Ryan Cheek is taking on his first year of coaching at the collegiate level where he will stand as the Pitching Coach for the IUK Cougars. He will also be in charge of helping with academic supervision, community service, and all camps throughout the year.Â
“Ryan is a big piece to our coaching staff puzzle. Although he is young, his knowledge of the game and of the art of pitching is exemplary. He was a very cerebral and diligent player and I know those characteristics will translate into his coaching career. Ryan will be invested in our pitching staff and will work each day to give them a competitive advantage through their development. I am excited to see the strides that our staff will take as Ryan gets to work with these guys" said head coach Matt Howard.
Cheek comes to IUK after being an assistant and just recently head coach of his high school baseball team. He has also been a 16U travel ball head coach. He has had a lot of success with these teams, but is looking to take on a new challenge at the collegiate level. Cheek brings a lot of passion to the game of baseball, as well as the will to help young athletes achieve their ultimate goals in baseball and in life.
Cheek resides from a small town of Oblong, IL. He has been around baseball at the collegiate level as well as the professional level as a pitcher. After graduating high school in 2012, Cheek attended Vincennes University where he played for 2 years. Throughout his time at VU, he led the Trailblazers to a NJCAA D2 World Series appearance in 2014. He was also named MVP of the NJCAAII Region 12 that year, thus right before making it to the World Series. After his two years concluded at Vincennes, Cheek then went on to throw for Indiana State University until graduating in 2016. Cheek put up some good quality numbers all four years. In the spring of 2017, Cheek got the opportunity to pitch at the professional level and signed a spring training contract with the Evansville Otters. He soon got released after spring training began and went on to start his coaching career.
Cheek was also able to work hard in the classroom and received his AS Degree from VU in 2014, thus prior to receiving his BS Degree in Sports Management and Marketing from Indiana State in the winter of 2016. When Cheek is not around the game of baseball, you will most likely find him spending time with his family, hunting, or golfing.Â
