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The man calling plays for Hampden-Sydney’s offense this fall has plenty of Division I experience under his belt. Ryan Wilson was announced Friday, Jan. 19 as the Tigers’ new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Wilson comes to the program from Old Dominion (ODU), where he served the past two seasons as the assistant quarterbacks coach, after spending a year as an offensive analyst for the Monarchs. 

“We could not be more excited for Ryan to join the Hampden-Sydney football program,” said Tigers Head Coach Vince Luvara. “He is one of the bright, up-and-coming coaches in college football. I am really excited to see how he develops our offense for the fall.”

At ODU, Wilson assisted the program’s offensive coordinator with quarterback development, recruiting and teaching. He handled pre-practice meetings and running the defense during practice, executed weekly opponent film breakdown and personnel reports, and oversaw recruiting in South Carolina for the Monarchs. ODU has played in two bowl games over the past three seasons, including the Famous Toastery Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina this past season.

“I am incredibly honored and grateful to be named the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Hampden-Sydney,” said Wilson. “I would like to thank Coach Luvara and Chad Eisele for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead an offense that the Hampden-Sydney community can be proud to support.”

Beyond ODU, more on Wilson

Luvara has a connection with Wilson from their time spent with Washington & Jefferson (PA) College. Wilson coached defensive backs under Luvara, then the program’s defensive coordinator, from Oct. 2020 to May 2021. It was a defensive unit that led Division III in total yards against and pass yards against per game during the four-game Spring 2021 season. Wilson also helped with recruiting and handled all film breakdown and scouting report duties on opposing offenses.

Wilson served as the cornerbacks coach at Division III Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY) from March 2020 to October 2020, his time shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He began his coaching career at Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member Princeton (NJ) University, serving as an offensive quality control coach in 2019, assisting an offense that averaged 32.2 points per game and 425.2 yards per game.

Detailing Wilson’s playing career

Wilson was a four-year team member (2015-18) and three-year starter at Division III Fairleigh Dickson (NJ) University – Florham (2016-18), including his last two seasons at safety. He totaled 106 career tackles, including 43 solo and 63 assisted, three tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions and six pass breakups. Wilson served as a team captain as a senior and helped the Devils to an overall record of 6-4, the program’s first winning season in 24 years and the second-most wins in program history. He led the Middle Atlantic Conference in interceptions (5) and earned All-MAC honorable mention honors. Wilson was a two-time recipient of the “Don Adams Coaches Award” (2017-18), after playing wide receiver as a sophomore with 16 receptions for 131 yards receiving.

A native of Morristown, New Jersey, Wilson graduated from FDU – Florham in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports administration and a minor in business administration. He earned his Master of Arts in sports administration at the school in 2020.