Ryan Bailey was appointed Associate Director of Athletics at Bluefield State University in April 2021, after previously serving as the Assistant Director of Athletics (2020–2021) and Head Women’s Basketball Coach (2017–2021). In addition, Bailey stepped into executive leadership as the Interim Director of Athletics from October 2024 through May 2025, guiding the department through a critical period of growth and transition. Since arriving at Bluefield State, Bailey has played an integral role in the expansion and elevation of the athletics program. He has been instrumental in the addition of 10 new varsity sports and in securing membership in the historic CIAA conference.
At Bluefield State, Bailey manages athletic compliance for the University, oversees game management operations, and serves as the sport administrator for Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, and Men’s and Women’s Wrestling. He also serves the University as a Deputy Title IX Advisor, supporting the institution’s commitment to equity and student well-being. In the spring of 2021, Bailey additionally served as the interim Men’s and Women’s Tennis coach. Under his leadership, the Men’s Tennis team captured the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship and earned one of just eight coveted spots at the NCAA Nationals, while the Women’s Tennis team qualified for the program’s first-ever NCAA Atlantic Regional tournament.
Widely respected across campus and the community—where many still refer to him simply as “Coach”—Bailey’s leadership continues to strengthen the university’s athletic profile and student-athlete experience. A seasoned athletics professional, Bailey is an active member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC). He has attended numerous NCAA Conventions and Regional Rules Seminars, and has been selected for multiple NCAA leadership development opportunities, including the NCAA Leadership Development Conference, the NCAA APPLE Institute, the NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Conference (twice), and the inaugural NCAA Division II/NAAC Professional Development Workshop for Compliance Administrators. In addition, Bailey has served as a presenter at NACDA, further demonstrating his leadership within the industry.
As Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Bluefield State (2017–2021), Bailey engineered a remarkable program turnaround. Prior to his arrival, the team had won just three games over two seasons. Within his tenure, the program posted 11- and 16-win campaigns—the latter marking only the third winning season in 25 years. His teams earned national recognition, ranking among the NCAA Division II leaders in offensive rebounding, steals, and forced turnovers, while also producing multiple All-Americans and Academic All-Americans. The 2019–2020 squad reached the USCAA Final Four as the tournament’s No. 2 seed, narrowly missing a chance to compete for a National Championship due to the COVID-19 shutdown.
Before Bluefield State, Bailey served as Head Coach at Malone University, where he guided the program to improved performance despite significant roster turnover, coaching both All-Conference and All-Freshman honorees. Prior to Malone, he spent three years as the top assistant at the University of Charleston, helping lead the Golden Eagles to back-to-back 20+ win seasons, a conference title, and an NCAA Tournament berth. While at Charleston, he served as the advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Bailey began his head coaching career at Mercyhurst North East College, where he transformed the women’s basketball program into a regional power. Under his leadership, the Saints captured
the NJCAA Region III Championship and advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time in school history. His teams twice set school records for wins in a season (18, then 22), and Bailey was named District C Coach of the Year. Multiple players earned All-Region and All-American honors, including Region Player of the Year Samantha Wozniack.
In addition to his basketball success, Bailey also excelled as a multi-sport coach at Mercyhurst North East. He led the men’s golf team to the NJCAA National Championship and qualified two individuals to Nationals in another season. As Head Volleyball Coach, he guided the program to its first-ever national ranking. Upon his departure, Bailey was the all-time winningest coach in both volleyball and basketball at Mercyhurst North East. He also contributed administratively as the Assistant Director of Compliance.
Bailey has also served at his alma mater, Zanesville High School and at Philo High School, as Varsity Assistant and Head JV Coach for women’s basketball, and as an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Ohio University–Zanesville.
A native of Zanesville, Ohio, Bailey is a 1999 graduate of Ohio University’s College of Business, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration. He and his wife Jessica, a Graham High School alumna, reside in Bluefield, Virginia, with their sons Andrew and Asher.
