Linden Ryan
	Position: Assistant Coach / Tight Ends Experience: 2nd season at WCU Alma Mater: Western Carolina '04

Linden Ryan, who graduated from Western after his junior season (December 2004), is in his second year serving as an offensive assistant coach, working with the offensive linemen with primary responsibility this season for the tight ends. Ryan started graduate school during his senior season and completed his Master of Business Administration in December of 2006.

After being Western's offensive line MVP three times as a senior, Ryan was tabbed second team All-Southern Conference by the league's coaches. In addition to making all the calls on the offensive front and relaying blocking assignments, the Shawsville, Va., native held the distinction of being the only Catamount to start all 43 Western Carolina games, dating back to his freshman season (2002). (The 2002 game at Liberty was also Kent Briggs' first game as WCU head coach. Reese and Andre Brown were the only other Catamounts to play in each of Western's 43 games, starting 19 and 12 games, respectively, over their careers.)

As a junior, Ryan anchored an offensive line which helped Justin Clark roll up 350 passing yards versus Chattanooga, which ranks 10th on the WCU single-game list. He also paved the way for tailback Darius Fudge, who rushed for 134 yards on just nine carries in a win over Appalachian State.

In his first two years, Ryan was integral in Western leading the SoCon in passing twice (2002 and `03) and ranking among the SoCon leaders in fewest sacks allowed twice. In 2003, the WCU offensive line only allowed 11 sacks on the season and did not give up a sack in six of its 12 games. Twice during that year, WCU had 121 consecutive pass attempts without allowing a sack. As a freshman, Ryan anchored an offensive line which only allowed 15 sacks in 385 passing attempts (one in every 25.7 pass attempts) to rank second in the SoCon.

Ryan is married to the former Catherine Sams of Anderson, S.C., who earned her Masters of Business Administration from WCU, in May of 2005.