Ryan McDonough Obituary Des Moines Lowa, Mountaineer Football Coach Has Passed Away

Ryan McDonough Obituary, Death Cause – Mountaineer Athletics is heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Ryan McDonough, who formerly served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks’ coach. In 2015, McDonough was a key contributor to Western breaking many offensive marks, both for the team and for individuals. The Mountaineers finished the season with the 15th best total offense in all of Division II as a team.

McDonough was instrumental in ensuring that running back Austin Ekeler had a successful career, as evidenced by the fact that he was named to the All-American team six times and led all NCAA Divisions in rushing yards during the first eight weeks of the 2016 season. He was one of the top three candidates for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is awarded annually to the football player who excels the most in the NCAA Division II. In 2016, Ekeler finished fifth in the country in running yards with 1,495 and led the nation in yards per game gained on the ground with 149.5.

After his career was over, Ekeler ended with 5,857 total yards and an average of 146.4 yards per game.  In 2016, the offensive unit was directed by McDonough, and they were 19th in the nation in running yards per game with 226.6, and they finished with 424.5 yards of total offense. McDonough was a key figure in Western State breaking many team and individual records in 2015, while also contributing to the team’s total offense ranking as the 15th best in Division II.

Throughout the course of the 2014 season, the offense was able to consistently set new marks, including tying for the most rushing yards in the league (194.7). In addition, while McDonough was playing for Western State in Gunnison, Colorado, his offensive unit broke a number of passing records for the school. McDonough was instrumental in helping Brett Arrivey set two records at Western State Colorado University in 2013.

First, they tied the record for completions with 30 against Western New Mexico in 2013, and then they broke the record by ten with 40 completions against Black Hills State in 2013. Through McDonough’s coaching, quarterback Arrivey has become the all-time leader at Western in the following career passing categories: passing completions, passing attempts, passing yards, and passing touchdowns.

Before joining Western, McDonough spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons at Chadron State working with the wide receivers and the special teams. In 2010, he assisted the RMAC Special Teams player of the Year, All-American Kevin Berg, as well as All-RMAC kicker Michael Ziola, in their coaching endeavors. In 2009, he was a member of the coaching staff that coached Brandon Harrington, a wide receiver who was selected to the first team All-RMAC.

Following the end of the 2016 campaign at Western, McDonough accepted a position as head coach at West Texas A&M University for the next two years (2017 and 2018) before deciding to retire from the coaching profession. McDonough started all three of his seasons at quarterback for Simpson College, a Division III school located in Indianola, Iowa. After suffering an injury that prevented him from playing his senior year of high school football, he entered the coaching ranks in 2007 with the Storm as a student assistant coach for the defensive backs. In 2008, he worked at Simpson College as the coach of the wide receivers there.

Ryan McDonough Obituary, Death Cause – Mountaineer Athletics is heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Ryan McDonough, who formerly served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks’ coach. In 2015, McDonough was a key contributor to Western breaking many offensive marks, both for the team and for individuals. The Mountaineers finished the season with…