A mentor, friend, role model, and coach – all these traits can represent very different people, or they can be rolled up into one person.
Usually, a coach plays a huge role in someone’s life, especially when at the collegiate level. The player talks, sees, and spends more time with their coach than they do with their own family when they are away from home.
The coach who had this impact on a multitude of his players was Coach Ryan McGuyre. McGuyre resigned at the end of his 10th season by winning the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) women’s volleyball national championship.
While head coach of women’s volleyball for 10 years, McGuyre led the Lancers to two National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national championships in 2004 and 2005. His overall record for the women’s team was 275-96 over his 10 seasons with CBU. Also, McGuyre’s include beating the defending NAIA national champs Fresno Pacific in the 2010 season at Fresno and breaking their two-year home winning streak.
McGuyre finished his ninth season with the men’s volleyball team in 2011, totaling 19 seasons of coaching volleyball at CBU.
He resigned with national champions of both teams and with the title of coach of the year with both programs.
“Coach helped not only build our volleyball skills but also our character. Coaches like that don’t come around often,” Joseph Fitzpatrick, member of the men’s volleyball team, said.
Many of McGuyre’s athletes not only looked at him as a coach but also as a mentor and father figure.
“I can’t pinpoint one moment that was my favorite moment with Coach but multiple moments over the years, seeing all of our relationships grow with him,” Aaron McCalmont, men’s volleyball player, said. “On trips, we would see him in a different light and be able to get to know him more on a personal level.
“It was so easy to be open with him because he was so open with us.”
“Coach has always been so accepting of God’s purpose. There are so many great things ahead for him. We wish him all the best,” Megan Glennie, women’s volleyball player, said.
Many athletes agree he was so much more than just a coach. He is also responsible for giving a multitude of opportunities to people who would not be where they are today.
“Personally, he’s the one who gave me the opportunity to play here,” McCalmont said. “I wasn’t going to play college volleyball. He is the one who gave me a chance and believed in me.”
