The 2024-2025 Girls basketball season comes to end after a thrilling winter filled with exciting match ups and hard fought battles. The determination and heart awarded the Lady Wildcats with a show stopping record of 20-11, going 8-0 in the NJIC – Meadowlands division earning them their second division championship two years in a row.
The team’s victory and success starts at the root of the coaching staff. Varsity Head Coach Mr. Michael Ryan finished out his season with not only the title of division champion but also Coach of the Year. Mr. Ryan’s passion for the game placed him as a clear contender for the award, but the true reward for him was embracing and spreading his love for the game. Following his 15th year as coaching Becton Girls Basketball, Mr. Ryan announced his retirement leaving behind his legacy of dedication, leadership, and countless victories that shaped the program’s success.
Mr. Ryan’s path to coaching was always clear to him. His love for sports and gravitation towards competition led him to mentor and develop young athletes, instilling in them the same passion and determination that defined his own journey. His coaching days are not limited to girls basketball, as for many years he was bringing his tactics to Riggin Field alongside Becton Football staff.
Looking back on over a decade of games, practices and cross-Paterson Ave. rivals, Mr. Ryan insightfully reflects on his journey of coaching and what coaching means to him. Being part of Becton Basketball for Mr. Ryan was more than dribbling and shooting, he shared, “players should be ready to embrace a new version of the athlete they thought they were.” His strategy not only focused on building the fundamentals of the game, but the fundamentals of finding your idea of a “limit” and pushing it. This strategy built his players both on and off the court, instilling a hunger and drive in players on the team.
This method is a simple, but a key asset to Mr. Ryan’s motivation– a push and pull momentum getting his players to strive for new heights. Mr. Ryan explains, “It’s easy to stay motivated when you have players that are willing to buy into what you are teaching. I have a very simple formula: work as hard as you can and try to get better everyday. I like trying to push players to get to a place beyond what they think their potential is.”
Coach Ryan’s philosophy was centered on hard work, dedication, and setting high standards for his players. He firmly believes that success is not just measured by wins but by the effort and determination each player brought to the court. “If you play as hard as you can and leave everything on the floor, win or lose, you are still a winner,” he emphasized, fostering perseverance in his team.
Mr. Ryan’s commitment to hard work is evident in the way his players competed, earning respect from opponents and officials alike. “Many times this year opposing coaches and referees would come to me and say I can’t believe how hard your kids play, as a coach there is no better compliment,” he reflects.
It was this very philosophy that came to life on the court, earning him his Coach of the Year Award. When asked about his recent achievement, he humbly returns his award to his players. “To receive this award you need dedicated players. I have been blessed with a group of girls who worked hard, who set high goals for themselves, and for the team, and achieved them.”
As Coach Ryan steps away from the program, he hopes his legacy is one of dedication and doing right by his players both on and off the court. “I hope that whoever takes over is dedicated to keeping the program successful,” he said, emphasizing the efforts required to prepare a team for success.
His advice to new coaches is clear, “Players will rise to the expectations you set, set the bar high and they will reach it.” He believes that a coach must lead by example, working harder than the players to maintain a strong work ethic. At the same time, he stresses the importance of understanding each athlete’s strengths, using them to build both individual confidence and overall team success. Above all, his greatest lesson for future coaches is simple, “When you have an opportunity to make it fun, make it fun.”
The years Mr. Ryan has spent coaching has brought many fond memories to look back on. Some of his most notable were when the team won the Bergen Invitational Tournament against Northern Highlands as well as beating Hasbrouck Heights at home to win the league title.
Coach Ryan’s influence on Becton basketball extends beyond the game. Senior and four-year varsity player Kaitlyn Reiner, a multiple record holder at Becton, reflects on how Coach Ryan’s high expectations pushed her to become a more well-rounded athlete. “Coach Ryan has had a huge impact on me as a player by setting high expectations and pushing me to improve beyond just being a shooter. He emphasized the importance of developing my all-around game, especially driving to the basket,” she shared. “Beyond skills, he instilled in me the values of hard work and being a great teammate. He always encouraged me to be the first in the gym and the last to leave, and he taught me that a team’s success depends on how well we play together.”
Among the many memorable moments under Coach Ryan’s leadership, Reiner highlighted a few that stand out the most. “Winning the Bergen County Invitational Tournament for the first time in Becton history was a moment I’ll never forget,” Reiner said. “Being able to make history with a coach like him was huge. He put so much time into our team, so winning something like that made it even more special.”
Reiner also recalls back-to-back league championships and what it meant to solidify their team’s place in the program’s history. “Putting up banners that will hang in the gym forever is an incredible feeling. All of my milestones could not have been accomplished without Coach Ryan believing in me.”
Coach Ryan’s leadership style created an environment where players were motivated to perform at their best. “He created a family atmosphere where everyone was held accountable. He was calm but knew when to get fired up to motivate us,” Reiner noted. “You could tell he wanted the best for us, which made us want to play even harder for him.”
As Coach Ryan moves on, his legacy at Becton will be remembered not just for wins and titles, but for the lasting impact he has had on his players. Reiner concludes, “Coach Ryan is a great coach, but an even better person and role model. He has helped players achieve their goals, including playing in college, and guided us in being good students and even better people. He’s someone I’ll stay in touch with for life, and I’m honored to have played under him.”
For nearly two decades, Coach Ryan has remained a permanent figure in the lives of his players, far beyond the years they spent under his leadership at Becton. One former player, Jessica Knapp who went on to compete at the Division I level for the University of Pennsylvania, comments on the lasting influence of their former coach.
“Coach Ryan has a way of becoming a permanent figure in all of his players’ lives. So much so that our relationship is hardly characterized by the four years that I played for him at Becton,” she shares. “From 2004 to 2008, we accomplished so much on the basketball court—winning the league twice, making state and county tournament runs, and spending thousands of hours practicing and playing summer league games. Those are all very fond memories, sure. But when I think of Coach, I mostly remember all the ‘off-the-court’ moments.”
From lighthearted moments, like easing pre-game nerves by popping in fake teeth before tipoff, to life-changing guidance in choosing the right college basketball program, Coach Ryan’s influence extended far beyond the gym. “He made countless trips to Philly to watch me play at Penn. He interacts with my two-year-old son and continues to show up for me during life’s highs and lows. Even nearly 20 years later, he still makes me feel like an important part of the Becton Basketball program.”
Describing Coach Ryan as one of the most brilliant basketball minds and fiercest competitors she has ever known, the former player acknowledges the incredible legacy he leaves behind as he steps away from coaching. “He’s leaving behind impossibly big shoes to fill. For these reasons, I’m not convinced he will actually retire,” Knapp joked. “But if and when he does, I hope he is able to relish in all that he has accompilished at Becton and all the lives he’s touched over the many years he spent at the helm.”
From high school championships to college careers and beyond, Coach Ryan’s impact continues to shape the lives of the players he mentored, proving his influence extends far beyond the game. While this chapter of Coach Ryan’s life may be closing, his connection to basketball and the Becton community will remain strong. Whether as a supporter, volunteer, or mentor, Coach Ryan will continue to embrace the rewards of the sport and the relationships it fosters. His dedication to Becton basketball goes beyond the courtside, ensuring his legacy will be felt for years to come.
