Mac Ryan ’13

Temple University, less than one mile from 17th & Girard, has always had connections with the Prep. A new connection is being cultivated now, specifically within the Temple Men’s Basketball program. The past two seasons the coaching staff had four members with ties to the Prep: Head Coach Aaron McKie P ’25, Assistant Coach Chris Clark ’04, Video Coordinator Mark Hueber ’13, and Graduate Assistant Mac Ryan ’13. The team also included alumnus Anto Keshgegian ’16 as a student-athlete in 2019-2020.

Mac Ryan had left Temple’s program this past summer to take an assistant coaching position at Widener University, when an opportunity to return to North Broad Street came knocking. In August 2021, Hueber accepted a position as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Lafayette College, creating an opening on the Temple staff. Coach McKie did not have to look far to find Hueber’s replacement, staying within the Prep/Temple network by tapping Ryan for the job. “It was a no-brainer to come back to Temple,” Ryan says. “The guys on staff Chris [Clark], Mark [Macon]; so much of the staff went to Temple. Now being an alum myself, I wanted to be a part of that. It is very similar to the Prep, in that the alums want to be invested in the school. It is a dream to work with this staff.” 

Ryan credits much of his development and his position now as a coach to his Prep connections on staff, particularly Hueber. “Mark did a ton for me throughout the years; teaching me and helping me along in my development as a coach,” he says. 

There has always been camaraderie between Prep alums, regardless of their class year. This created a great environment for Ryan to learn from his coaching peers. “There was always a silent understanding between the Prep guys, knowing the work ethic that the Prep demands,” he says. “Somebody who you know graduated from the Prep, you automatically have an underlying respect for them and their work ethic. I feel myself, Mark [Hueber] and Chris [Clark] all have that for each other.” 

Temple University has the fifth most wins among Division I basketball schools. This storied program is proving to be a factory for young coaches from 17th & Girard looking to develop their skills and launch their careers, carrying their Jesuit ideals and work ethic wherever they go.