Canton, NY – Ryan Stevens, a veteran head coach at the collegiate level, has been tabbed the next leader of the SUNY Canton baseball program, as announced on Monday, August 12th.
Stevens spent the past five years as the Head Baseball Coach at Wells College while also serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Recruiting and the Head Golf Coach. He led the Express baseball team to their first winning record in program history in 2024 as the team finished the season 19-18 overall, an eight-win improvement from the previous season. Three players earned All-Conference honors following the season. Over his five seasons at the helm of the Express Stevens amassed 55 victories.
Prior to his time at Wells, Stevens was the head coach at Tompkins-Cortland Community College for five seasons leading the Panthers to nearly 100 wins. His teams showed steady progress each year, and the 2018 squad earned the program's first trip to the NJCAA playoffs in nearly 10 years. The 2018 team set program records for wins (22) and winning percentage (.579) and set several single-season records in numerous pitching categories. The Panthers recorded their second-straight winning season in 2019 under Stevens' leadership.
At both Wells and Tompkins-Cortland he was responsible for all facets of the programs ranging from scheduling games, planning travel, ordering equipment and supplies, managing a budget and fundraising among other initiatives.
"Ryan brings tremendous experience as a head coach over the last decade at both the Division III and junior college level," Athletic Director Randy Sieminski said. "He is a proven recruiter who has led multiple programs to success. We are looking forward to him getting started and leading the growth of our program into the SUNYAC."
Prior to being named the head coach at Tompkins-Cortland, Stevens was the field manager, director of baseball operations and assistant general manager of the Alpine Cowboys, a Texas-based independent professional team, from 2010-2014. He was a three-time Pecos League All-Star Manager (2012, 2013, 2014) and the 2012 Pecos League Manager of the Year. His team won league championships in 2010 and 2012, as well as the Mountain Division in 2014.
"I would like to thank Randy Sieminski and the rest of the search committee for putting their trust in me to be the next leader of the SUNY Canton baseball program," Stevens said. "I am excited to join the staff and lead the program in the transition to the SUNYAC. I look forward to getting started right away and meeting the returning players, while hitting the ground running in recruiting."
Across his 17 seasons as a head coach at both the collegiate and professional levels Stevens has an overall record of 377-340.
Stevens, who also worked as an associate scout in the West Texas region for the Washington Nationals, served as an assistant coach at Ithaca College during the 2013-14 school year. He was also the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Tompkins-Cortland from 2006-2010.
He is a Dryden, New York native and graduated from Dryden High School before playing collegiate baseball at SUNY Cobleskill and Frostburg State University. Stevens has an associate's degree in Business Administration from SUNY Cobleskill and a bachelor's degree in General Studies from Sul Ross State University.