Malone University Athletic Director Charlie Grimes announced on May 15th that Ryan Bailey has been hired as the Pioneers’ new full-time women’s basketball head coach.
Bailey comes to Malone after serving as an assistant women’s basketball coach, SAAC advisor and game day administrator at NCAA Division II University of Charleston (WV) for the past three years. During his time at Charleston, he helped the team reach the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals in 2013, the Mountain East Conference Tournament finals and the NCAA Tournament in 2014, and most recently, a Mountain East Conference Championship in 2015.
Prior to his arrival at Charleston, he served as a JV head coach and an assistant head coach at Zanesville High School in Zanesville, Ohio for two years. Before Zanesville, he was the head women’s basketball and volleyball coach at Mercyhurst University- North East in North East, Pennsylvania for six years where he was named the 2006 NJCAA District “C” Coach of the Year and led the 2005-2006 squad to a berth in the NJCAA National Tournament.
Bailey graduated from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
“I feel incredibly blessed to have this opportunity to be the next head women’s basketball coach at Malone University,” said Bailey. “I would like to thank President David King, Athletic Director Charlie Grimes, and the rest of the Malone University family for this opportunity. This is a first-class institution with incredible people and a passionate community. My fiancé and I are looking forward to becoming a part of the Canton community. It is easy to see that Malone is a special place with amazing things taking place in all facets of the campus.”
Grimes was equally as excited to bring Bailey on board. “Coach Bailey will be a wonderful addition to our staff,” commented Grimes. “His experience with NCAA Division II, his connections to Ohio recruiting and his strong passion for Christ-centered education are all exciting factors that will make him a great coach for our student-athletes.”
