The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission didn’t have to go far to find its next Executive Director.

Wayne Ryan, who’s been with West Virginia’s governing body for high school athletics since the summer of 2016, has been named the replacement to David Price as WVSSAC Executive Director.

Ryan spent two-plus decades heavily involved with high school athletics at Summers County, where he served as assistant principal, athletic director, girls basketball coach and baseball coach.

“I appreciate the board of directors’ confidence in me,” Ryan said. “It is an honor to serve in this position, and I am humbled by this opportunity. I am looking forward to working with the board and all stakeholders to continue to serve our student-athletes and our member schools. Our staff will work very hard to better serve and support our member schools and help advance the mission of education-based athletics.”

“The Board is confident that Wayne’s extensive background and unwavering commitment to education-based athletics will serve the WVSSAC well as he steps into this new leadership role,” said Trent Sherman, President of the Board of Directors. “We look forward to the continued growth and success of interscholastic activities under his guidance.”

The Bobcats’ girls basketball team won six state championships and had 15 state tournament appearances during Ryan’s tenure as head coach, a stretch that included five consecutive state championships from 2007-11 and a 105-game win streak.

In 2016, Ryan joined the WVSSAC as Assistant Executive Director, a title he held until assuming the role of Associate Executive Director in May 2024.

Price, who formerly served as Superintendent of Raleigh County Schools, began as WVSSAC Executive Director in July 2023 when he replaced the retired Bernie Dolan. Dolan had been Executive Director since January 2016.

While Price was Executive Director, high school football, volleyball, cheer, baseball and softball in West Virginia moved to a four-classification system, a structure that had been in place for boys and girls basketball since the 2020-21 season.

Ryan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education from Alderson-Broaddus as well as a Master’s Degree in communication studies from West Virginia University. He was certified in educational leadership at Salem International.