Alumni Profile: Ryan Devlin '05

Assistant Director of Football Operations & Recruiting
Stanford University
Major at Linfield: Finance

What are you doing now?
I am currently the assistant director of football operations and recruiting at Stanford University. I joined Stanford's football staff in 2011, following my second stint as an assistant coach at Linfield.

My job at Stanford is to help coordinate the recruiting efforts in finding future Stanford football players. It's a challenging process, largely due to the high academic standards Stanford has for its students. Stanford doesn't make exceptions for athletes, so we have to search the whole country to find the best players that are also the best students. Last year, our signing class consisted of 22 players from 16 different states.

Another part of my job is to help plan and execute our team's travel operation to away games, and to our bowl game. A lot of behind-the-scenes work is done to manage the logistics of transporting, lodging and feeding 150 or so people.

Tell us about yourself.
I grew up in Tualatin, Oregon, for most of my life. After graduating from Tualatin High School, I attended community college for two years before transferring to Linfield in 2002.

I chose Linfield for its academic reputation and football tradition. My goal was to get my degree, play a little football, and then start my own business after graduation. I never played football in high school, but I asked then-head coach Jay Locey if I could walk on. Unfortunately, I suffered an injury before the season even started, but Coach Locey had me stick around and help out. I became an assistant coach the next season, and I've been working in football ever since.

While at Linfield I met my future wife, Monica Nelson '07, on a study abroad class to Spain. We've been together now for eight years. We were married on July 10, 2010, in front of Melrose Hall with many Linfield alumni in attendance. We currently live in Menlo Park, Calif., with our dog, Angel.

How did Linfield help prepare you for your career?
I was about 10 years old when I had my first experience with Linfield football. My best friend's older brother played for Linfield in the early 90's. Ten years later I decided I was going to try out for the team. Unfortunately, due to an injury, I never had the chance to play. However, that same injury opened the doors to my coaching career. Since then, I've had the opportunity to work in Division III, Division I and the NFL.

Almost everything I know about football I learned from the coaches at Linfield. They are some of the best and brightest in the country. They've been my mentors all along the way. I wouldn't be where I am today without them.

I've experienced a lot of success in my career, including three division titles, six conference championships, a trip to the Super Bowl, a Rose Bowl victory and a national championship. None of that would have been possible if not for the experiences I had at Linfield. I am forever grateful and proud to be a Wildcat!