Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer Pat Ryan is in his fifth season as the Director of Illinois High School Relations in 2025. Ryan joined the Illini in April 2021 following a 30-year head coaching career at Metamora High School.

Ryan has helped elevate Illinois to new expectations since Bielema's arrival in 2021. The Illini have 28 wins and 18 Big Ten wins since 2021, highlighted by a 10-win season in 2024 that tied Illinois' single-season record for wins. In 2024, Illinois was ranked by the CFP selection committee for a program-record four straight weeks, appeared in 12 AP Top 25 polls, and tied the program record for ranked wins with four. The Fighting Illini capped one of the best seasons in program history by beating #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, 21-17, in one of the top bowl game victories in Illinois history.

One of the most decorated coaches in Illinois high school football history, Ryan led Metamora to seven state championship games, two state titles (2007, 2009), and a 268-75 (.781) record in 30 seasons. He has the 14th-most wins in Illinois high school history and the 11th most of any coach at one school. Ryan was inducted to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2016.

Ryan has spent most of his life at Metamora High School, first as the team’s quarterback prior to his graduation in 1981. His coaching career started as a student assistant at Southeast Missouri State under Peoria native Bob Smith, before he came back to Metamora to be an assistant coach. He was an assistant at Metamora for three seasons before taking over the program for the next 30 years.

Ryan was a six-time Greater Peoria Area Football Coach of the Year, three-time Greater Peoria Area Sports Hall of Fame Male Coach of the Year, and three-time Shrine Game coach. He served as a trustee for the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association for 20 years, was the 1999 President of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, and was a member of the IHSA Football Advisory Board from 2010-13.

Ryan’s teams went on an incredible run during a 16-year period from 1995-2010, winning 10+ games in 15 of the 16 years. Metamora appeared in seven state championship games, and won both of their state titles during the period, while featuring a style of play built on strong defenses and a physical running attack. Overall, Ryan’s teams qualified for the IHSA playoffs in 24 of 30 seasons, had six undefeated regular seasons, and won 18 Mid-Illini Conference titles.

Ryan retired from his role as head football coach, department chair for physical education, health and driver’s education, and assistant track and field coach at Metamora High School in 2020.

He was inducted into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.

Ryan and his wife, Nancy, have four children: Morgan, Sam, Audrey, Erin. They have one son in law, Nick Ryba, and one grandson Everett Ryba.