Loyola University Hired Ryan Hicks as Golf Coach

The former standout student-athlete returns to lead both the men's and women's golf programs at his alma mater.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Golf

Loyola University Hired Ryan Hicks as Golf Coach

Loyola University has announced the hiring of Ryan Hicks as its new head golf coach. Hicks, a 2019 graduate of the school, takes over the program with plans to establish a winning culture through a focus on daily habits.

Why it matters

Hicks aims to use his personal experience as a former student-athlete to connect with current players and build stability within the university's golf programs. His deep history with the institution served as a primary motivation for him to accept the position.

Ryan Hicks competed on the Loyola golf team from 2015 to 2019 before graduating. This hiring follows his professional experience as an instructor at Golftec.

The players

Ryan Hicks

He is the newly appointed head golf coach at Loyola University and a former student-athlete who graduated from the institution in 2019.

Loyola University

This Chicago-based institution is the home of the golf program now being led by its own alumnus, Ryan Hicks.

The details

Hicks intends to prioritize daily habits to create a winning culture for both the men's and women's teams. He plans to leverage his own time as a player at Loyola to better mentor the current roster.

Ryan Hicks played for the Loyola golf team from 2015 to 2019.
Hicks experienced a coaching change during his sophomore year in 2016.
Hicks graduated from Loyola University in 2019.
The official announcement regarding the hiring of Hicks was published in September 2026.

Season Trajectory

This hire marks a significant shift in the leadership philosophy for Loyola's golf programs by returning to an alumnus. It signals a strategic effort to build long-term consistency after the program previously navigated instability, such as the coaching change Hicks witnessed in 2016.

Current roster members will likely see an immediate transition in practice intensity and individual development routines under the new coaching staff. The success of this hiring will be measured by the program's ability to recruit local talent and improve team scoring averages in upcoming tournaments.

The takeaway

Alumni-led programs often focus heavily on instilling institutional values alongside technical improvement. Hicks's challenge will be balancing his personal history with the university against the modern demands of collegiate competitive golf.