Ryan Geist

Class of 2014

Fox Lake (Grant)

Ryan Geist is a 1990 graduate of Grayslake High School where he was a two time state qualifier and All-State his senior year. Ryan wrestled in college at Illinois State University earning three varsity letters for the Redbirds.

Geist began coaching at Grant Community High School (Fox Lake), as an assistant in 1997-1998 and took over as head coach at Grant in 1999-2000.

From 2001 through 2010, Ryan’s teams had an undefeated record in the NSC Prairie Division (55-0) and won ten consecutive Prairie Division Championships Furthermore, during Coach Geist’s tenure the Grant wrestling team has won 7 North Suburban Conference Championships, 7 I.H.S.A. Regional Championships, and had 4 IHSA Elite 8 appearances. He became the only coach in the history of Grant Community High School to win an IHSA State Tournament trophy when his varsity squad placed 3rd in the 2006 Dual-Meet State Tournament. As a result, the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association elected Geist, Class AA Coach of the Year in 2006.

At the IHSA Individual State Tournament Geist has guided Bulldog wrestlers to 5 IHSA State Championships, 20 all-state honors, and 45 state qualifiers. In dual meet competition, Grant under the tutelage of Geist, has a sterling record of 228-38. He has also coached the Illinois National Team in Greco-Roman competition and currently has six wrestlers competing in college at the Division I level in which two of them have attained All-American Honors.

Geist and his wife Karen have a son Ethan and a daughter Emily and currently reside in Ingleside, Illinois. Ryan teaches social studies at Grant and is also the assistant golf coach.