Baseball
Forrest, Ryan
Ryan Forrest
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Phone:
- 719-333-0835
Ryan Forrest enters his sixth season as pitching coach for Air Force baseball in 2023. A native of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Forrest has taken the Falcon pitching staff to new heights despite playing in one of the most difficult home settings for pitchers in all of college baseball.
The 2022 season was a cascade of accolades for the Falcons, as Air Force clinched its first Mountain West Championship following three-consecutive wins at the conference tournament in San Diego. The Falcons eventually played in their first NCAA Regional in Austin, Texas, where Air Force reached the Regional Final before falling to host Texas.
The Falcons concluded the 2022 spring with a 32-29 record, the second-most wins in program history and the most overall victories since joining the Mountain West in 2000. Air Force set a myriad of program-bests in 2022, including the most strikeouts ever by the Falcons pitching staff (455). With the help of Coach Forrest, sophomore Paul Skenes received Mountain West Co-Pitcher of the Year honors. He recorded a 7-1 mark on the mound in conference action with a league-best 2.40 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 10 starts.
Among the accolades received upon the commencement of the 2022 season, Skenes was named the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year, as well as a First Team All-American via such publications as Baseball America, D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball News, and Perfect Game. Skenes was also honored as a First Team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in addition to being named a First Team All-Region selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Skenes continued his play into the summer as a member of the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
As well, sophomore Doyle Gehring was named to the Austin Regional All-Tournament team following his lone appearance. The sophomore was outstanding, allowing just three hits over seven shutout innings in an elimination game versus Dallas Baptist. Gehring recorded seven strikeouts, while having retired 10-consecutive batters between the 3rd and 6th innings. Prior to his start in the Regionals, Gehring was vital to the Falcons triumph in the Mountain West Tournament. In the semifinal round, Gehring didn't allow a run over his 7.1 innings, as his 13 strikeouts became a season-high for any Falcons pitcher in 2022. His 13 strikeouts was the most by a Falcons pitcher since Cam White, who punched out 14 Jackrabbits against South Dakota State in 2014. Gehring is now one of only nine pitchers in program history to record at least 13 strikeouts in a single game.
In the classroom, Air Force produced 13 All-Mountain West Academic Team selections, as well as eight Mountain West Scholar Athletes.
In the Falcons first full season after the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Force returned to play great baseball, posting a 26-22 overall record, the most wins by Air Force since 1993. The Falcons 18-16 Mountain West record stands as the best conference record in program history. The Falcons knocked off two top-15 teams for the first time since 2010 (#7 LSU & #13 Arizona) while going 10-7 against teams who made the 2021 NCAA Tournament. The Falcons picked up four wins against teams that advanced to Super Regional play (LSU, Arizona, Dallas Baptist). Over the course of the year, Air Force owned winning streaks of six and eight consecutive games over MW opponents, the longest winning streaks over MW opponents in program history. Air Force finished fourth in the MW standings, tied for the highest finish in the MW in program history.
Coach Forrest's pupils, Paul Skenes and John Byrnes, earned First Team All-Conference honors. Skenes was named the MW Freshman of the Year, as well as having been named a consensus First Team All-American after being named to three lists (Collegiate Baseball News, Baseball America, NCBWA). Skenes also earned Co-Freshman of the Year honors from CBN, was named the District 8 Player of the Year by the NCBWA, and was one of 25 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award. In the MW, Air Force was ranked in the top-three in strikeouts and saves.
In an abbreviated 2020 season, which was canceled after 19 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Forrest and his pitchers still had plenty of highlights. His staff held a 5.43 ERA, the best for a Falcon pitching staff since his arrival. He had four pitchers with ERA's under 4.00 (min 10 inn.), including senior reliever Josh Leaser, who had a 1.88 in 14.1 innings, which earned him All-MW Conference honors.
2019 saw a big jump for the Falcon pitching staff, as they finished with a team ERA of 5.54, marking a two-year improvement of over two runs. AF also had a 4.83 ERA in MW Conference games, which set a new program record for ERA during a conference season.
Under his guidance, senior Jake Gilbert was named second team All-Mountain West, while freshman Nathan Price was named a Freshman All-American. Forrest converted Gilbert from the team's closer to a Friday night starter, and he posted a 2.55 ERA, the eighth-best single-season mark in program history. In the conference, Gilbert's ERA was the third-best, while his wins were fourth-most, and his strikeouts were 10th. He also led all pitchers with four pickoffs, and was one of two pitchers to not allow a home run all season. In his seven conference starts, Gilbert held an ERA of 2.89, which was the fourth-lowest in the conference. Nationally, Gilbert's 2.55 ERA ranked 74th. He was eventually signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Reds organization.
As for Price, he was just the 11th Freshman All-American in program history. The righty made a team-high 22 appearances, all in relief, and pitched to a 2.59 ERA over 62.2 innings. He totaled six wins and five saves, while also racking up 32 strikeouts to just 18 walks. In the Mountain West, Price finished with the fourth-best ERA among qualifying pitchers, while his five saves were sixth-most, and six wins were tied for fourth-most. He held opponents to a .232 batting average, which ranked sixth-best in the conference, and his 18 walks allowed were the second-fewest. Nationally, Price's ERA was ranked 68th, while his WHIP of 1.10 was 95th and his 7.32 hits allowed per nine innings was 130th. As for his numbers in a single season for a freshman, Price's ERA was the fourth-best for a rookie in program history, while his wins were tied for third-most and his saves were the second-most. This all came in the fifth-most appearances for a freshman pitcher in program history.
In his first season as AF's pitching coach in 2018, Forrest improved the team's ERA from 2017 by 1.34 points (from 7.58 to 6.24). Under his tutelage, senior starting pitcher Ryan Holloway finished with a 4.20 ERA over 60 innings, including a complete game and a save. Holloway twice earned Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week honors.
Prior to joining Kaz's staff, Forrest spent one season at Mississippi College. As the assistant coach, he assisted in leading the Choctaws to their first postseason action since 2012 and its first GSC Tournament berth since 1996.
Forrest spent the previous three seasons at NCAA Div. II powerhouse Millersville University. In his final season at Millersville, Forrest was instrumental in helping lead the Marauders to the 2016 NCAA Division II runner-up finish and a 53-7 record. MU finished the season ranked fifth nationally with a 2.99 ERA.
Forrest joined the Millersville baseball staff as a recruiting coordinator and pitching coach in 2014. During his three seasons, MU compiled a 3.04 ERA and coached three pitchers that were drafted. Brandon Miller was selected in the sixth round of the 2016 draft by the Seattle Mariners while Reid Anderson was taken in the 17th round by the Texas Rangers. Jim McDade signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Padres. Chris Murphy was taken in the 24th round by the Houston Astros.
MU was also a three-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference regular season champion, a conference tournament champion and made the NCAA Atlantic Regional three straight years, finishing runner-up in 2014 and 2015 before claiming the crown in 2016. The Black and Gold compiled a 137-34 record and 68-16 in the PSAC during his three seasons.
Prior to his time at Millersville, the former University of Maine pitcher returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach, where is he was responsible for working with infielders and outfielders, coaching first base, game and practice plans, scouting reports on upcoming opponents and was the director of camps and clinics. In 2009, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in with a minor in English from Maine.
Forrest played for Maine from 2007-09, where he saw action in 31 career games as a relief pitcher. He finished with a 3-2 record with one save. Forrest totaled 39 strikeouts in 40.2 innings of work. He started his collegiate career at Creighton University in 2006.
During the summer months of his collegiate career, Forrest pitched for the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod Baseball League and the Danbury Westerners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Before returning to the Black Bears, Forrest worked in the video and advanced scouting department for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Forrest was responsible for assisting with and prepping advanced scouting reports and video for the coaching staff and players.
Forrest compiled a 5-0 record with four saves as a senior at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colo., where he was a four-year letterwinner. He was the winning pitcher of the 5A state semifinal game.
He earned a master's degree in sport management from West Virginia University 2013.
The 2022 season was a cascade of accolades for the Falcons, as Air Force clinched its first Mountain West Championship following three-consecutive wins at the conference tournament in San Diego. The Falcons eventually played in their first NCAA Regional in Austin, Texas, where Air Force reached the Regional Final before falling to host Texas.
The Falcons concluded the 2022 spring with a 32-29 record, the second-most wins in program history and the most overall victories since joining the Mountain West in 2000. Air Force set a myriad of program-bests in 2022, including the most strikeouts ever by the Falcons pitching staff (455). With the help of Coach Forrest, sophomore Paul Skenes received Mountain West Co-Pitcher of the Year honors. He recorded a 7-1 mark on the mound in conference action with a league-best 2.40 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 10 starts.
Among the accolades received upon the commencement of the 2022 season, Skenes was named the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year, as well as a First Team All-American via such publications as Baseball America, D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball News, and Perfect Game. Skenes was also honored as a First Team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in addition to being named a First Team All-Region selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Skenes continued his play into the summer as a member of the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
As well, sophomore Doyle Gehring was named to the Austin Regional All-Tournament team following his lone appearance. The sophomore was outstanding, allowing just three hits over seven shutout innings in an elimination game versus Dallas Baptist. Gehring recorded seven strikeouts, while having retired 10-consecutive batters between the 3rd and 6th innings. Prior to his start in the Regionals, Gehring was vital to the Falcons triumph in the Mountain West Tournament. In the semifinal round, Gehring didn't allow a run over his 7.1 innings, as his 13 strikeouts became a season-high for any Falcons pitcher in 2022. His 13 strikeouts was the most by a Falcons pitcher since Cam White, who punched out 14 Jackrabbits against South Dakota State in 2014. Gehring is now one of only nine pitchers in program history to record at least 13 strikeouts in a single game.
In the classroom, Air Force produced 13 All-Mountain West Academic Team selections, as well as eight Mountain West Scholar Athletes.
In the Falcons first full season after the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Force returned to play great baseball, posting a 26-22 overall record, the most wins by Air Force since 1993. The Falcons 18-16 Mountain West record stands as the best conference record in program history. The Falcons knocked off two top-15 teams for the first time since 2010 (#7 LSU & #13 Arizona) while going 10-7 against teams who made the 2021 NCAA Tournament. The Falcons picked up four wins against teams that advanced to Super Regional play (LSU, Arizona, Dallas Baptist). Over the course of the year, Air Force owned winning streaks of six and eight consecutive games over MW opponents, the longest winning streaks over MW opponents in program history. Air Force finished fourth in the MW standings, tied for the highest finish in the MW in program history.
Coach Forrest's pupils, Paul Skenes and John Byrnes, earned First Team All-Conference honors. Skenes was named the MW Freshman of the Year, as well as having been named a consensus First Team All-American after being named to three lists (Collegiate Baseball News, Baseball America, NCBWA). Skenes also earned Co-Freshman of the Year honors from CBN, was named the District 8 Player of the Year by the NCBWA, and was one of 25 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award. In the MW, Air Force was ranked in the top-three in strikeouts and saves.
In an abbreviated 2020 season, which was canceled after 19 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Forrest and his pitchers still had plenty of highlights. His staff held a 5.43 ERA, the best for a Falcon pitching staff since his arrival. He had four pitchers with ERA's under 4.00 (min 10 inn.), including senior reliever Josh Leaser, who had a 1.88 in 14.1 innings, which earned him All-MW Conference honors.
2019 saw a big jump for the Falcon pitching staff, as they finished with a team ERA of 5.54, marking a two-year improvement of over two runs. AF also had a 4.83 ERA in MW Conference games, which set a new program record for ERA during a conference season.
Under his guidance, senior Jake Gilbert was named second team All-Mountain West, while freshman Nathan Price was named a Freshman All-American. Forrest converted Gilbert from the team's closer to a Friday night starter, and he posted a 2.55 ERA, the eighth-best single-season mark in program history. In the conference, Gilbert's ERA was the third-best, while his wins were fourth-most, and his strikeouts were 10th. He also led all pitchers with four pickoffs, and was one of two pitchers to not allow a home run all season. In his seven conference starts, Gilbert held an ERA of 2.89, which was the fourth-lowest in the conference. Nationally, Gilbert's 2.55 ERA ranked 74th. He was eventually signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Reds organization.
As for Price, he was just the 11th Freshman All-American in program history. The righty made a team-high 22 appearances, all in relief, and pitched to a 2.59 ERA over 62.2 innings. He totaled six wins and five saves, while also racking up 32 strikeouts to just 18 walks. In the Mountain West, Price finished with the fourth-best ERA among qualifying pitchers, while his five saves were sixth-most, and six wins were tied for fourth-most. He held opponents to a .232 batting average, which ranked sixth-best in the conference, and his 18 walks allowed were the second-fewest. Nationally, Price's ERA was ranked 68th, while his WHIP of 1.10 was 95th and his 7.32 hits allowed per nine innings was 130th. As for his numbers in a single season for a freshman, Price's ERA was the fourth-best for a rookie in program history, while his wins were tied for third-most and his saves were the second-most. This all came in the fifth-most appearances for a freshman pitcher in program history.
In his first season as AF's pitching coach in 2018, Forrest improved the team's ERA from 2017 by 1.34 points (from 7.58 to 6.24). Under his tutelage, senior starting pitcher Ryan Holloway finished with a 4.20 ERA over 60 innings, including a complete game and a save. Holloway twice earned Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week honors.
Prior to joining Kaz's staff, Forrest spent one season at Mississippi College. As the assistant coach, he assisted in leading the Choctaws to their first postseason action since 2012 and its first GSC Tournament berth since 1996.
Forrest spent the previous three seasons at NCAA Div. II powerhouse Millersville University. In his final season at Millersville, Forrest was instrumental in helping lead the Marauders to the 2016 NCAA Division II runner-up finish and a 53-7 record. MU finished the season ranked fifth nationally with a 2.99 ERA.
Forrest joined the Millersville baseball staff as a recruiting coordinator and pitching coach in 2014. During his three seasons, MU compiled a 3.04 ERA and coached three pitchers that were drafted. Brandon Miller was selected in the sixth round of the 2016 draft by the Seattle Mariners while Reid Anderson was taken in the 17th round by the Texas Rangers. Jim McDade signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Padres. Chris Murphy was taken in the 24th round by the Houston Astros.
MU was also a three-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference regular season champion, a conference tournament champion and made the NCAA Atlantic Regional three straight years, finishing runner-up in 2014 and 2015 before claiming the crown in 2016. The Black and Gold compiled a 137-34 record and 68-16 in the PSAC during his three seasons.
Prior to his time at Millersville, the former University of Maine pitcher returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach, where is he was responsible for working with infielders and outfielders, coaching first base, game and practice plans, scouting reports on upcoming opponents and was the director of camps and clinics. In 2009, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in with a minor in English from Maine.
Forrest played for Maine from 2007-09, where he saw action in 31 career games as a relief pitcher. He finished with a 3-2 record with one save. Forrest totaled 39 strikeouts in 40.2 innings of work. He started his collegiate career at Creighton University in 2006.
During the summer months of his collegiate career, Forrest pitched for the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod Baseball League and the Danbury Westerners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Before returning to the Black Bears, Forrest worked in the video and advanced scouting department for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Forrest was responsible for assisting with and prepping advanced scouting reports and video for the coaching staff and players.
Forrest compiled a 5-0 record with four saves as a senior at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colo., where he was a four-year letterwinner. He was the winning pitcher of the 5A state semifinal game.
He earned a master's degree in sport management from West Virginia University 2013.
Falcons win on senior day over New Mexico
Sunday, May 11
Lobos top Falcons to even series
Saturday, May 10
Falcons big 8th inning leads to win over Lobos
Friday, May 09
Falcons fall in series finale to Nevada
Sunday, April 27
