TBy Sean Maleady ’17

The Moran last name is well known around the lacrosse community.  Mr. Jack Moran, Chaminade’s head varsity lacrosse coach since 1979, has established himself as one of the top high school coaches in the nation. He has led the Flyers to countless championships and has coached hundreds of future Division I lacrosse players, including his son, Ryan.   

The younger Moran, like his father, has dedicated his life to the sport, and has made stops at every rung on the lacrosse ladder. Ryan will now take the next step in his lacrosse career after being hired as the University of Maryland – Baltimore County Retrievers’ head men’s lacrosse coach this past June.

From the time he learned how to walk, Ryan Moran has had a lacrosse stick in his hand. While growing up in Massapequa, Ryan was immersed in Chaminade lacrosse; as a kid, he attended practices and games with his father, and he could not wait for his chance to play for the Flyers. Even though he would be coached by his father, Ryan understood that success at Chaminade would not be handed to him. In other words, he would have to earn it. “I told him that I would always treat him fairly,” said Jack. “He would never have an advantage as my son, but Ryan was always the hardest on himself. He was never satisfied, and wanted to be great.”  

I owe all the success that I had in lacrosse to my father. On the field he was my lacrosse and football coach, but off of it, he was my father. It was a special relationship.

– Ryan Moran

Ryan thrived while wearing crimson and gold. He played two varsity sports under his father, winning both the 1998 CHSAA football championship and the 1999 CHSAA lacrosse titles and earning all-league honors in both sports. During his senior year, Ryan was named a team captain and an All-American in lacrosse. He also committed to play at a perennial lacrosse powerhouse, the University of Maryland (College Park).

Throughout Ryan’s athletic career, his father has served as both a mentor and his son’s biggest supporter. “I owe all the success that I had in lacrosse to my father,” said Ryan. “On the field he was my lacrosse and football coach, but off of it, he was my father. It was a special relationship.”

“Ryan’s leadership-by-example, work ethic, and love of teammates made him an example of what a Chaminade athlete should be,” said his father.

Ryan found success as a Terrapin at Maryland, but, once again, it was not handed to him. “It was a challenge,” said Ryan. “I faced adversity, but worked hard to compete with extremely talented players.”

During his freshman and sophomore seasons, Moran played as a defensive midfielder under the ACC’s all-time winningest coach, Dick Edell.  Moran was a contributor to the team, but he did not have a goal in either year. However, when Dave Cottle took over as head coach following Edell’s retirement, Moran turned into an offensive star.  He netted a combined 39 goals, and added 11 assists, during his final two collegiate seasons. As a senior, he became a First Team All-ACC selection, a member of the ACC All-Tournament Team, an All-American, and he led his team to the Final Four.

I believe Ryan’s total Chaminade experience molded him into an excellent teacher. He uses lacrosse to guide his players to be good husbands, fathers and teammates.

– Jack Moran

For Ryan, his lacrosse journey didn’t stop at the end of college, as he was drafted 18th overall by the Baltimore Bayhawks in the 2003 Major League Lacrosse draft. Moran played professionally for four years, but realized that he wanted to do something else with his life, so he began to pursue an MBA at the University of Rhode Island.

While at URI, Ryan coached the Naval Academy Prep School lacrosse team.  Only a year later, he was offered a job as an assistant coach at the U.S. Naval Academy. He accepted the position and effectively followed in the footsteps of his father. “I joke with my dad that it would have been harder for me to be a head coach on Long Island than a Division I lacrosse coach,” laughed Ryan.

At Navy, Moran began to build an impressive coaching résumé. He helped guide the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as lead the program two Patriot League titles. He then returned to his alma mater, Maryland, to become an assistant coach, a position he held for six seasons, serving as an associate head coach during his final two years.

“Returning to Maryland presented new challenges,” said Moran.  “It was cool to coach alongside Dave Cottle, under whom I found success as a player.”

During his five seasons coaching in College Park, Moran helped the Terps to the NCAA championship game in both 2011 and 2012, and the Final Four in 2014. He left Maryland in 2015 to become the assistant head coach at the University of Loyola, where he coached the Greyhounds to the national semifinals.

Ryan Moran is more than ready to take Retriever men’s lacrosse to new heights and once again have our program be a contender on the regional and national scene.

– UMBC Athletic Director Tim Hall

By the time he was offered the head job at UMBC this past summer, Moran appeared more than ready to become the leader of a Division I program.  Jack was proud that his son got the job, but not only for the lacrosse aspect.

“I’m extremely proud of Ryan because he has balanced his very difficult lacrosse schedule with being a loving husband and father,” explained Jack.

The elder Moran believes that Ryan’s time at Chaminade provided him with a solid foundation for coaching success.

“I believe Ryan’s total Chaminade experience molded him into an excellent teacher,” said his father. “He uses lacrosse to guide his players to be good husbands, fathers and teammates.”

Jack believes that Chaminade holds all students to being the best that they can be, both in and out of the classroom, adding, “God, family, and teammates keep you strong. The Chaminade way is to share your gifts and talents freely and serve others ahead of yourself.”

With Ryan Moran at the helm, the UMBC Retrievers hope to find success in their upcoming 2017 campaign.

“Ryan Moran is more than ready to take Retriever men’s lacrosse to new heights and once again have our program be a contender on the regional and national scene,”  said UMBC Athletic Director Tim Hall. “He is intelligent, thoughtful, a fantastic recruiter, an extraordinary strategist, and is completely committed to academic success and the welfare of his athletes. We are excited to welcome him to the UMBC family.”   

As Ryan Moran, class of 1999, begins his next chapter on the lacrosse field, he remembers dearly the impact of his days at Chaminade, where a journey started now continues with his becoming the head coach of a Division I program. Echoing this sentiment, Ryan said, “The competitive atmosphere in the classroom and on the field molded me into who I am today.”