WVSSAC Staff

WAYNE RYAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Wayne Ryan was named the Executive Director in May of 2025 and assumed the role on July 1, 2025, following nearly a decade of work on the WVSSAC staff.

Ryan served as Associate Executive Director of the WVSSAC and previously held the role of Assistant Director from 2016 to 2023. In these positions, he has overseen multiple sports—football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, and track—and played a key role in structural improvements to sport administration and tournament processes. His responsibilities have also included sanctioning, ticketing, academic scholarships, awards, hotels, and school reimbursements.

Throughout his career, Ryan has served in various leadership capacities, including president of the West Virginia Athletic Directors Association and member of the WVSSAC Board of Directors. He also contributed to the WVSSAC Basketball Coaches Advisory Committee, Basketball Restructuring Committee, and Technology Committee, and he served on the NFHS Officials Advisory Committee.

A 1982 graduate of Hinton High School, Ryan was a standout multi-sport athlete and is a member of the Bobcat Hall of Fame. He played collegiate baseball at Alderson Broaddus, where he received the Phi Epsilon Outstanding Student Award in 1986. He later earned a master’s degree in communications from West Virginia University and a professional administration certification in educational leadership from Salem International University. He is also a Certified Athletic Administrator through the NIAAA.

Ryan spent 30 years in the Summers County school system as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and assistant principal. As head coach of the Summers County girls’ basketball program, he led the team to six state championships—including five consecutive Class AA titles from 2007 to 2011—and a state-record 105-game winning streak. He was named the West Virginia State Coach of the Year by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association in 2010 and the West Virginia Athletic Director of the Year in 2015.

DAN COMER, ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mr. Dan Comer joins the WVSSAC as Assistant Executive Director in July 2023. He received his BA in Physical Education and Safety from West Liberty State College and his MA and Educational Certificate from West Virginia University. Dan is a member of the WVADA and NIAAA where he earned his CAA. Dan served 38 years in Berkeley County Schools as a teacher, coach, and school and county administrator. His track teams won two WV AAA State Championships at Hedgesville. He was Spring Mills High School’s first athletic director and served his final two years as county coordinator for Health/Safety/Athletics. Comer earned WVSSAC and WVSACA Coach of the Year honors in 1995, 2003, and 2010. He earned the NIAAA Award of Merit in 2022 and the WVADA Athletic Director of the Year in 2023. As an experienced and well- respected leader in education, his experience, training, and knowledge will be an asset to the WVSSAC leadership.

DR. JACLYN SWAYNE, ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Swayne joined the WVSSAC staff as an assistant director on July 1, 2025, after serving 21 years in Kanawha County Schools, most recently as the principal at her alma mater, St. Albans, a role she held since 2025.

Her prior experience includes serving as Assistant Principal at both Capital High School and Sissonville Middle School. She began her career in 2004 as a teacher at Capital High School, where she also coached and advised several student organizations.

She holds a Doctor of Education from Concordia University, a master’s in education administration from Grand Canyon University, and a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Marshall University. She has been active in several statewide leadership organizations, including serving as President of the Kanawha County Secondary Principals Association and Vice President of the Mountain State Athletic Conference Board of Control. She is also a member of Shiloh Baptist Church of Charleston, W.Va.

CHRIS WELLS, ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Wells was named WVSSAC Assistant Director in July of 2025. He comes the WVSSAC after serving as the principal and athletic director at Ritchie High School. He previously held roles as assistant principal and athletic director, physical education teacher, athletic trainer, and coach during his 18-year career at his alma mater.

He earned three degrees from Marshall University—a B.A. in Athletic Training, an M.A.T. in Physical and Health Education, and a School Principalship Certificate—and became a National Certified Athletic Administrator through the NIAAA in 2020. Wells has been active in the Little Kanawha Conference and the West Virginia Athletic Director’s Association.

JASON BANKSTON, DIRECTOR OF COMPLIANCE

Bankston was named the WVSSAC Director of Compliance in July 2025.

Bankston most recently served as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Cabell Midland High School, where he managed one of the largest athletic programs in the state. Under his leadership, the school earned multiple state championships and back-to-back Gandy Awards for best overall athletic program in the Mountain State Athletic Conference.

Earlier in his career, Bankston spent over a decade in the classroom, teaching in both Cabell and Wayne counties. He also has extensive coaching experience in football, baseball, wrestling, golf, and tennis at the middle and high school levels, including at Huntington High, Tug Valley, and Clarkston High School in Georgia.

A Certified Athletic Administrator, Bankston is active in the West Virginia Athletic Directors Association and the NIAAA, where he serves on the national awards committee.

Bankston is a graduate of Williamson High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Marshall University in 2006. He completed a Master’s in Multi-Categorical Special Education in 2012 and obtained a Leadership Studies Certification in 2018. He also holds the designation of Certified Athletic Administrator from the NIAAA.

WVSSAC STAFF

• Wayne Ryan, Executive Director
• Dan Comer, Assistant Executive Director
• Dr. Jaclyn Swayne, Assistant Executive Director
• Chris Wells, Assistant Executive Director
• Jason Bankston, Director of Compliance
• Katelyn Enoch, Accountant
• Candice Hardbarger, Administrative Assistant
• Anna Brown, Administrative Assistant
• Rex Foster, Manager of Officials and Special Projects
• Grace Wilson, Administrative Assistant

STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accounting- Katelyn Enoch

Appeals- Wayne Ryan / Jason Bankston / Candice Hardbarger
• ASEP (Coaching Class)- Dan Comer / Anna Brown
• Baseball- Chris Wells
• Basketball (G and B)- Chris Wells
• Board of Directors Meetings – Wayne Ryan
• Cheerleading- Dr. Jaclyn Swayne

• C & I Cards – Anna Brown
• Cross Country- Dan Comer
• Compliance & Eligibility- Jason Bankston / Wayne Ryan

Emergency Action Plans-Jason Bankston / Candice Hardbarger
• Football- Chris Wells
• Football Ratings- Wayne Ryan / Chris Wells

• General Information (Open Dates) – Anna Brown

• The Interscholastic – Anna Brown / Candice Hardbarger

• Legislation- Wayne Ryan
• National Federation (Information)- Wayne Ryan

• Officials Programs – Rex Foster
• Programs (State Championships)- Anna Brown

• Media – Grace Wilson

• Academic Acheivement Awards – Grace Wilson

• Scholarship Applications – Grace Wilson

• Public Relations – Wayne Ryan
• Reimbursement- Wayne Ryan / Katelyn Enoch
• Sanctioning- Jason Bankston
• Soccer- Dan Comer
• Softball- Jason Bankston
• Sports Medicine- Dan Comer
• Swimming- Dr. Jaclyn Swayne
• Tennis- Dr. Jaclyn Swayne
• Track & Field- Dan Comer
• Volleyball- Dr. Jaclyn Swayne
• Wrestling- Dan Comer