Coach Eoin Ryan (pronounced “Owen”) has been running some pretty fun Summer Camps at our North Houston Training Center. He has a background working with youth athletes, has a love for Gaelic Football and has an Irish accent. He is a wonderful addition to our Athlete Training and Health team, so take a moment to get to know him!
So far in your career, what moment has been the most fulfilling?
In 2013, I moved to Madrid, Spain and I spent the following three years there. Learning a new language and watching students of mine grow and develop as athletes and as people was a very fulfilling experience.
Tell us about your role with ATH and why you take a special interest in designing our summer camp programs?
I am a Performance Coach at ATH. I coach all athletes in our foundation, intermediate and advanced groups and some teams such as PAC swimming. I also design the programs for our foundation level athletes. I have a lot of experience of working on summer camps for elementary and middle school students/athletes and it is something that I really enjoy. I had the opportunity to work on an amazing school and summer camp program with Sport Scotland and that opened my eyes to just how beneficial a sports and fundamentals of movement camp can be.
What inspires you everyday to live a healthy lifestyle?
I am a big believer in that you should practice what you preach. A lot of the time as coaches we are role models for our athletes and it is very important that we inspire them to be active and eat healthy. I also play Rugby and Gaelic Football with teams here in Houston so I need to be in good physical condition to play these sports.
Tell us a little bit about your training and professional background. Where were you before ATH?
As long as I can remember I have always played and had an interest in sport. This passion led me to do a Bachelor of Education in Physical Education and Economics at University College Cork, Ireland. I then went on to complete a Masters of Science in Sports Performance at the University of Limerick, Ireland. I did an internship at the PEAK Centre for Human Performance in Ottawa, Canada and after this I went on to join the Sport and Education team at Sport Scotlands national training centre at Inverclyde, Scotland.
Most recently, I spent three years working in Madrid, Spain as a physical Education teacher and athletic trainer at middle and high schools. My academic and practical experiences have given me valuable knowledge about training the amateur athlete.
Coach Eoin Ryan (back row, middle) and his team of athletes during our Summer Camps. Coach Ryan is an excellent role model for our athletes. He encourages them and helps build a confident foundation for their sports careers - whether that is to be the best forward on the high school soccer team or playing Rugby at a professional level.
What one piece of advice would you give aspiring athletes trying to get to the next level?
Talent will only get you so far. Hard work is generally what separates good athletes from great athletes. Also, take your academic studies seriously because a playing career only lasts so long.
What is your coaching motto and famous words to live by?
“Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect”
If you are not at ATH, how are you spending your time?
Outside of ATH I am playing Rugby and Gaelic Football with teams here in Houston. These sports also give me the opportunity to travel around Texas to play against other teams. When I am not playing these sports I spend time hanging out with friends.
What is your favorite sport to watch and your sport hero?
Rugby and soccer are my favorite sports to watch but if I had to choose one then it would be Rugby. Cristiano Ronaldo is my favorite sports person, every young athlete should take inspiration from his commitment and relentless desire to be the best.
What summer camps are still available this summer? How would I get registered?
We still have a couple of options left for this summer. Camp registration is only $100 for the registration. This includes a full week (Monday – Friday) of summer fun. In our North Houston Training Center we have the following slots left for summer camps:
- July 17 – 21st
- July 31 – August 4th
- August 7 – 11th
You can click here to find out more specifics. If you have questions on summer camps, please call us 832.698.9821 or contact us.
To contact Coach Ryan, please email him directly at eryan@AthleteTH.com or call our North Houston facility – 832.698.9821