Debbie Ryan

Debbie Ryan enters her 2011 USA assistant coaching assignment with a wealth of USA Basketball coaching experience. Most recently in 2010, she was a coach of the USA Select Team that helped the USA Women’s National Team train in preparation for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

She also directed the 2003 USA Pan American Games Team to a 5-2 slate and a silver medal, the 2001 USA World University Games Team to a gold medal, the 1989 USA U19 World Championship Team to a seventh place finish, the 1988 USA FIBA Americas U18 Championship Team to a gold medal and the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival West Team to a gold medal in her first USA coaching position.

For her efforts at the 2001 World University Games, which included a hard-fought 87-69 gold medal victory against host China, Ryan earned USA Basketball Developmental Coach of the Year honors.

In addition to her USA Basketball coaching stints, Ryan served as a member of the USA Basketball Games Committee for Women and the USA Basketball Women's Player Subcommittee during the 1988-1992 quadrennium, helping to select athletes for numerous competitions including the 1990 World Championship and 1992 Olympic teams.

A 2008 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Ryan spent 34 years (1977-78 through 2010-11) at the helm of the University of Virginia women’s program, retiring after the 2010-11 season with a remarkable 736-323 record and a shining 69.5 winning percentage.

Notching 28 postseason berths, including 20 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (1983-84 -2002-03), Ryan's teams reached the Sweet Sixteen 12 times, made four Elite Eight appearances, three Final Fours (1990, 1991, 1992), and advanced to the 1991 NCAA Tournament Championship game.

Ryan's sideline successes did not go unnoticed. A seven-time recipient of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Coach of the Year award, Ryan was also tabbed the 1986 and 1987 Converse District III Coach of the Year and 2000 WBCA Coach of the Year. In 1991, when she led the Wahoos to a 31-3 overall finish, a perfect 14-0 ACC record, and a trip to the NCAA title game, Ryan was selected the 1991 Naismith National Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club.