Ryan Bontz joined the WWU staff as the assistant coach for the Owls men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams in the summer of 2018.
In 2019, Bontz helped coached the men's cross country team to an AMC Championship, earning the program's first NAIA National Championships berth. The women’s cross country team placed fourth. In track & field, he helped coach the four-time NAIA All-American Megan Van Harn and Hannah Ehlinger to the indoor championships. The outdoor season was canceled due to COVID-19.
In 2018, Bontz helped lead the Owls cross country teams to a second and third place finish at the AMC Championships. Five runners advanced to the NAIA National Championships. In track & field, Bontz helped coach a two-time NAIA All-American, Megan Van Harn.
Bontz joined the Owls staff after spending the last two plus seasons at Williams Baptist College, now Williams Baptist University. During his tenure with the Eagles, he developed and ran drills for practices for sprinters, middle distance, throwers and distance runners. Over the two years, Bontz coached the first two All-Conference athletes in school history and coached the first runner to win a conference championship.
Prior to joining the Eagles coaching staff, Bontz spent two seasons as the assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach at Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio. During his time with the Trail Blazers, he helped double the size of the cross country and track and field team. He also, organized fundraising projects for the team and recruited prospective student-athletes by attending high school meets.
Bontz got his coaching career started at Hannibal-LaGrange University where he was a volunteer assistant coach. He spent time recruiting at local high school meets and helped with the program in any compacity.
He received his Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management from Hannibal-LaGrange University in 2011. He completed his master's degree in Sports Administration from Arkansas State University in 2018.
Bontz and his wife, Amy, reside in Ashland, Mo. with their baby, Callie.
