Jenny Ryan

MARQUETTE — Jenny Ryan, the Northern Michigan University coach of its women’s cross country and its track and field teams, has been inducted into her high school’s hall of fame, one of six members in this year’s class.

Ryan, a 1984 graduate of Burnsville, Minnesota, High School, was a three-time letterwinner in cross country, track and field, and cross country skiing.

She was a three-time state championship qualifier in skiing, with finishes of sixth place, 16th and 23rd individually, as well as a third-place team finish. Ryan also qualified twice for her state tournament in the mile run in track and field.

“I am incredibly honored to be selected to my high school hall of fame as an athlete and coach,” Ryan said about the honor in an NMU Sports Information news release making the announcement. “This achievement is not only because of the wonderful opportunities I have had during my athletic and coaching career, but also because of all the people in my life.

“There are so many people that believed in me and supported me throughout my life, which gave me the confidence to believe in myself and help others achieve their goals.

“Everything I have accomplished is because of my family, friends, teammates, coaches, coaching colleagues, administrators, staff, the communities I’ve lived in and the hundreds of student-athletes on my teams.”

Following her graduation from Burnsville, Ryan took part in the U.S. Junior Olympics, where she was a three-time qualifier from 1984-86.

She attended Montana State University with accomplishments that include a three-year qualifier in the National Collegiate Ski Association nationals, third-place relay team member at nationals in 1987, fourth-place individual finish and All-America honors in the 10-kilometer skate in 1988, and three years named an Academic All-American.

After Montana State, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education and minor in physical education and health, Ryan was a part of the U.S. Olympic Education Center training group at NMU from 1992-94. She was a 1992 and 1994 cross country skiing Olympic trials participant and 1998 biathlon Olympic trials participant.

In 1999, she participated in the World Masters Championships in Switzerland, winning two gold medals along with a silver. Ryan was also a 1993 Elite Sprints winner and 2004 two-time national Masters champion.

While pursuing her master’s degree, Ryan began coaching at NMU in 2000 as a graduate assistant coach with the cross country running and cross country skiing teams. In 2002, she became a full-time assistant in cross country running, track and field, and cross country skiing.

Since 2008, Ryan has been the head coach of the Wildcats’ cross country running team and has been the head coach of the track and field program since 2014.

Her coaching accolades include 2010 Midwest Region Cross Country Skiing Co-Coach of the Year, 2016 NMU Coach of the Year and 2018 GLIAC Track & Field Coach of the Year.

She has coached nine NCAA championship qualifying teams in cross country running, with seven teams that finished in the top 10 nationally. Ryan has also guided 68 All-Americans, 175 Academic All-Americans and six NMU Hall of Famers while on staff for the three programs she has been involved with at NMU.

The newest Burnsville Hall of Fame class will be inducted at a public ceremony on Oct. 11.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.