Draft:Ryan Felker

Submission declined on 25 December 2024 by Grahaml35 (talk).

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Declined by Grahaml35 3 days ago. Last edited by CommonsDelinker 2 seconds ago. Reviewer: Inform author.

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Summary

In his life, Ryan Felker has held many titles; husband, father, brother, son, teacher, and coach. For over 20 years, Felker has served the youth of his community shaping the next generation of young men as a coach and often father figure. In the classroom he has helped thousands of students to reach their potential and provided a safe space for growth while sharing his knowledge of the natural sciences. In his lifetime, Felker has coached 25 seasons and 251 games winning five bowl game titles with a 144-107 record. In his career, Felker has been a coordinator at the collegiate level on both offense and defense, coaching DB’s and QB’s. He has coached 20 players to NFL opportunities, including 2015 first-round NFL Draft pick Damarious Randall. 21 others have made AAF, Canadian Football League and Arena Football League rosters. During his time at Mesa, Felker coached the 2016 National Offensive Player of the year, QB Rathen Ricedorff, as well as 21 All-Americans, 126 players that have moved on to Division I schools and 232 have moved on to four-year institutions overall. The impact he has had on all of the communities he has served is remarkable and there is no measurement that can encompass the number of lives his influence has changed for the better. Whether you know him as coach, family man, or teacher it is safe to say all who meet Ryan Felker are privileged.

Personal Life

Family

Felker married his now wife Regina in 2003 after five years together. The couple have remained together ever since and have two children together, one boy and one girl. Their daughter Chloe followed in her father’s footsteps attending Felker’s alma mater Northern Arizona University before continuing on to graduate school at the University of Maine. Their son Brett played football and basketball at Desert Vista High School and works in construction management. He shares in Felker’s passion for sports and the Rams Football Franchise having been born on the day the Rams won their first superbowl in 2000.

Early Life and Education

Originally from Kelogg, Idaho, Felker is the oldest of two siblings with a younger sister named Leslie. He spent his early childhood running wild playing both football and baseball and growing his love for the outdoors. As a child, Felker partook in fishing and hunting, both hobbies he enjoys now as an adult. From an early age he was entranced by the sport of football being a loyal NFL Rams franchise fan following them from St Louis to their current home in LA. Felker moved to Arizona with his family at seven years old and attended Trevor Browne High School where he was a three sport athlete lettering in wrestling, baseball, and football. He was a starting quarterback all through his highschool years, playing his senior season as quarterback at Tolleson High School. Following his graduation, Felker signed to Aurora University in Illinois where he started as a defensive back finishing out his final seasons of football as a player. At Aurora he began his degree in education that he then continued at Arizona State University. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Education from Arizona State University West, Felker attended Northern Arizona University earning a Masters in Technology. In 2000, he received his first teaching position at SunnySlope High School teaching biology. At Sunny Slope Felker held an assistant coaching position on the baseball team. The same year, he began his football coaching career at Centennial High School in peoria as an assistant coach.

Impact

Felker takes great pride in social coordination and community service. While at Mesa, he worked to develop an elementary school reading program as well as Mesa’s annual “Friday Night Lights” with the City of Mesa Youth Sports. During the 2015-2016 school year Mesa’s football program was presented with the “Team Community Service” award.

After a long and unsuccessful fight to reverse the Maricopa County Community College District’s decision to rid Arizona of community college football programs Felker continued to stand up for JUCO players in Arizona. He contributed to The creation of the non-profit Athletic Advancement Association of America (AAAA) which became the foundation for the return of football. In an attempt to return football to the valley it was important for the board to work cohesively with various individuals and entities including special advisors to the board with various ties to community college football, NCAA football, and strategic business partnerships. The board believed that the formation of a conference was essential for policy development, rules oversight, and an eventual return to the NJCAA. This led to the creation of the Hohokam Junior College Athletic Conference (HJCAC).

Career

Early Coaching Positions

Prior to coaching in college Felker coached high school for nine years, the last six as a head coach. In 2002, Felker helped to establish Desert Edge High School as an institution at the forefront of both teaching and football. He started their highschool football program as the head coach. Transitioning from high school football, Felker took on a role as Co-Defensive Coordinator at Eastern Arizona Community College where he remained for two years. Felker than began his position as Scottsdale Community College’s Offensive Coordinator which led to his role as head coach at Mesa Community College.

Coaching Career

In recent years Felker has made his return to Arizona and High School ball, taking a position as the Varsity Offensive Coordinator for the Basha High School Bears. In the 2024-2025 season his offense led the Bears to a 9-1 season that took them to the 2024 Arizona Open Division state high school football championship.

Prior to his position at Basha High School Felker served as the Garden City Community College Offensive Coordinator for three years. In the 2021 season Felker’s offense contributed to an overall record of 8-3 with a conference record of 5-1.

Following the unexpected discontinuation of the Mesa Community College football program Felker worked to create an alternative for local players without the resources to go straight to four year universities. The decision made February 2018, by the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) to eliminate football at the four MCCCD football schools after the 2018 seasonn resulted in Pima Community College, Arizona Western College, and Eastern Arizona College also predictably dropping each of their respective football programs leaving the State of Arizona completely void of football at the community college level. This resulted in the loss of athletic and academic opportunities for more than 750+ student-athletes from within the Arizona Community. It is estimated that those football programs generated more than $8million annually in 4-year scholarship opportunities to their student-athletes. With the help of others he begin securing corporate level sponsorship through a non-profit to bring community college football back to the State of Arizona and established the Hohokam Junior College Athletic Program. Alongside his role as a founder of the Hohokam Junior College Athletic Program he was the head coach of the Gila River Hawks for three years before continuing on to Garden City Community College. He led the Gila River Hawks to a 6-0 mark in 2020 and a conference title while being named coach of the year. In 2019, the team went 8-1. The success of Mesa and Gila River Football reflects the championship attitude that Felker instills into his players and staff.

Ryan Felker left Mesa Community College due to program cancellation with 19 years of experience as a high school and collegiate coach. For seven seasons, Felker was the head coach at Mesa Community College (AZ) where he established a program that was one of the best in the country. He led the team to a 41-32 record, including four bowl appearances including a victory over 10-0 Lackawanna (Pa.) College 48-42 in double-overtime to capture the 2016 Valley of the Sun Bowl title.

Finishing 5th in the national polls in 2016, Mesa was a regular in the NJCAA polls during his tenure. Former Mesa players received numerous honors and recognition as more than talented athletes, but have been recognized as dedicated men who pursue excellence. The success of Mesa Football reflects the championship attitude that Coach Felker instilled in his players and staff.

In his career, Felker has been a coordinator at the collegiate level on both offense and defense, coaching DB’s and QB’s. He has coached 13 players to NFL opportunities, including a first-round NFL Draft pick, (Damarious Randall). 13 others have made CFL and Arena League rosters as well. While at Mesa he coached the 2016 National Offensive Player of the year QB Rathen Ricedorff, 20 All-Americans, 99 players have moved on to Division 1 schools, and 191 have moved on to four year institutions overall.

Before joining Mesa, Felker coached at nearby Scottsdale Community College, holding the positions of defensive coordinator in 2011 and DB coach, as well as recruiting coordinator, in 2010. Previously he served at Eastern Arizona College for two years as co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. He also recruited Arizona for the Gila Monsters.

In 2009 his EAC defense finished second in the nation statistically. Cornerback, Prince Ryans, earned 1st team All-American, All-Region and All-Conference honors and was the Western States Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year. In 2008 both of his starting cornerbacks received all-WSFL recognition with Jamaine Olson, receiving a full scholarship at Utah State.

He frequently speaks at clinics and works off-season football camps for major universities. Throughout his career Felker has built many valuable relationships with coaches at every level.