Bio

Ryan Klosterman enters his fifth season as the head coach of the Bryant Baseball program in 2023-24. Klosterman was named the 10th baseball coach in Bryant University baseball history on July 29, 2019. 

Klosterman, the 2021 Northeast Conference Coach of the Year, has helped the Black and Gold remain one of the top mid-major baseball programs in the country. He's posted an 87-76 career record, reaching the 30-win plateau for the first time as a head coach in 2022. In four years, Klosterman has coached 17 all-conference selections, five all-region selections, two NEC Players of the Year and one NEC Pitcher of the Year. Four players have been selected in the MLB Draft, with three additional players signing professional contracts. 

In 2023, Klosterman guided the Black and Gold into the America East. The Bulldogs would finish 26-24, earning the No. 4 seed in the America East Tournament. Bryant defeated a nationally-ranked opponent (No. 14 Virginia Tech) for the second-straight year and also went 14-2 at home. Klosterman had four players earn All-America East honors (Derek Smith, Jake Gustin, Brett Wichrowski and Zac Zyons), while Jake Gustin wrapped up one of the best careers in program history under Klosterman's watch. Gustin finished in the top five in DI program history in nearly every offensive category and emerged as one of the best defensive second basemen in the region. Bryant also had two players drafted in the 2023 MLB Draft, with Coleman Picard going in the sixth round to Kansas City and Brett Wichrowski going in the 13th round to Milwaukee.

In 2022, Klosterman reached the 30-win plateau for the first time as a head coach, guiding the Black and Gold to a 30-27 overall record. Bryant's season began with a bang as the Bulldogs opened the season with a three-game sweep of No. 12 East Carolina, becoming the first team in NEC history to sweep a nationally-ranked opponent. The Bulldogs advanced to the NEC Championship Round for the third-straight year, falling in the winner-take-all game seven. Bryant featured the NEC Player of the Year for the second-straight season as Matt Woods took home the crown. In addition, the Bulldogs placed five on the All-NEC team.

Klosterman was named the 2021 Northeast Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to their ninth consecutive regular-season title. Bryant also advanced to the Championship Round of the NEC Tournament for the sixth time in program history in 2021. Klosterman's second season in Smithfield was highlighted by one of the nation's top offenses and one of the strongest rotations in the Northeast. Bryant ranked 12th nationally in batting average, 12th in scoring, 11th in ERA, third in shutouts and 27th in K:BB ratio. Liam McGill finished the season as the nation's leader in batting average (.471) and OBP (.541), earning NEC Player of the Year and All-America honors. Tyler Mattison led the pitching staff, winning 10 games and posting 95 strikeouts and a 2.46 ERA. 

Klosterman's second season also saw the continuation of Bryant's development of professional players. Following the season, Mattison became the highest drafted player in program history when he was taken in the fourth round (104th overall) by the Detroit Tigers. McGill was drafted in the ninth round (277th overall) by the Atlanta Braves, while Tyler Schoff signed a free-agent contract with the Washington Nationals. 

His first season as a collegiate head coach was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Bulldogs finished the year 4-11, winning each of its last two games against Western Carolina. Bryant's schedule also featured a pair of Power 5 schools in Maryland and Virginia Tech. Despite the shortened season, the Bulldogs were able to steal 39 bases, finishing the season ranked sixth nationally in stolen bases per game and eighth in total stolen bases. Bryant was the only team to feature three players within the top 50 of stolen bases per game. 

Klosterman comes to Smithfield after serving as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UCF. In eight seasons, Klosterman produced four nationally-ranked recruiting classes (2013, 2014, 2015, 2018) and helped the Knights to a pair of NCAA Regional appearances (2012, 2017).

Under Klosterman's watch, the Knights had 31 players sign professional contracts, four make their Major League debuts and four All-Americans.

Klosterman joined the Knights' coaching staff in June 2011 after wrapping up an eight-year professional baseball career. This past spring, Klosterman helped UCF post a 36-22 overall record. The Knights finished in the top three in the AAC in stolen bases (1st, 94), doubles (3rd, 112), doubles per game (2nd, 1.93), home runs (3rd, 57) and OBP (3rd, .377).

In 2018, the Knights launched 42 home runs, led by Rylan Thomas' 13. Thomas set the single-season program record with a 47-game on-base and set the American Athletic Conference single-season and career on-base streak at 55 games. Combined with Tyler Osik's team-high 56 RBI, the Knights had two 50-RBI players for the first time since 2011. Klosterman also played a vital role when the Knights were on the base paths where they stole 109 bases in 2018, marking its first back-to-back seasons of 100-plus steals in a decade. Ray Alejo and Matthew Mika topped the league with 34 and 27 steals, respectively.

Much of the Knights' success was attributed to the 2018 signing class that was ranked 16th by Collegiate Baseball and 23rd by Baseball America.  

In his first year under Lovelady in 2017, Klosterman took the Knights' offense to higher levels, finishing the year with .278 batting average, more than 20 points above the mark from 2016. UCF climbed up to 66th in the country in scoring with 6.3 runs per game and finished eighth in the country in stolen bases with a total of 106. Rookie first baseman Rylan Thomas garnered Freshman All-American honors (College Baseball News, Perfect Game, Baseball America, DI Baseball) in 2017 as he finished the year ranked in the top-five in The American with a .343 batting average (4th), 13 homers (5th), a .447 on-base percentage (5th), 55 RBI (4th), and 6 sacrifice flies (4th).

During his first four campaigns as an assistant coach at UCF, Klosterman oversaw the Knights' infielders and team defense. In 2016, under former head coach Terry Rooney, he served as associate head coach adding the roles of recruiting coordinator and hitting coach to his duties. The UCF defense turned 59 double plays in 2016, which ranked 16th nationally and fourth in program history. Junior slugger Matt Diorio thrived under Klosterman's guidance and was selected in the 16th round of the MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

During the 2015 season the Knights rose to a program-best No. 6 national ranking by Baseball America. Klosterman helped mentor an offense anchored by American Athletic Conference First Team members Dylan Moore, Erik Barber and Tommy Williams and led the nation in a number of offensive categories through the first half of the season.

The Knights had a strong defense in 2014 that combined to post a .970 fielding pct. Moore (.990) and James Vasquez led the UCF infield, defensively. Both were named to The American All-Conference Second Team. Moore committed just three errors in 58 games, while tallying 101 putouts and 186 assists.

In 2013, Vasquez shined defensively under Klosterman's tutelage as he held a team-best .987 fielding percentage in 58 starts. Overall, the Knights recorded a .968 fielding percentage and turned 41 double plays. Third baseman Chris Taladay was selected C-USA Player of the Year after hitting .342 on with 43 RBIs.

In 2012, infielders D.J. Hicks, Travis Shreve, Darnell Sweeney and Chris Taladay all had strong campaigns leading the Knights to the championship final in the Coral Gables Regional. The Knights registered a .972 fielding percentage, the second-highest mark at UCF since 2001. Working with Hicks during his first full year at first base, Klosterman's guidance saw the All-C-USA First Teamer commit just two errors in 62 games while notching 537 putouts and 31 assists. Four Knights position players moved on to professional careers after the 2012 season; Darnell Sweeney was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 13th round, DJ Hicks was drafted by Minnesota in the 17th round, OF Ronnie Richardson was drafted by the Padres in the 18th round and Travis Shreve signed with an independent team.

Prior to his coaching days in Orlando, Klosterman was picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. He spent eight years playing minor league baseball, most recently at the Triple-A level for the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Florida Marlins Organization before retiring and coming to UCF.

Klosterman played collegiately at both Clemson and Vanderbilt. In his junior season with the Commodores, Klosterman was named to the All-SEC First Team as a shortstop, while also being voted as the team's Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. That same year, Klosterman helped lead the Commodores to the NCAA Super Regional in Austin after batting .346 with 91 hits, 72 runs scored and eight triples. Klosterman's eight triples remain a Vanderbilt single-season record. In addition to his success on the field, Klosterman was also honored with a spot on the 2004 Verizon Academic All-District IV Second Team and was a member of the Dean/s List and the Student-Athlete Honor Roll.

Klosterman graduated from Vanderbilt in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in human and organizational development with an emphasis in leadership and organizational effectiveness.

He is married to the former Kaitlyn Arpin and has a daughter, Kinsley Ann, and a son, Cohen Ryan.

What they're saying about Ryan Klosterman

"I think Bryant got a great one! Klosty has been an integral part of building our program and I know he is going to do the same at Bryant. His work ethic, coaching and recruiting ability, and his impressive pedigree have prepared him to continue the great success the Bulldogs have had. We will miss him here, but know this is a great opportunity for him and Kaitlyn and the Smithfield community is lucky to have them! - Greg Lovelady (Head coach at University of Central Florida)

"Self-made and Tough … those are the first words that come to my mind when I think of Klosty. He has never asked for a thing, he has just gone to work and let his work speak for itself. He represents intelligence and a blue-collar investment level. When I was a first-year coach at Vanderbilt, no player impacted a roster and a program as much as Klosty did. He has taken those same traits with him as a teacher and coach. Not many people could follow the success of what Coach Owens has established at Bryant, but Ryan is the perfect fit for the next on-deck hitter. He is a wonderful choice for Bryant. I am happy for the University, the players and Ryan." - Tim Corbin (Head Coach at Vanderbilt University)

"This is a fantastic hire for Bryant Baseball! Ryan Klosterman is a rising star who has excelled everywhere he's been. From helping lead Vanderbilt to its first-ever Super Regional, to a Triple-A professional, to constructing outstanding recruiting classes and teams at UCF, his will to succeed stands out. He is a natural leader who inspires others with genuine passion. Congratulations to Ryan and Kaitlyn, and to Bill Smith and Bryant University on this outstanding selection! The Bulldogs are getting someone who is totally invested in building high achievers on and off the field." - Erik Bakich (Head coach at University of Michigan)

"In my junior year in college I was blessed to have Ryan Klosterman as one of my coaches. It was only one year that I was fortunate to play for him, but after seven years of pro ball, he always manages to keep in touch and coach me from afar. His knowledge and dedication to make players better is unmatched. His passion to win is beyond comparison. And I can honestly say that there are many things I have learned from him that I still use in my pro career. Bryant Baseball, you are getting a guy that can, and will, lead that program to the next level." – Darnell Sweeney (Currently playing for the Altoona Curve in AA).

"Ryan has always been a person of great integrity and passion, both as a coach and a human being. From my time at UCF, he was always pushing us to be the best because that's what he knows. He knows the connection between hard work and sacrifice in order to have great success. His energy and constant search for perfection flowed through him and poured out into our hearts as players. He was always there for us whenever we needed him and no one was happier to see us have success on the field." – Dylan Moore (Currently playing for the Seattle Mariners in the MLB)