CINCINNATI, Ohio – Mount St. Joseph University Vice President and Director of Athletics
Melanee Wagener announced the hiring of
Ryan Roark as the next Head Coach of the Lions Men's Volleyball program.
Roark arrives at Mount St. Joseph after a highly successful tenure at Wittenberg University, where he served as Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the men's volleyball program since 2022. During his time with the Tigers, Roark helped transform the program into one of the premier teams in the conference, leading Wittenberg to back-to-back conference championships in 2023 and 2024, including an undefeated conference season in 2024.
"We are excited to welcome
Ryan Roark to the Mount St. Joseph family," said Ms.
Wagener. "Ryan has demonstrated an exceptional ability to help build winning programs, recruit talented student-athletes, and foster a culture centered on excellence, accountability, and personal development. We believe he is the right leader to continue the growth and success of our men's volleyball program."
As Recruiting Coordinator at Wittenberg, Roark played a pivotal role in elevating the program through strategic recruiting efforts. He helped bring in 24 student-athletes over three recruiting classes, including multiple Conference Rookies of the Year and numerous All-Conference selections. His efforts were instrumental in rebuilding a roster that grew from seven student-athletes following the program's return in 2021 to a championship-caliber team.
In addition to his recruiting responsibilities, Roark managed numerous aspects of program operations, including travel coordination, fundraising events, tournament planning, video analysis, and game strategy development. His coaching contributions helped produce six All-Conference selections, two Conference Rookies of the Year, and earned the Wittenberg coaching staff Conference Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2023.
Prior to his time at Wittenberg, Roark gained coaching experience at multiple levels, including Clark State Community College, Cincinnati Attack Volleyball Club, and Stephen T. Badin High School. He also spent five years as a student coach with Wittenberg University's nationally recognized women's volleyball program, helping the Tigers reach two NCAA Division III National Championship matches and capture multiple conference and regional titles.
A 2019 graduate of Wittenberg University with a degree in Sport Management, Roark has built a reputation for developing student-athletes both on and off the court. His coaching philosophy emphasizes accountability, competitive excellence, daily improvement, and preparing student-athletes for success beyond volleyball.
"I couldn't be more excited and grateful to join the Mount St. Joseph family as the next Men's Volleyball Coach," said Coach Roark. "This program has limitless potential in an amazing and high energy city. I cannot wait to hit the ground running, these athletes to their highest potential and bring high-level success back to this program."
