Coaching Staff
Tom Ryan enters his twelfth season as head men's basketball coach at Eckerd College. He is only the second man in EC history to stand on the sidelines of the McArthur Center hardwood and guide the Tritons, taking them to new heights on a yearly basis.
The 2007 edition of the Tritons set many records and went nearly as far into the NCAA postseason as any team in Eckerd College history. That year's squad finished 27-6 overall and 12-4 in conference competition. The Tritons were featured on national television twice, the second time laying claim to the 2007 Sunshine State Conference Tournament Championship as they defeated Rollins College in the Finals. That would be one of three times EC would hand Rollins a loss that year. Eckerd advanced all the way to the South Region Final for a chance to advance to the Elite Eight in Division II but their opponent, the University of Montevallo, hit a half court shot as time expired to end a magical season for the Teal and Navy.
Although the 2006 Tritons did not advance to the postseason, many believe the 21-10 team was one win shy of a regional berth. In 2005 Eckerd made a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament which was the team's fourth appearance in the national tournament in five years.
In 2005 his Tritons made it to the round of 32, fighting off Florida Gulf Coast in the first round 81-79, and falling to regional host Montevallo 65-62.
During his time as head coach Ryan has set a new standard for winning by breaking some of Eckerd’s most prestigious records. In 2002-2003 Ryan led the Tritons to Eckerd’s first South Region Championship and Elite Eight appearance. Along the way the Tritons set a new school record for wins in a season with 25, breaking the old record of 22. Ryan was awarded SSC Coach-of-the-Year honors for his work during the 1997-1998 season. Eckerd finished third in the conference, a five place improvement over the previous year. Ryan won the award again in 2000-2001 as Eckerd finished the regular season ranked first in the south region polls. He was also named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coach of the Year, and the NABC-Chevrolet South District Coach of the Year.
As an assistant to legendary Eckerd coach Jim Harley from 1987 to 1996, Ryan helped assemble the squads that won Eckerd's first tournament championship in 1994 and Eckerd's only regular season championship in 1995. Ryan has been to the NCAA Tournament six times - twice as an assistant and four times as a head coach. Ryan was also an assistant when All-Americans Dwayne Perry and Kerwin Thompson wore the Eckerd colors.
As a head coach, Ryan has had one All-American, Bryan Galuski, as well as two Academic All-Americans. Ryan played at Eckerd as a point guard under Harley from 1983-87. During his four years he helped Eckerd win 66 games, including back-to-back 18-win seasons.
Entering his 20th year of service to the college, Ryan has acted as Facilities Director (1987 to 2000), Assistant Athletic Director (1989 to 2004), Associate Athletic Director (2004 to present) and Compliance Officer (1993 to present). He completed work on his Master of Arts in Education from Nova Southeastern University in 1994.
A native of Ft. Lauderdale, Ryan earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from Eckerd in 1987. Ryan (41) resides in St. Petersburg with his wife, Kristy (Eckerd class of 1991) and their three children, Thomas Joseph IV (11), Delaney Shaye (10), Colton Michael (7) and their newest addition, Emory, who joined the Ryan family in March.
 Kendrick Wilson
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach (3rd Season)
(727) 864-7877
wilsonk@eckerd.edu
Just a few years removed from a successful playing career at Eckerd, Kendrick Wilson joins Tom Ryan's staff as an assistant coach. The Orlando native led the Tritons to their first South Region Championship in 2003, and was named South Region Tournament MVP.
Wilson's name is all over the Eckerd record books. He has the second-best single-season steals total in Eckerd history with 77 steals as a senior in 2003, and is fourth on the career steals list with 169. Wilson ranks third all time in free throw percentage, shooting .831 (152-of-183) for his career, which places fifth all time in the Sunshine State Conference. He also places sixth at Eckerd in career assists with 325.
Wilson graduated with honors from Eckerd in 2003 and holds a degree in business management. He and his wife Monica (Eckerd class of 2003) reside in St. Petersburg with their son, K.J.
 Floyd Watkins
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
7th Season (Eckerd '95)
Floyd Watkins has been an assistant on Tom Ryan's staff since the 2001-02 season. The 1995 graduate of Eckerd enjoyed a successful career with the Tritons, serving as captain of the 1994 and 1995 NCAA Tournament teams. He also sank the game-winning three-point shot in overtime against conference rival Florida Southern to give Coach Jim Harley his 500th career win.
Prior to his return to Eckerd, Watkins served as an assistant to his high school coach, Bob Carroll, at Bradenton Southeast High School from 1996-2000, helping his alma mater to 97 wins during that time.
Watkins earned his bachelor's degree in psychology at Eckerd and currently supervises Carlton Manor, a home for troubled young men. He resides in Tampa with his wife Kinya and their newborn daughter, Jordan.
 Jeremy Schiller
Assistant Coach (2nd Season)
(727) 864-7877
Joining the Tritons in 2006 is Assistant Coach Jeremy Schiller. Schiller, a native of the Tampa Bay area, has in-depth knowledge of basketball in Central Florida due to his extensive experience in the local high school basketball scene.
Despite graduating from rival Florida Southern College in 2003, Schiller began his college career at Eckerd in 2000. After graduating from Brandon High School in 1999 he was named a varsity assistant coach as well as the head junior varsity coach at his alma mater. Brandon was where he coached the first undefeated boys JV basketball team in Hillsborough County history. This was also a period where he helped send 14 players from Brandon on to play college basketball.
After Brandon, Schiller transitioned to the University of South Florida where he spent one season as a Student/Graduate Assistant with the Bulls’ Men’s Basketball program.
After moving to Pinellas County Schiller saw his most success as a high school coach when he was named head varsity coach at Osceola High School. During the 2005-06 season his team produced the most wins in the previous ten years of the program and had a team GPA of 3.0 during basketball season. He was selected to coach in the Pinellas County All Star game as well as being selected to coach Pinellas County in the Pinellas versus Hillsborough County all star game.
After earning his Master’s Degree in Physical Education from the University of South Florida in 2006, Schiller moved to his current residence in South St. Petersburg and is a business teacher at Osceola High School in Seminole, Florida.
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