Lake Region State College women’s basketball coach Ryan Clark has been hired by Minot State University.
Clark will now be leading the Beavers’ women’s basketball program after two years with LRSC. Kevin Harmon, MSU’s Vice President for Student Affairs, announced last Friday that Clark had accepted the position.
“Ryan’s coaching experience in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and his familiarity with recruiting in this region separated him from other candidates,” Harmon said, per a press release. “Ryan Clark is also an exceptional human being who will treat our student-athletes and others with respect.”
Clark was an assistant coach with the MSU program from 2019-21. He then spent a year coaching at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he led his squad to the conference tournament quarterfinals. His success led him back to LRSC — where he once played — as the head women’s basketball coach and assistant athletic director.
Now he rejoins the Beavers, this time in a more prominent role.
“To be able to come back and to be the new head women’s basketball coach is a surreal opportunity, but one I am very grateful for,” Clark said, per release. “This is a special place with special people who make it so amazing for everyone involved in the university and community. Not many opportunities come along like this, so I knew I had to go after it with both hands.”
Clark came over to Devils Lake in 2014, flying all the way over from Adelaide, Australia. In his two seasons playing on the men’s basketball team, he set an LRSC record for career rebounds (636). He averaged 11.3 points per game in his first year, then 15.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game in his second year.
“When I first came to Devils Lake and Lake Region State College, never in my wildest dreams did I realize how special this place would become to my family and I,” Clark wrote in a farewell post on Facebook. “I am so thankful for all the amazing people at Lake Region and Devils Lake community.”
After earning an Associate of Arts at LRSC, he got a basketball scholarship from Dickinson State University. He played for two years there, helping the team reach back-to-back North Star Athletic Association championship games.
Clark earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from DSU, as well as a Master of Science in Sports Management from MSU. He spent one year after his playing career with DSU helping the team as an assistant, which kickstarted his new path as a coach.
This past season with LRSC, Clark led the Royals to a third-place finish in the Mon-Dak Athletic Conference. They were particularly strong on the defensive end, limiting the opposition to 58.2 points per game. They made it to the second round of the playoffs before falling to second-place North Dakota State College of Science. In their first playoff game, they achieved a shutout second quarter.
The Royals went 20-12 in each of Clark’s years leading the team. They combined to go 25-20 in conference games over the two seasons.
“These past two years have been incredible, with countless memories made that I will cherish forever,” Clark continued. “I would like to thank President [Doug] Darling, Coach [Jared] Marshall along with faculty, staff, assistant coaches and all the amazing players I coached during my time. You helped make these some of the best years of my life.”
Clark helped five of the student-athletes he coached at LRSC move on to NCAA programs (three to Division I and two to Division II). Two of them were on this year’s team, with Kelsey Crossan advancing to Gardner-Webb (DI) and Brooke Kleinig going to St. Mary’s (DII).
Clark now moves back to Minot with his wife, Sheridan, and their young son, Finn.
“Although our time is coming to an end, I will forever hold a place in my heart for Lake Region State College and will always cheer on the Royals,” Clark wrote. “The saying is true, LR4Life.”
