Ryan Baxter
Ryan Baxter is entering his eighth season as a member of the coaching staff at his alma mater. A three-year letterwinner for Ball State, Baxter closed out his collegiate career as one of the most successful players in school history.
Baxter has been instrumental in the Cardinals’ success. Baxter’s coaching helped the Cardinals to their 19th regular season MAC Championship in 2006. He helped tutor the 2005 squad to its 18th regular season MAC and to its 16th MAC Tournament crown. Additionally, the Cardinals posted a 20-9 regular season mark and saw their sixth NCAA Championship Tournament appearance.
In 2003, Baxter helped guide BSU to the NCAA Championships for the fifth time in school history. His work helped Ball State capture its 17th MAC regular-season championship and its 15th undefeated league campaign in school annals.
Baxter began his career at BSU in 1997-98 after playing the previous spring at Kansas. He earned All-Mid-American Conference accolades in 1999 after registering 19 singles victories and 17 doubles wins, including a 10-0 mark versus league competition. The next year as a senior, he posted a 27-10 overall singles mark, including 6-0 in the league, plus a 20-12 doubles slate. His efforts earned him MAC Player of the Year accolades plus first-team all-league honors for the second time. During his final campaign, he ranked as high as 24th nationally in doubles and 95th in singles.
Baxter, who was part of two MAC Championship teams and one NCAA Championship team during his career, graduated from Ball State in December 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration. The native of Durban, South Africa, finished his course work and is continuing with thesis preparation toward a master’s degree in sports psychology from Ball State. He also works as a tennis pro at the Carmel Racquet Club in Carmel, Ind., and is the tennis director at Bridgewater Country Club.
Baxter is married to the former Carrie Sheffield. The couple have one son, Julian, and they reside in Noblesville, Ind.
