MSU Athletics

Ryan Clifford is in his second year as a Graduate Assistant Coach at Minot State University. Clifford oversees the training of MSU's distance runners.

In 2019, Ryan coached Whitney Hanson to All-NSIC honors in cross country, it marked the first All-Conference honor in program history. He also assisted in 10 DII era school records, one All-Time School record (Whitney Hanson in 800m), and 59 Division II era top-10 performances (25 in cross country and 34 in track and field). 

Clifford competed for 4 years in Pennsylvania for the Mansfield University Mountaineers as a distance runner in the Cross Country and Track & Field programs. While there, he saw much success being an All-PSAC runner in 2017 and 2018, All-Region Honoree in 2017 and 2018, and a NCAA national qualifier in 2018 for Cross Country. He also was a two-time All-PSAC runner in 2018 in both the 3K and 5K. Clifford also was a 3-time All-PSAC running in the spring of 2019, winning the 3K steeplechase. Most recently, he was named a member of the PSAC spring top 10 for his athletic and academic successes. 

At the annual Mountie Awards hosted by the Mansfield Mountaineers Athletic Department, Clifford was named Athlete of the Year for the Fall and Winter seasons, as well as the Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Clifford graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Graphic Design and is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Sports Management at Minot State.