Bio

Ryan Saddler is a former head coach of the St. Ambrose men's and women's track & field teams. He now works primarily with the high jumpers.

Saddler is a native of Waterloo, Iowa, where he graduated from East High School in 1991. He later graduated from St. Ambrose in 1995 with undergraduate degrees in biology and psychology. Saddler is also the Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at St. Ambrose.

Saddler ran track for four years at St. Ambrose under Head Coach Kevin Rose, later becoming Rose's assistant coach for three years. His head coaching career began in 2000 when he stepped in to replace Rose, who invested 19 years in rebuilding the track & field program. Saddler was the head coach from 2000-03.

Saddler was named the 2000 Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) Men's and Women's Coach of the Year, and the 2001 MCC Women's Coach of the Year.

On the national level, he coached three women who qualified for the NAIA Indoor Championships while two qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Championships. Five men qualified for the NAIA Indoor Championships. Saddler also coached an All-American at the NAIA Men's Outdoor Championships.

Saddler coached SAU Hall of Famer Rob Firrell to a National Championship in the weight throw in 2003, the school's second national championship and the first for the track & field team.

While a student at St. Ambrose, Saddler was involved in athletics, the Black Student Union, the Gospel Choir, Residence Life, and the University Chorale. During his athletic career, Saddler was a four-year starting defensive back for the Fighting Bee football team and a two-time national qualifier in track & field.