Since joining the Auburn coaching staff in 2009, assistant coach Mark Ryal has helped the Tigers’ hitters improve in virtually every offensive category. In 2011, Auburn set program top-five marks in batting average (.279/5th-best), runs scored (272/5th-most), RBI (235/5th-most), doubles (97/2nd-most), triples (8/3rd-most) and walks (160/2nd-most).
Working with the Auburn hitters and outfielders, Ryal has a wealth of experience as he spent 10 years in Major League Baseball and more than 12 years experience as a coach and professional scout. In 2011, Auburn was ranked in both the ESPN and NFCA top 25 polls, spending 12 weeks in the NFCA poll and reaching a high of 21st. Auburn also registered its first-ever series win over a top-five team, taking two-of-three games from No. 4 Georgia.
Additionally, the 2011 Tigers set a program record with a 15-game winning streak to open the season.
Ryal has helped take Auburn to three consecutive SEC Tournament and NCAA Regional appearances. Additionally, Ryal helped utility player Morgan Estell earn Freshman All-SEC honors in 2011, the first Auburn player to earn freshman honors since 2007. Estell tied for the fifth-best single-season batting average in Auburn history (.376), recorded the fourth-most doubles in a single-season (18) and the third-best on-base percentage (.478) in 2011.
In 2010, Ryal helped the Tigers establish four-year highs in home runs, RBI, hits and batting average. Under Ryal’s tutelage, Kyndall White earned Second Team All-SEC honors in 2010 as she recorded the second-most home runs (14) and ninth-best batting average (.356) in a single-season in Auburn history.
Under Ryal’s tutelage, the 2009 Tigers improved overall and in Southeastern Conference play in team batting average, hits, doubles, home runs, slugging percentage, walks, on-base percentage and stolen bases. Ryal also helped 2009 senior outfielder Myesha Finney earn SEC All-Defensive Team and All-SEC Second Team honors.
Ryal joined the Tigers’ staff in 2009, after spending the previous season as the head coach at Carl Albert State College in Poteau, Okla. Prior to that, Ryal served as head coach of the Inola (Okla.) High School softball program from 2003-2006. Ryal began his collegiate coaching career as the hitting coach for the University of Oklahoma in 1995, helping the Sooners to the College World Series. Oklahoma finished second in the Big Eight Conference in hitting in 1995.
As a player, Ryal broke into Major League Baseball in 1982 with the Kansas City Royals after beginning in the Royals’ minor league system in 1978. Ryal was drafted in the third round of the 1978 draft.
Ryal also played for the Chicago White Sox (1985), California Angels (1986-87), Philadelphia Phillies (1989) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1990).
Ryal hit .375 in 13 games as he helped the Angels to the American League Western Division title in 1986. The following year, Ryal led the American League in pinch-hits with 20, and drove in 18 runs with five home runs in 100 at-bats for the Angels.
His final year in MLB came in 1990 as he helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the National League Eastern Division title.
Ryal also served one season as a scout for the Royals in 2005. He earned his bachelor’s degree from East Central Oklahoma State University in 1997.
Ryal and his wife Renae have three children, Rusty, 27, Kacie, 20, and Karlie, 11.
His son, Rusty played baseball in the Arizona Diamondbacks system with the Mobile (Ala.) Baybears in 2008 and made his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks in 2009. Rusty spent the 2010 season with the Diamondbacks before playing the 2011 season in Japan. Rusty re-signed with Diamondbacks in 2012. His daughter, Kacie, plays softball for Auburn University Montgomery.
Working with the Auburn hitters and outfielders, Ryal has a wealth of experience as he spent 10 years in Major League Baseball and more than 12 years experience as a coach and professional scout. In 2011, Auburn was ranked in both the ESPN and NFCA top 25 polls, spending 12 weeks in the NFCA poll and reaching a high of 21st. Auburn also registered its first-ever series win over a top-five team, taking two-of-three games from No. 4 Georgia.
Additionally, the 2011 Tigers set a program record with a 15-game winning streak to open the season.
Ryal has helped take Auburn to three consecutive SEC Tournament and NCAA Regional appearances. Additionally, Ryal helped utility player Morgan Estell earn Freshman All-SEC honors in 2011, the first Auburn player to earn freshman honors since 2007. Estell tied for the fifth-best single-season batting average in Auburn history (.376), recorded the fourth-most doubles in a single-season (18) and the third-best on-base percentage (.478) in 2011.
In 2010, Ryal helped the Tigers establish four-year highs in home runs, RBI, hits and batting average. Under Ryal’s tutelage, Kyndall White earned Second Team All-SEC honors in 2010 as she recorded the second-most home runs (14) and ninth-best batting average (.356) in a single-season in Auburn history.
Under Ryal’s tutelage, the 2009 Tigers improved overall and in Southeastern Conference play in team batting average, hits, doubles, home runs, slugging percentage, walks, on-base percentage and stolen bases. Ryal also helped 2009 senior outfielder Myesha Finney earn SEC All-Defensive Team and All-SEC Second Team honors.
Ryal joined the Tigers’ staff in 2009, after spending the previous season as the head coach at Carl Albert State College in Poteau, Okla. Prior to that, Ryal served as head coach of the Inola (Okla.) High School softball program from 2003-2006. Ryal began his collegiate coaching career as the hitting coach for the University of Oklahoma in 1995, helping the Sooners to the College World Series. Oklahoma finished second in the Big Eight Conference in hitting in 1995.
As a player, Ryal broke into Major League Baseball in 1982 with the Kansas City Royals after beginning in the Royals’ minor league system in 1978. Ryal was drafted in the third round of the 1978 draft.
Ryal also played for the Chicago White Sox (1985), California Angels (1986-87), Philadelphia Phillies (1989) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1990).
Ryal hit .375 in 13 games as he helped the Angels to the American League Western Division title in 1986. The following year, Ryal led the American League in pinch-hits with 20, and drove in 18 runs with five home runs in 100 at-bats for the Angels.
His final year in MLB came in 1990 as he helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the National League Eastern Division title.
Ryal also served one season as a scout for the Royals in 2005. He earned his bachelor’s degree from East Central Oklahoma State University in 1997.
Ryal and his wife Renae have three children, Rusty, 27, Kacie, 20, and Karlie, 11.
His son, Rusty played baseball in the Arizona Diamondbacks system with the Mobile (Ala.) Baybears in 2008 and made his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks in 2009. Rusty spent the 2010 season with the Diamondbacks before playing the 2011 season in Japan. Rusty re-signed with Diamondbacks in 2012. His daughter, Kacie, plays softball for Auburn University Montgomery.