Bio

A FSU graduate, Ryan Hodges coaches the strong safeties for the Bulldogs under head coach Tony Annese and serves as the defensive coordinator.

In the 2015 campaign, he helped the Bulldogs to a second-straight GLIAC Championship and unbeaten regular season. FSU posted its first NCAA Playoff victory in 19 years and ran its regular-season winning streak to 25 consecutive games.

The Bulldogs reached even greater heights in 2016 as Ferris State advanced to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals for only the second time in school history. During the memorable postseason run, FSU captured the Super Region Four Championship by beating archrival Grand Valley State on the road in the regional final. The Bulldogs also broke the school record for most consecutive regular-season victories by stretching the mark to 28 in a row early in the year. Ferris State followed up the memorable campaign by reaching the D2 Playoffs for the fourth year in a row in 2017, finishing with an 11-2 record while making its second-straight national quarterfinal showing.

Then, in 2018, the Bulldogs notched the most historic season in school history, reaching the NCAA Division II National Championship game for the first time in school history. FSU matched the all-time NCAA wins record, posting a 15-1 overall mark and also claimed both the GLIAC and Super Region Three Championships during the memorable campaign. The Bulldogs followed it up in 2019 by again reaching the national semifinals and claiming both the GLIAC and Super Region Championships.

He previously worked under Annese for three years as the defensive backs coach at Grand Rapids Community College and helped the Raiders to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Championship in both 2009 and 2011. 

Prior to GRCC, he also was part of Annese's staff that won three state titles as a prep assistant at Muskegon HS.  He gained experience in professional football as the defensive coordinator for the Muskegon Thunder in 2008 and recorded a 22-5 mark as the head junior varsity coach for Muskegon High.  While at Muskegon, he was also the school's head softball and powerlifting coach. 

Hodges played collegiately at Ferris State and was a four-year letterwinner who claimed All-GLIAC accolades in 2000.  Overall, he played in 40 games as a Bulldog defensive back and totaled 213 tackles along with six interceptions and 28 passes defended. 

He first played prep football under Annese at Montrose High School and broke into coaching as a student assistant at FSU in 2002.  Hodges has served as a teacher or professor at both Muskegon and GRCC.