Messiah University

Ryan Speer begins his second year as AROMA Sports Ministry Coordinator at Messiah University. As part of his role with AROMA, Speer is the Camp Director of AROMA All-Sports Camp, oversees AROMA’s small group discipleship program called Sunrise Slayers & Seekers, and leads Messiah student-athletes on mixed-team international trips. Speer also serves as an Assistant Coach for Messiah’s men’s and women’s cross country/track & field teams. 
 
Before working for AROMA, Speer spent one year as a Volunteer Assistant Cross Country/Track & Field Coach at Baylor University in Waco, TX. 
 
Before Baylor, Speer was the Graduate Assistant Cross Country/Track & Field Coach at Messiah University from 2019-2021. During his time as a GA, he helped coach two Messiah teams to the MAC Conference Championship (2019 - Women’s XC, 2021 - Women’s Outdoor Track & Field), and helped coach three NCAA All-Americans (Esther Seeland, Brody Beiler, and Ellissa Slader). Along with his coaching duties, he also mentored student-athletes academically and spiritually, coordinated weekly XC/Track & Field Team devotions, led all team operations from expense reporting, travel logistics, and home meet management, and recruited prospective student-athletes. 
 
Speer is a 2019 graduate of Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN), where he was a four-year competitor who excelled both on and off the track. He collected 14 All-ASUN Conference honors, and qualified for the 2018 NCAA DI National Track & Field Championship Preliminary Round for the 800m. He was also a standout student-athlete in the classroom, collecting five ASUN All-Academic team awards, a 2018 USTFCCCA Academic All-American, and was a 2018 ASUN Conference Winner for Life, given to a student-athlete who excels in athletics, academics, and community service. 
 
Originally from Raleigh, NC, Speer is blessed to be part of Messiah Athletics, and to work in AROMA Sports Ministry. He is passionate about serving, growing, and doing life alongside student-athletes, and enjoys seeing students combine both their love for sport with their love for Christ - and using it to further His Kingdom.
 
Speer completed his Masters of Intercollegiate Athletics Leadership from Messiah University in 2021, and his Bachelor's of Business Administration from Lipscomb University in 2019.