By Shehan Jeyarajah
Sports Editor
Baylor volleyball announced Ryan McGuyre as the ninth coach in program history on Wednesday morning.
“Ryan is a truly exceptional coach, recruiter, leader and mission fit,” athletic director Ian McCaw said. “We look forward to him building a championship program at Baylor.”
McGuyre comes to Baylor following a 15-year collegiate coaching career. From 2002 to 2011, he was the head coach at NAIA power California Baptist University. During his time at CBU, McGuyre coached both the men’s and women’s teams to national championships, including winning NAIA titles in both during both the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
McGuyre was named both AVCA Men’s and Women’s National Coach of the Year at different points, and won nine total national championships.
In addition to CBU, McGuyre also worked as a head coach at Biola University and as an assistant at Maryland. In 2006, he served as a volunteer assistant coach for the United States men’s national team.
Most recently, McGuyre worked as the lead assistant for Florida State, which finished the season ranked No. 10 after a trip to the Sweet Sixteen, where its run was ended by national runner-up Brigham Young.
Both Biola and California Baptist were faith-based institutions, which both sides believe makes Baylor a natural fit.
“I’m excited to be at a place that shares the same values and passions that Baylor has,” McGuyre said. “I feel that it’s a place where I can be comfortable, but also in a progressive environment as far as where the athletic department is heading. To be where you can impact student-athletes’ lives through sports in the Christian atmosphere is where I feel I can flourish the most.”
McGuyre takes over a program that went a combined 8-24 in Big 12 play over the past two seasons.
“I’m anxious to watch more film and see how they interact with one another,” McGuyre said of the returning athletes. “We have key student-athletes coming back and some exciting recruits coming in.”