GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – As the Davenport baseball team closes out this year's feature week, we sat down with assistant coach Ryan McCosky and asked him some questions to get to know him. McCosky is completing his second season with the baseball program. He and the Panthers will look to lock up a berth to the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament Saturday against Indiana Tech.
 
Name: Ryan McCosky      
Birthplace: Detroit, Mich.
Hometown: Dorr, Mich.
High School, Year: Hopkins High School, 2003  
College, Year:
Kalamazoo Valley CC, 2003-05.
Concordia University Ann Arbor, Physical Education, 2009; Masters Educational Leadership, 2011
 
What positions did you play in baseball? What was your favorite part about it?
I played outfield in college and loved competing. I have been around the college game as a player and coach for 10 years and still learn something about the game every day.  I have been fortunate to have met a lot of great people. My best friends are people I have met in this business. 
 
Do you play any other sports as a recreation?
I enjoy hockey and golf and fishing/hunting trips.
 
Do you have any lifelong goals?
My lifelong goals are to continue coaching at the collegiate level and to stay in the business of baseball while providing for my wife Kristen and starting our family. I love all aspects of the collegiate game and would love to have my own collegiate baseball program in the state of Michigan.
 
Who is your childhood baseball hero and why?
Barney McCosky- former Big Leaguer and Detroiter. A .312 lifetime hitter in 12 seasons who has won one World Series with Tigers. He was traded by Tigers for George Kell. He also served our country during the war.   
 
Baseball can be such a superstitious sport. Do you have any?
No but winning is contagious and solves a lot of problems.
 
From your experience as a student-athlete, what were the challenges did you have, either in the classroom, on the field, or both? And how did you overcome it?
I didn't have too many struggles in the classroom and I enjoyed my education a lot. I will say that being a student-athlete taught me to budget my time. My challenge on the field was being undersized. I battled that the only way I knew how which was to outwork my competition.      
 
What is the best advice for a high school athlete looking to play in college in any sport:
Don't be afraid to reach out to college programs and coaches we all have our email address accessible. I would also work hard academically so that you can get as many scholarship dollars as possible. 
 
Favorites
Color: Blue
Food: My mom's Chicken Devon
Restaurant: Eribelli's Pizza in Kalamazoo
Vacation Spot: Cabo
Book or Movie: Bull Durham
Hobby: Music and Concerts
TV Show: Game Of Thrones
Sports Team(s): DEEETROIT!