After 38 years and 3 titles, Ryan announces retirement

MOUNT VERNON -- This was not a decision made in haste."I decided this four years ago," said Shirley Ryan, who announced her retirement as volleyball coach at Mount Vernon High School on Monday. "I decided when this group of kids came through, that I would see them through, then go on a different route for the rest of my life."Ryan submitted a letter of resignation with the school's administration Monday morning. The resignation is effective Nov. 23, the day after the team's postseason banquet.As far as happy endings go, Ryan's is impossible to trump. The Mustangs won two consecutive state championships (Class 2A in 2009, 3A in 2010), and Ryan's career record of 829-331-114 includes a 56-match win streak at the end."I have had a lot of cool things go my direction," said Ryan, the school's only volleyball coach.Ryan, 64, began the program in 1972, "with our team team wearing gym shorts." In her tenure, the Mustangs captured 15 conference championships (12 in the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye, three in the Wamac East Division). Mount Vernon reached the state tournament seven times, winning three titles (1984, 2009 and 2010).She retired from teaching in 2002.Ryan said that longtime assistant Carol Woods also will not return."She's been with me a lot of years, and there can't be a better assistant," she said.They told the team their decision as they got off the bus Saturday following a four-set victory over West Delaware in the championship match.This year's team contained 11 seniors. Three of them -- Ali Stark, Amanda Platte and Courtney Kintzel -- will play Division-I volleyball next year, at Illinois, Drake and UNI, respectively. Another senior, Sarah Ryan, is Shirley's granddaughter.Ryan said she plans to spend next summer and next fall "going to the state fair for the first time, taking my garden down and driving around to watch the leaves fall."