West Virginia Native Ryan Switzer Named Tulsa’s WR Coach

A version of this article originally appeared on our partner Pittsburgh Steelers focused website, SteelersNow.com.

West Virginia native and former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and returner Ryan Switzer is reportedly joining the University of Tulsa’s staff as a wide receivers coach.

After growing up in Charleston, West Virginia, Switzer played collegiately at the University of North Carolina and wound up with the Steelers after being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Switzer played 25 games for Pittsburgh from 2018-19, bringing back 38 punts for 281 yards. As a wideout, he worked mostly out of the slot and later joined the Cleveland Browns, but didn’t see as much playing time there as he did in black and gold.

He retired from professional football last July, announcing earlier that month that he had surgery on his ankle. He was placed on injured reserve in each of his final two seasons with the Browns.

After retiring, he helped out at WVU’s training camp prior to the start of the 2022 college football season. There was some speculation among the fanbase that he should be considered as a candidate for WVU’s previously opened WR coaching position.

Switzer fueled that fire, when he tweeted “ready for it” in response to a fan suggesting he get the role. Ultimately WVU hired former graduate assistant Bilal Marshall and it is unknown if Switzer was ever a legitimate candidate for the opening.

Tulsa’s first-year head coach, Kevin Wilson, spent the last six seasons as the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Ohio State, where he worked alongside talented recruiter Brian Hartline.

Wilson sees some of the same capabilities in Ryan Switzer as he did Hartline, who wooed several high-end receivers and recently took over as the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator.

It will be interesting to see if Switzer uses the job with the American Athletic Conference team to climb up the coaching ranks. Tulsa went 5-7 last go-round and missed out on a bowl game.

Switzer may be working with a bit of a young group as both of the team’s leading wideouts — Keylon Stokes and JuanCarlos Santana — were seniors.