By Kim Tauro ’28, Austin Prep Student
Two years ago, Austin Prep’s boys basketball team finished 1-22 (.043). Last year’s 7-16 (.304) record showed progress. This winter, the Cougars surged to 16-8 (.667), earned a playoff berth, and became one of the top teams in their division.
At the center of that turnaround is Head Coach Sean Ryan, who came to Austin Prep with a history of building strong programs and setting clear standards. Over the last three years, Ryan has not only brought in talented young players, but changed the culture of the program, raised expectations, and created an environment that players say has pushed them to improve.
Over his 28-year coaching career, Ryan has coached at nearly every level of the game, including 18 years in Division I college basketball at Boston University, Holy Cross, and College of Charleston. More than a decade ago, after the birth of his second child, he left NCAA basketball for high school coaching, a move that allowed him to stay close to the game, be more present for his family, and work more directly with younger players.
Before coming to Austin Prep, Ryan served as head coach at Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Boston from 2014 to 2023. Despite the challenges of coaching in an under-resourced program, Ryan guided Burke to back-to-back Boston City League titles in 2022 and 2023 and the 2019-20 Division III State Title.
After that success, Ryan was ready for a new challenge. That search brought him to Reading, where Austin Prep offered the chance to build a program in one of the region’s most competitive leagues.
When Ryan arrived in 2023, Austin Prep was already competing in the NEPSAC, one of the region’s most challenging prep school leagues. After years in the MIAA, the Cougars were still working to establish themselves in a more demanding basketball environment. Ryan understood the challenge, but also saw the opportunity.
“We really started from ground zero and it’s tough being the new kid on the block in the NEPSAC world,” Ryan said. “But having that supportive administration really made it enticing for me to come to Austin Prep.”
Ryan’s goal was not simply to make the team more competitive right away. He wanted to build a program that could develop players, compete consistently, and prepare student-athletes for the next level.
“I coached college for 18 years at the Division I level. I’ve seen the highest level and I’ve seen what it takes to get there,” Ryan said. “I enjoy the high school level. I enjoy helping kids.”
From Ground Zero to a Clear Direction
One of the biggest reasons for Austin Prep’s improvement has been Ryan’s ability to bring in players who believed in the vision for the program and were ready to compete in a stronger environment.
Among Ryan’s most important recruits is 6’3″ guard No. 24, sophomore William Nunes of Danvers, known as one of the top shooters and scorers in NEPSAC’s Class of 2028. He transferred from Methuen High School in search of stronger competition.
“I was at public school. I was at Methuen High, and the competition in the NEPSAC and the exposure for recruitment was way better and I wanted to play for Coach Ryan.”
Another key addition is 6’0″ guard No. 2, junior Marvin Avery of Lynn, one of the team’s top scorers and a tough defender. Avery said Ryan’s reputation was a major reason he came to Austin Prep.
“Honestly, I just wanted to play under Coach Ryan, his experience, hearing how good of a coach he was. He’d been recruiting me for a while.”
Ryan believes the roster improvement has been essential.
“People love to say it’s always coaching, but I always say it’s about the players,” Ryan said. “You need good players to win in any sport.”
Along with Nunes and Avery, the Cougars featured junior point guard Izaac Skeehan of Tewksbury, junior forward Ismael Wane of Lowell, sophomore guard Sean Dolan of Lowell, and freshman guard Max Ryan of Melrose. Together, they helped Austin Prep become one of the top teams in its division.
The Roster Changed, and So Did Expectations
Austin Prep’s rise is not just about talent. Ryan has also changed the way the program operates every day. His practices, expectations, and discipline reflect the standards of a college program, which he believes is critical for players who hope to continue their basketball careers.
“My vision is to prepare all these players who would like to play in college,” Ryan said. “That’s why I conduct everything we do like we’re in college.”
“In regards to punctuality, how you dress, how you board the bus, how you act in the building,” Ryan said. “Our kids are trying to do the right thing all the time because that’s how it is in college.”
Ryan is also known for holding players accountable when standards are not met, including for behavior away from the court. At Austin Prep, students can receive demerits for inappropriate conduct in school, and Ryan makes clear that those choices can also affect playing time.
“If you get a demerit, you’ll sit out a game or sit out at least a half,” Ryan said. “I’m a little old-school in that regard. I’m not trying to be their friend. I’m trying to be their mentor and coach.”
Players say that structure has made a difference.
“It’s not just about basketball with Coach Ryan. It’s about making us better people, better students in our academics.”
“Our practices have been more intense this year. We’ve been focusing more.”
“We started off with a great record compared to last year, where we started off slow. From the start of the season we knew we would have a good year.”
Ryan did not just improve Austin Prep by adding talent. He gave the program an identity, built daily habits, set a higher standard, and created a culture that players clearly believe in.
Austin Prep Basketball Is Now Looking Ahead
Austin Prep’s 2026 season came to a sudden close last week with a 49-38 loss to Rivers School. But the bigger story is how far the Cougars have come and what the program now looks capable of becoming.
“If I can beat the strongest schools with my players, and my players can overachieve against some of those kids coming from all across the world, that says something about us. And so that challenge is why I do it.”
For a team that won just one game two years ago, this season showed what can happen when talent, belief, and coaching come together. Ryan brought a plan, a standard, and a vision for what the Cougars could become.
