Youngstown State University

The Youngstown State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is pleased to announce the creation of the Jeff and Kate Ryan Scholarship to enhance the YSU Athletics Scholarship Endowment Fund.

The Jeff and Kate Ryan Scholarship has been established to support a student-athlete who displays leadership, competitiveness, desire and a commitment to the community. Youngstown State is where Jeff and Kate met as student-athletes, and, this scholarship is their way of giving back to the university that means so much to them.

Kate (McHugh) Ryan played soccer at YSU from 1999-2002 where she excelled as a defender. She was a three-year letterwinner for the Penguins and was elected team captain her senior season.

Jeff Ryan’s competitive spirit and tenacity will forever be remembered by YSU football fans. In his four-year career, Ryan brought the Penguins behind to win on 15 occasions. Eight times he directed the Penguins to victory with fourth-quarter rallies.

Ryan finished his career throwing for 6,226 yards, completing 57.1 percent of his passes and throwing 50 touchdown passes. He accumulated 8,098 total offensive yards with 67 total touchdowns and a QB rating of 137.83. In 1999, Ryan led the Penguins to their sixth National Championship Game appearance and guided YSU to the postseason again in 2000. At the end of his career, he was the school’s all-time leader in touchdown passes, total offensive yards, total offensive plays, rushing yards by a quarterback and touchdowns responsible for.

This scholarship will be awarded annually to recognize the efforts of a YSU football or soccer student-athlete. The student-athlete must maintain a GPA of 3.0 and the grant will alternate annually between those two sports.

Jeff Ryan said the pride he Kate have in Youngstown State runs deep and they are excited to support the education of a student-athlete.

“We are grateful for the opportunities that Youngstown State University provided us,” Jeff Ryan said. “College athletics, in addition to a quality education, meant so much to the both of us and built us into who we are. We are pleased to be able to provide support to the student-athletes, athletic programs, and the Youngstown community with this contribution.”

Paul McFadden, President of the YSU Foundation, said Kate and Jeff were exemplary student-athletes and the recipient should be honored to receive the award from two great past Penguins.

“Kate and Jeff always gave their best while attending Youngstown State both on the field and in the classroom,” McFadden said. “They are two people our student-athletes can look to as being successful in life. The impact YSU had on them greatly affected their lives and we are honored they have endowed a scholarship.”