Ryan Bowles has served as director of athletics at St. Olaf since 2015, responsible for ensuring the integrity and competitiveness of the college’s intercollegiate athletics program, which serves more than 550 student athletes. He oversees 13 men’s varsity teams and 13 women’s varsity teams, the largest number of varsity sports of any institution in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). He also serves as a member of the St. Olaf Title IX team.

Prior to his appointment at St. Olaf, Ryan was a member of the Division I athletic department leadership team at the University of Maryland, overseeing 11 varsity sports, directing NCAA and conference championship events hosted by the university, and coordinating Maryland’s transition from the Atlantic Coast Conference to the Big Ten.

Since his arrival on the Hill, Ryan has overseen a number of upgrades to St. Olaf’s athletic facilities, including the installation of synthetic turf at Klein Field at Manitou (football), the renovation of the performance center at Porter Hall, the creation of a golf training facility, the renovation of the Rolf Mellby soccer field, and the addition of an ice arena. He has continued to emphasize the well-being of student athletes through the expansion of the sports medicine staff, investments in sports medicine equipment, the hiring of a full-time strength and conditioning coach, and the launch of the Ole Leadership Academy for character development.

Ryan completed a B.A. in communications and an M.S. in exercise science and physical education at McDaniel College.