Biography:
Coach Ruschell is entering his 11th year as Head Coach after serving 8 years as an Assistant Coach at Ryle. He graduated from Newport Catholic High School where he wrestled and played football. During his high school career, he was a Regional Champion in wrestling. He also earned honors as a 1st Team All State Linebacker and a 2nd Team All State Offensive End while playing football at Newport Catholic. After graduation, Coach Ruschell wrestled for Northern Kentucky University and played 8 years of Semi-Professional Football. Coach Ruschell and his staff have been involved in coaching 3 2x state champions, 13 state champions, 12 state runner-ups, 70 state placers, 142 state qualifiers, and 58 regional champions, 3 NHSCA High School All-Americans & 5 Division I Collegiate Wrestlers & 1 NAIA Collegiate Wrestler . He teaches mathematics at Gray Middle School and along with his wife, Pam, has 4 children – Keith, Kyle, T.J. and Katelyn.
Rick Barker.
JV Head Coach/Varsity Asst
Biography:
Rick Barker is in his 10th year as an Assistant Coach at Ryle. Prior to being at Ryle he coached wrestling at Simon Kenton where his team won the State Championship in 1987. Coach Barker graduated from Newport Catholic in 1975. He was a four time Regional and three time State Wrestling Champion. After graduation, he wrestled for Northern Kentucky University. He has worked for the Cintas Corporation for 27 years and is married to his wife Julie and has three daughters – Anna, Catie, and Shannon.
Biography:
Larry Mikkelson is in his 8th year coaching at Ryle.High School. He has 18 years high school coaching experience, mostly at Colerain Sr. High in Cincinnati, but he has also coached in North Cobb, Georgia and Seymour, Indiana. Coach Mikkelson's high school career was also at Colerain where he graduated in 1981. His career record was 114 wins and 21 losses. He was recruited by Miami of Ohio and was a 3 year starter there. He was a 3 time placer in the Mid American Conference. Larry and his wife Jackie have lived in the Northern Kentucky area since 1997 and have 2 children, Andrew and Danielle.Andrew is a Freshman on the Ryle Wrestling team this season. He owns and operates Rettay Chiropractic in Florence, Kentucky.
Biography:
Coach Johnson returns to the Raiders after a 3 year stint as the Head Coach at Covington Catholic High School. Dave is in his 13th season of coaching and returns to Ryle High School where he was a Varsity Assistant for teams that earned a Regional Championship, finished 3rd in the KHSAA State Tournament and had an Individual State Champion. Dave started his coaching career in 1996 at Grand Forks Central High School in North Dakota while serving in the United States Air Force. Since then he has also coached at Norwood (OH) and Cooper.
Coach Johnson was a four year letterman, FAVC Conference Champion, All-city of Cincinnati, District Placer, 2x Team Captain and MVW while wrestling at Norwood. He was also an All-FAVC Conference Defensive Back while playing football for the Indians.
Mr. Johnson works for the Federal Aviation Administration at the Cincinnati Air Traffic Control Tower. Dave has been married to Heather for 20 years and they have two daughters (Taylor-18 and Savannah-15). The Johnson family resides in Burlington, KY
Biography:
James Wagers is in his 8th year of coaching and 2nd at Ryle after serving as Head Coach of Cincinnati Colerain High School. James also coached for Team Cincinnati Freestyle Club as an assistant in 1998 & 1999, and was also the assistant coach for the Ohio Cadet Greco Roman Team in 1999. James was a Three Year Letterman, 3X QCC Champion, 2X District Qualifier & State Qualifier, and a two time Team Captain while wrestling at Harrison High School. James was also a 3X member of the Cadet and Junior Ohio National Freestyle & Greco Roman Teams. James wrestled in college for The University of Miami as well as The College of Mount St. Joseph where he was a HCAC finalist, and 2nd in the National Duals. James works for Meyer Tool Inc. as an Account Manager in Aviation and Aerospace. Coach Wagers is married to his wife of 2 years Jennifer and they have two boys (Kristopher 8 and Lincoln 1).