Study Center Summer Bridge Program at the University of California and has been a presenter at coaching clinics and student-athlete academic achievement conferences, focusing on student success.
“Ryan brings a student-centered approach to his work that aligns with the mission of Santa Barbara City College,” said SBCC Superintendent/President Dr. Andreea Serban and a member of the board of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA).
Serban recognized Byrne for his extensive knowledge of the CCCAA bylaws and regulations and his work in all aspects of athletic administration, from fundraising and game management, to student academic preparation and transfer achievement.
“I welcome Ryan to SBCC and know that he will contribute positively to the academic success of our student-athletes,” Serban said.
Said O’Connor, “Ryan has demonstrated an innovative and collaborative approach to program planning and development that will serve our students and coaches well. He is committed to student-athlete success.”
Byrne has first-hand experience on being a community college athlete. He was an all-conference quarterback at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he earned his Associated of Arts degree. He continued his football career at Florida A&M University and then transferred to UC Davis, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. He got his Masters in education, with an emphasis on the cultural studies of sport in education, from Cal.
“For me, the academic success and personal growth of the student-athletes have been the most rewarding aspects of working in community college athletics,” said Byrne in a statement. “My immediate objectives at SBCC are to listen to the faculty, coaches and staff and to learn about the successes, challenges, and unique qualities of the department and the college. I believe we must engage each student by understanding his or her background, interests and experience. Classified staff, faculty, coaches and administration all have an important role in developing and guiding our student-athletes to reach their goals.”
He added, “Looking ahead, I am excited and energized by the SBCC campus community and its commitment to fostering a culture of excellence for all students.”
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