Ryan Strain
Though in his first season as an assistant coach at the
University of Northern Colorado, Ryan Strain is no stranger to the
baseball program as his father Joe (1972-76) played baseball for
the Bears, where he was the starting shortstop on the 1974 College
World Series team and went on to play for the San Francisco Giants
and Chicago Cubs.
Strain's main responsibilities at Northern Colorado include
coaching infield and hitting on the field and serving as the
recruiting and camp coordinators off the diamond.
He joins the Bears from the University of Nebraska, where he
spent two years as the graduate manager. While with the Huskers, he
assisted the coaching staff with on-field duties, including helping
with batting practice, while overseeing the undergraduate managers
and helping with team video. He also assisted in on-campus
recruiting and helped in the day-to-day operations of the program.
He was also an instructor in the Nebraska Baseball Academy,
giving hitting lessons and running camps.
Strain also served as an assistant coach for the St. Cloud
Riverbats in the Northwoods League in 2006 during the summer.
Strain served as the hitting coach and infield coach, helping St.
Cloud lead the Northwoods League in hitting during the 2006
campaign.
Strain began his career playing at North Carolina State before
transferring to Nevada. Following his collegiate career, Strain
played two seasons in the minors for the San Francisco Giants and
one year for the Rockford Riverhawks in the independent
professional Frontier League.
Strain was a three-sport standout at Cherry Creek High School,
earning all-state honors as a senior in baseball. Strain earned his
undergraduate degree in secondary education/history from Nevada in
2003 and his master's degree in educational administration from
Nebraska in 2007.
Strain and fiancee Katie Easley are planning to wed in August
2008 in Chicago.
The Strain File
College Nevada (BS `03)
Nebraska (MS `07)
Coaching History
2007-PresNo. Colorado
Assistant Coach
2006 St. Cloud
(Northwoods League)
Assistant Coach
2006-07 Nebraska
Graduate Asst.
Playing History
2005 Rockford
(Frontier League)
2004 Salem-Keizer
(Minor Leagues - A)
2003 AZL Giants
(Minor Leagues -
Rookie)
2001-03 U. Nevada
2000 North Carolina State