Ryan S.

Estrellita C (Collegiate Runner) (Testimonial)

I highly recommend Coach Ryan Slaymaker to anyone getting into or returning to running. He brings a great balance of professionalism, knowledge, and genuine motivation. He takes the time to make sure you're doing each movement properly and helps you build confidence and consistency. He's supportive, attentive, and truly invested in helping his runners improve.

Shelby D. (Collegiate Assistant Coach) (Testimonial)

I've had the opportunity to work alongside Coach Slaymaker and it gave me and even greater appreciation for the kind of coach and mentor he is. He genuinely cares about each athlete as a person, not just their performance, and takes the time to build meaningful relationships with everyone he works with. He creates an environment where people feel supported, encouraged, and challenged to become the best versions of themselves, both on and off the course. His patience, knowledge, and leadership are evident in everything he does, and I learned so much from working alongside him. I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunity and time with him, and I would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for a coach who is invested in both your athletic goals and your personal growth.

Marissa B (Collegiate Runner) (Testimonial)

Coach Slaymaker is someone who is not only dedicated to his work but also dedicated to his athletes. Not only did I learn and grow as an athlete but I also learned and grew as a person. He looks out for his people on and off the track. Coach Slaymaker listens and cares for his athletes and is hands down one of the best coaches I have ever had!!

Malachi B. (Collegiate Runner) (Testimonial)

Hi, I’m Malachi and I was part of the first group of runners Ryan coached at Wallace! Training under Coach Slaymaker was a physical and mind-altering experience that developed my confidence in my running and body. He honed my ability to perform by individually challenging me based on previous personal bests. He takes coaching to a whole level; he puts his heart into his coaching style. He nurtured me and kept me motivated even when I lost hope. He pushed me to achieve physical peaks that I never thought possible. I truly believe that Ryan Slaymaker is the best coach I’ve had in my entire life!

Kenon D. (Collegiate Runner) (Testimonial)

First of all, Coach Slaymaker gave me the opportunity when you recruited me from High School and I only ran a 2:12 800m and transferred me into a legit collegiate level athlete which is still crazy to me, I’m also still getting better. Not only are you a great coach but also a great mentor on and off track and xc, you’re not afraid to be vulnerable and talk about real life situations which that alone is super strong and something that separates you from the average coach and it also helps you get a better understanding for your athletes. You tailor all the workouts depending on the athlete. Whether an athlete is feeling some type of way physically or mentally you’ll always find a good exercise to help with that. Also a great leader and very courageous coming into Dothan Alabama, a place you’re not familiar with and coaching a first year program while also dealing with the reality of life as well, it takes mental toughness to do that. All in all great human being, great coach, and my favorite coach I’ve had.

Liz L. (Collegiate Runner) (Testimonial)

Coach Slaymaker was the most supportive and caring coach I have ever had. He constantly pushed me to reach my goals while supporting me through every challenge, always making himself available whenever I needed him. He helped me become a more passionate runner and discover my love for cross country through his guidance, dedication, and belief in me. He was constantly trying to discover who we were, and how he could be who we needed! He helped all of us find ourselves in so many different ways. I truly don’t think I would be where I am today without him, and I will always be grateful for the impact he had on both me and our entire team.

Teagan S (Collegiate Runner and College Record Holder) (Testimonial)

Coach Slaymaker has been a great influence in my life during my time running cross-country, and even after! He always encouraged the team to work hard, believe in ourselves, and keep going even when things got difficult. He cared about his athletes beyond running and always made sure we felt supported and valued as a team, while making sure we truly enjoyed our time together. I am grateful for the time I spent learning from him, and I know he will continue to make a positive impact on everyone he coaches.

Maria E. (Testimonial)

Coach Slaymaker is an exceptional coach who truly made an impact on my running and my life. He helped me fall in love with running and made every practice a chance to grow, not only as an athlete but as a person. His workouts were challenging but purposeful, and they helped me become faster and build my endurance. His encouragement and unwavering belief in his runners pushed me to become stronger and more disciplined. He is someone who genuinely cares about every athlete and creates an environment where everyone feels supported and motivated to do their best. I am incredibly grateful for everything he taught me, and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a coach who inspires, challenges, and leaves a lasting positive impact!

Martinez-Alvarez Family (Testimonial)

Our family has had the privilege of knowing Coach Slaymaker for the past six years, and he has been an incredible role model for our three children. His dedication, leadership, and passion for helping young athletes succeed go far beyond coaching. Coach Slaymaker consistently encourages each athlete to give their very best, both on and off the track. He creates an environment where every child feels supported, valued, and capable of reaching their full potential. What stands out most is his commitment to making sure every athlete has an opportunity to grow, participate, and thrive. We are deeply grateful for the positive impact he has had on our children and so many others. His mentorship, encouragement, and genuine care have helped shape not only better athletes but also stronger, more confident individuals. Thank you, Coach Slaymaker, for all that you do.

Nunez Lopez Family (Testimonial)

Dear Mr. Slaymaker, All three of my children have trained and run cross country with you over the years, and the impact has been wonderful. Not only has their physical fitness improved, but so has their endurance and discipline. I appreciate how careful you are with the athletes, ensuring they do not overexert themselves and monitoring them closely as they run. Your attention to detail—from providing equipment to roll out cramps to adjusting practice times based on the temperature—shows how much you care about their well-being. Thank you for everything you do.

Familia Noriega (Noriega Family) (Testimonial)

Ms,Slaymaker es un entrenador ecepcional con tan buenos valores ,mis 2 hijas entrenan con el ise sientes tan felises seguras i baloradas,iyo como madre me siento feliz keel sea su entrenador,, atentamente,FAMILIA GOMEZ NORIEGA Mr. Slaymaker is an exceptional coach with such great values. My 2 daughters train with him and feel so happy, safe, and valued. And I, as a mother, feel happy that he is their coach.

Gudino Rivera Family (Testimonial)

Coach Slaymaker is an exceptional mentor who truly cares about the development of every runner. He has coached both my son and daughter, and they love training with him. He creates a positive environment where runners of all skill levels feel valued and motivated to improve. I highly recommend him!

Daniel M. (Testimonial)

Coach Slaymaker was my coach for different sports during middle school. He is an outstanding leader. He demonstrated dedication, professionalism, and genuine commitment to my development. With him I learned the importance of teamwork, discipline, resilience, and confidence. He took the time to support each athlete ensuring everyone had the opportunity to succeed. I highly recommend coach Slaymaker

Munoz parents (Testimonial)

Ryan Slaymaker was my son’s coach for football, soccer, and basketball during his middle school years. His coaching skills helped my son tremendously, especially as he moved to high school. His positive attitude and encouragement made a lasting impact on my sons athletic performance. We are truly grateful for this experience.

Leo V. (Collegiate Runner) (Testimonial)

Hello. I’m Leopoldo Vazquez a former cross country athlete from Cerro Coso Community College. Coach Ryan Slaymaker is truly an amazing coach. He was there for me not just as a coach, but as someone who genuinely cares about people rather than just seeing it as a job. He took the time to teach me warm-ups and exercises that I previously felt uncomfortable with, ensuring I felt confident in my movements. Ryan made me feel completely supported and turned the overall team environment into a fun, positive experience.

Genevieve V. (Collegiate Runner) (Testimonial)

I had Coach Slaymaker for two seasons at Cerro Coso Community College. During those seasons, I grew tremendously as a student-athlete, both on the course and in the classroom. Under Coach SlayMaker’s guidance, I was able to shave minutes off my 5K time while also developing stronger discipline, resilience, and time-management skills. He fostered an environment that emphasized hard work, accountability, and personal growth, pushing me to reach goals I hadn’t thought possible. His coaching had a lasting impact on my confidence as a runner and my approach to academics.

Andrew Q (Collegiate Runner) (Testimonial)

Coach Slaymaker was an excellent coach who pushed me as a runner to work harder. During the season he helped me get faster and overall become a better runner, and he helped me love cross county again.

Kathleen F. (Collegiate Runner) (Testimonial)

Coach Ryan was one of the best coaches I had in my 6 years of running. Even when we were having a bad day he was always so understanding. During my time running under coach Ryan, he was the most supportive person in my life. He always encouraged us to do our best and I will always cherish his advice.