Jesse Mendez on Ohio State coach Tom Ryan's recovery: 'He's back to himself'

It’s been a tough road for Ohio State wrestling coach Tom Ryan, who was in an automobile accident last month. 141 pound national champion Jesse Mendez is glad to have his coach back in the room though.

While Ryan is still recovering and going through rehab, his personality is back. A hard nosed coach and a gentle soul, Ryan is certainly a unique individual.

So his rehabilitation from broken limbs and being able to walk again is quite inspiring to Mendez and others.

“I mean, we have not had good luck these past couple of months (and) year,” Mendez said on the Baschamania Podcast. “But yeah, he’s doing good. He’s getting better. It’s super tough circumstances. He was hurting for a little bit, but I mean, he’s back to himself. And I think the hard part is going to be when he’s almost 100% and his ADHD kicks in and he’s trying to wrestle our (125 pounders). He’s doing good. He’s getting better.”

One book Ryan read during his recovery was Good to Great, which narrated the story of prisoners of war who didn’t make it home.

“Often it was because they thought they were getting out next week, or the week after, and when those days came and went, it broke them,” Ryan said. “They died of broken hearts. I need to have a healthy combination of optimism and realism. 

“I don’t know when I’m going to walk again. I know I will, but I don’t know the date that will happen. I don’t know when I’m going to bike again. I know I will, but I can’t put timelines or dates on it. If those dates come and pass and I’m not where I thought I should be, that can become a bad place all over again. I’ve gotta be careful. I want to be walking by the first practice of the season. If I’m not, it’s okay. It’s not written in blood. It’s a goal.”

Ryan plans to get back on the mat with his Ohio State wrestlers. An accomplished wrestler in his time, it’s only natural for him to roll around once more with one of the top programs in the country.

“And, I hope I can wrestle with the guys again; wrestling with them is one of the ways this sport helps build bonds, trading grit and sweat sparring together,” Ryan said. “I want that back. I don’t know if I’ll ever get it, but I want it.”

Ryan is a legend in the wrestling community. He holds a 322-150-2 career record in duals as a head coach, including a 213-68 record with Ohio State after coming over from Hofstra.

He was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023 and coaches to this day. He went into the Hofstra Hall of Fame that same year.

Ohio State won the 2015 national title under Ryan’s guidance and were also national runner-ups in 2008, 2009, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Ryan was named the National Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2015 and the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2015, 2017 and 2018.