This bear turns scarlet at Des Moines' East High

Michael Wellman/Des Moines Public Schools

Special to the Register

After pulling himself out of the game for a season, a coach who rebuilt the boys’ basketball program at one Des Moines Public Schools high school will be back in action next year attempting to do the same at a crosstown rival.

East High School announced that the Scarlets have hired former North High School head coach Chad Ryan to restore luster to a program that’s struggled in recent years.

Ryan stepped down after 12 seasons at North where he racked up 151 wins, 119 of them in the last seven years with only 44 losses. The North Polar Bears captured four Central Iowa Metro League titles during that span, highlighted by a state tourney berth in 2017.

“I am excited to hire a coach with DMPS experience who’s had success in the CIML,” said East Activities Director Lyle Fedders. “Coach Ryan offers the knowledge and excitement we need for our team at East.”

Ryan certainly does bring a wealth of DMPS experience to his new job. He’s a Hoover grad who’s been an assistant coach at both Roosevelt and Lincoln in addition to his stint at North. The East job puts all five of the district’s comprehensive high schools on his resume.

“After the 2018-19 season, I took a step back and just coached my daughters in fourth and fifth grade basketball,” Ryan said. “But I love coaching at DMPS schools and I love the challenge of rebuilding a program. There’s some great history and community spirit to build on at East and I can’t wait to get started.”

Ryan also has college coaching experience at his alma mater, Central College in Pella.

His tenure at North included the following awards and distinctions:

2014 Sports Spotlight 4A Co-Head Coach of the Year (Iowa)
2014 Character Counts Finalist
2017 Sub-State Coach of the Year
2018 & 2019 Finalist for US Cellular National Most Valuable Coach Award

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