In a very short time as football coach at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Ryan Held has breathed new life into a program that had fallen on rough times. He has infused a fiery, aggressive style of play while directing a program that conducts itself the right way off the field. And now, as Held embarks on his third season with the Bulldogs, SWOSU is poised for a breakthrough in 2007.

The progress that Held has made here is both noticeable and remarkable. Since a 1-10 start in 2005, the Bulldogs increased their win total by five games, the sixth best improvement in NCAA Division II. SWOSU’s 6-5 record was the first time since 2002 when it finished with a winning record.

 Held has built a reputation as a determined coach and a teacher as the Bulldog’s star continues to climb. With the help of strong recruiting classes put together by Held and his assistants, SWOSU has become a contender for the Lone Star Conference North Division crown. As his third year at SWOSU begins, anything less would be considered a disappointment.

 Last year, his young team took some lumps with a difficult early-portion of the schedule. But the Bulldogs held together and became one of the top LSC teams down the stretch, missing a share of the North crown when they lost 13-6 to Texas A&M-Commerce on the season’s final play.

To those who know Held, this growth and potential of the Bulldog program is not a surprise.

Prior to coming to SWOSU, Held spent three years at Panhandle State University, where he conducted a remarkable resurgence, finishing it with winning seasons in his final two years.  At OPSU, Held inherited a program that had only 17 players and was in the midst of a 28-game losing streak. The Aggies had not been winners since the 1992 season. Held quickly went about restoring pride and support in the program and turned the Aggies around, going 6-5 in back-to-back years. OPSU had 131 players report to begin fall drills in Held’s final year.

Held’s career head coaching record is 26-39 (.400) which includes a 14-19 record at OPSU and a 5-5 year as a 25-year old head coach at Peru State in 2001.

Held played at the University of Nebraska under former coach  Tom Osborne from 1993-96. After graduating in 1996, Held remained with the Huskers serving as an administrative assistant. Held either played for or was part of three NCAA National Championship squads (1994, 1995, 1997) .

He then joined the University of Tennessee staff under coach Phil Fulmer as a graduate assistant in 1998. He worked two years with the Volunteers and was a part of the 1998 BCS National Champion team, his fourth such as a player or coach. 

ryan.held@swosu.edu
(580) 774-7190