Ryan Kirst is in his fifth season as an assistant coach for the Ashland University wrestling team.

Kirst is a familiar face around Eagle Nation, as he was a four-time NCAA Division II national qualifier with the AU wrestling program. One of the winningest grapplers in program history (116), Kirst also earned D-II All-American honors at 197 pounds.

Kirst returned to Ashland after serving as a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Oberlin College since 2013. His coaching background includes stints as an assistant at Heidelberg (2013), Lake Erie College (2011), the club program at Cleveland State (2010-12), Bay High School (2010-11), Lakewood St. Edward High School (2007-10) and Ashland Crestview High School (2006-07).

The 2007 AU graduate and his wife, Beth, reside in Cleveland with their daughters, Amelia and Coraline.