Ryne Lightfoot returns for this second season with the Catamount men's basketball staff in 2023-24 as an assistant coach after coming to Cullowhee in June 2022. His addition to the coaching staff helped WCU accomplish numerous feats the program had not reached in years, most notably recording a Top Four Southern Conference regular-season finish and appearance in the semifinal round of the conference tournament, and post-season experience with the participation in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).
As part of the staff in the 2022-23 season, Lightfoot helped charge the success of program to its first Top Four finish in the Southern Conference since 2014.
“We are extremely blessed to have Coach (Ryne) Lightfoot return for his second season with the Catamounts. He made a significant impact on our program last year as our defensive coordinator, and he led our efforts with our player development program that resulted in success of all of our players,” said WCU head coach Justin Gray. “He’s a future Division I head men’s basketball coach and assists me in every facet of the program. Most importantly, Ryne and his wife Justine have made a huge impact on our players and the entire community.”
Lightfoot’s main responsibilities include running, implementing, and developing the Catamount defensive system, which improved from last place in the league in 2021-22 to finishing third overall in 2022-23. He also works directly with scouting and recruiting. His leadership in skill development helped three Catamounts – guards Vonteriuous Woolbright and Tre Jackson, as well as post Tyzhaun Claude – each earn postseason All-Southern Conference accolades following the 2022-23 season.
Lightfoot additionally stepped into the acting head coaching role in Gray’s absence in his first season on staff, assuming the role the day before WCU’s road game at Tennessee Tech. Shifting into the head coach's seat, Lightfood called the shots in guiding the Catamounts to a 75-65 road victory in Cookeville, Tenn.
“I’m extremely blessed to be a part of Coach Gray’s coaching staff and to work with rest of the staff here at Western Carolina,” said Lightfoot. “To be a part of the culture and family that we are building is extremely humbling and a blessing to both me and my family. I’m looking forward to working with our student-athletes to help maximize their potential and help accomplish the team’s goals for years to come.”
Prior to coming to Cullowhee, Lightfoot spent the previous two seasons as the Director of Player Development at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz. During his time with the Lopes, Lightfoot helped lead the squad to a combined 40 wins, the 2020-21 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) regular-season and tournament championships, and to the university’s first-ever appearance in the postseason with a berth in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Before his time at Grand Canyon, Lightfoot spent the previous eight seasons on the coaching staff at his alma mater, Bethel University in Mishawaka, Ind. In his first six seasons, Lightfoot was an assistant coach under his father, Mike Lightfoot. Then in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, the younger Lightfoot took over as the head coach, posting a record of 43-21 in those two seasons. His squad finished his final season ranked 20th in the NAIA poll and was advanced as high as No. 6 in the country in 2018. Throughout his coaching tenure at Bethel, the Pilots went 171-65 with three Crossroads League titles and a pair of appearances in the quarterfinal round of the NAIA national tournament.
Lightfoot played for the Pilots for four seasons, recording 2,075 points and 702 assists to rank 10th and fifth, respectively, all-time in the program record books. He added over 500 career rebounds. He was one of three players at the time with over 2,000 points, 700 assists, and 500 rebounds at the NAIA level, joining NBA Hall of Famer, Scottie Pippen and former Bethel guard Rico Swanson. Lightfoot was a five-time All-American and was awarded the 2010 NCCAA Pete Maravich Award, presented to the men's basketball student-athlete recognized for excellence in competition, skill, academics, and Christian service during his career. He was also a member of Bethel University’s 2018 Athletics Hall of Fame class.
Lightfoot graduated from Northwood High as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,673 points and is a member of the Elkhart County Sports Hall of Fame.
Ryne is originally from Wakarusa, Ind., and was married to his wife Justine in 2010.
