Coaching Accolades
- 159-116-1 overall record in six seasons ... Averaging 31 wins per season in the last five years (excluding 2020 COVID season).
- 2021 Northeast Conference Regular Season Champion and 2024 & 2025 America East Conference Regular Season Champion.
- 2024 America East Tournament Champion and NCAA Raleigh Regional Participant.
- Four conference players of the year in the last five seasons including back-to-back America East Players of the Year.
- Three-time Coach of the Year ... 2021 Northeast Conference Coach of the Year, 2024 and 2025 America East Conference Coach of the Year.
- 37 all-conference selections, four MLB draft picks and three players signed to professional contracts.
In his first six years, Klosterman has elevated the Black and Gold to new heights. Klosterman has been named conference coach of the year three times in five full seasons at Bryant, earning 2021 NEC Coach of the Year honors and back-to-back America East Coach of the Year honors in 2024 and 2025. Klosterman has produced a 159-116-1 record has led the Black and Gold to the championship round of the conference tournament in four of the last five years. Bryant is a three-time conference regular season champion (2021 - NEC, 2024 and 2025 - AE) and claimed the 2024 America East Tournament title. In six years, Klosterman has coached 37 all-conference selections, nine all-region selections, four Conference Players of the Year and one Conference Pitcher of the Year. Four players have been selected in the MLB Draft, with three additional players signing professional contracts.
Bryant is coming off another successful season in 2025 as the Klosterman-led Bulldogs finished 36-19-1, claiming their second-straight America East Regular Season title. Klosterman was named coach of the year for the second-straight year, guiding the Bulldogs to victories over Big 12-member UCF and NCAA Regional participants Binghamton, Rhode Island and Northeastern. Bryant featured the America East Player of the Year for the second-straight season as Drew Wyers earned the honors after producing the third .400 season in DI program history. The Black and Gold also took home the rookie of the year award for the first time since 2018 as Michael Belcher was awarded for his dominance on Friday nights. In all, nine Bulldogs were named to the All-America East First or Second team.
The 2024 season saw Klosterman take the Black and Gold back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016. Klosterman was named America East Coach of the Year and Co-New England Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to a 36-21 overall record, an America East Regular Season Title and an America East Tournament Title. The Bulldogs recovered from a 1-7 start to win 35 of their final 49 games. Bryant placed 11 players on All-America East teams, the most in the league since 2012. That group was led by America East Player of the Year Gavin Noriega, a senior who hit a single-season program record 18 home runs.
In 2023, Klosterman guided the Black and Gold into the America East. The Bulldogs would finish 26-24, earning the No. 4 seed in the America East Tournament. Bryant defeated a nationally-ranked opponent (No. 14 Virginia Tech) for the second-straight year and also went 14-2 at home. Klosterman had four players earn All-America East honors (Derek Smith, Jake Gustin, Brett Wichrowski and Zac Zyons), while Jake Gustin wrapped up one of the best careers in program history under Klosterman's watch. Gustin finished in the top five in DI program history in nearly every offensive category and emerged as one of the best defensive second basemen in the region. Bryant also had two players drafted in the 2023 MLB Draft, with Coleman Picard going in the sixth round to Kansas City and Brett Wichrowski going in the 13th round to Milwaukee.
In 2022, Klosterman reached the 30-win plateau for the first time as a head coach, guiding the Black and Gold to a 30-27 overall record. Bryant's season began with a bang as the Bulldogs opened the season with a three-game sweep of No. 12 East Carolina, becoming the first team in NEC history to sweep a nationally-ranked opponent. The Bulldogs advanced to the NEC Championship Round for the third-straight year, falling in the winner-take-all game seven. Bryant featured the NEC Player of the Year for the second-straight season as Matt Woods took home the crown. In addition, the Bulldogs placed five on the All-NEC team.
Klosterman was named the 2021 Northeast Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to their ninth consecutive regular-season title. Bryant also advanced to the Championship Round of the NEC Tournament for the sixth time in program history in 2021. Klosterman's second season in Smithfield was highlighted by one of the nation's top offenses and one of the strongest rotations in the Northeast. Bryant ranked 12th nationally in batting average, 12th in scoring, 11th in ERA, third in shutouts and 27th in K:BB ratio. Liam McGill finished the season as the nation's leader in batting average (.471) and OBP (.541), earning NEC Player of the Year and All-America honors. Tyler Mattison led the pitching staff, winning 10 games and posting 95 strikeouts and a 2.46 ERA.
Klosterman's second season also saw the continuation of Bryant's development of professional players. Following the season, Mattison became the highest drafted player in program history when he was taken in the fourth round (104th overall) by the Detroit Tigers. McGill was drafted in the ninth round (277th overall) by the Atlanta Braves, while Tyler Schoff signed a free-agent contract with the Washington Nationals.
His first season as a collegiate head coach was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Bulldogs finished the year 4-11, winning each of its last two games against Western Carolina. Bryant's schedule also featured a pair of Power 5 schools in Maryland and Virginia Tech. Despite the shortened season, the Bulldogs were able to steal 39 bases, finishing the season ranked sixth nationally in stolen bases per game and eighth in total stolen bases. Bryant was the only team to feature three players within the top 50 of stolen bases per game.
Klosterman came to Smithfield after serving as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UCF. In eight seasons, Klosterman produced four nationally-ranked recruiting classes (2013, 2014, 2015, 2018) and helped the Knights to a pair of NCAA Regional appearances (2012, 2017).
Klosterman at UCF
- Under Klosterman's watch, the Knights had 31 players sign professional contracts, four make their Major League debuts and four All-Americans.
- Helped UCF post back-to-back seasons with 100+ stolen bases in 2017 and 2018.
- Lead recruiter on UCF's 2018 signing class that was ranked 16th by Collegiate Baseball and 23rd by Baseball America.
- Coached Rylan Thomas to Freshman All-America honors in 2016.
- Part of 2015 UCF coaching staff that had the Knights ranked as high as No. 6 in the national rankings.
- Dylan Moore committed just three errors in 58 games in 2014 under Klosterman's watch.
- Worked with Conference USA Player of the Year Chris Taladay in 2013.
- Helped take UCF to the Coral Gables Regional Final in 2012.
- Klosterman worked with DJ Hicks in his transition to first base in 2012, helping him earn All-C-USA First Team honors..
Prior to his coaching days in Orlando, Klosterman was picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. He spent eight years playing minor league baseball, most recently at the Triple-A level for the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Florida Marlins Organization before retiring and coming to UCF.
Klosterman played collegiately at both Clemson and Vanderbilt. In his junior season with the Commodores, Klosterman was named to the All-SEC First Team as a shortstop, while also being voted as the team's Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. That same year, Klosterman helped lead the Commodores to the NCAA Super Regional in Austin after batting .346 with 91 hits, 72 runs scored and eight triples. Klosterman's eight triples remain a Vanderbilt single-season record. In addition to his success on the field, Klosterman was also honored with a spot on the 2004 Verizon Academic All-District IV Second Team and was a member of the Dean/s List and the Student-Athlete Honor Roll.
Klosterman graduated from Vanderbilt in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in human and organizational development with an emphasis in leadership and organizational effectiveness.
He is married to the former Kaitlyn Arpin and has a daughter, Kinsley Ann, and a son, Cohen Ryan.
What they're saying about Ryan Klosterman
"I think Bryant got a great one! Klosty has been an integral part of building our program and I know he is going to do the same at Bryant. His work ethic, coaching and recruiting ability, and his impressive pedigree have prepared him to continue the great success the Bulldogs have had. We will miss him here, but know this is a great opportunity for him and Kaitlyn and the Smithfield community is lucky to have them! - Greg Lovelady (Head coach at University of Central Florida)
"Self-made and Tough … those are the first words that come to my mind when I think of Klosty. He has never asked for a thing, he has just gone to work and let his work speak for itself. He represents intelligence and a blue-collar investment level. When I was a first-year coach at Vanderbilt, no player impacted a roster and a program as much as Klosty did. He has taken those same traits with him as a teacher and coach. Not many people could follow the success of what Coach Owens has established at Bryant, but Ryan is the perfect fit for the next on-deck hitter. He is a wonderful choice for Bryant. I am happy for the University, the players and Ryan." - Tim Corbin (Head Coach at Vanderbilt University)
"This is a fantastic hire for Bryant Baseball! Ryan Klosterman is a rising star who has excelled everywhere he's been. From helping lead Vanderbilt to its first-ever Super Regional, to a Triple-A professional, to constructing outstanding recruiting classes and teams at UCF, his will to succeed stands out. He is a natural leader who inspires others with genuine passion. Congratulations to Ryan and Kaitlyn, and to Bill Smith and Bryant University on this outstanding selection! The Bulldogs are getting someone who is totally invested in building high achievers on and off the field." - Erik Bakich (Head coach at University of Michigan)
"In my junior year in college I was blessed to have Ryan Klosterman as one of my coaches. It was only one year that I was fortunate to play for him, but after seven years of pro ball, he always manages to keep in touch and coach me from afar. His knowledge and dedication to make players better is unmatched. His passion to win is beyond comparison. And I can honestly say that there are many things I have learned from him that I still use in my pro career. Bryant Baseball, you are getting a guy that can, and will, lead that program to the next level." – Darnell Sweeney (Currently playing for the Altoona Curve in AA).
"Ryan has always been a person of great integrity and passion, both as a coach and a human being. From my time at UCF, he was always pushing us to be the best because that's what he knows. He knows the connection between hard work and sacrifice in order to have great success. His energy and constant search for perfection flowed through him and poured out into our hearts as players. He was always there for us whenever we needed him and no one was happier to see us have success on the field." – Dylan Moore (Currently playing for the Seattle Mariners in the MLB)
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