Hall of Fame
Ryan McCoach carried the ball for the Red Hawks from 2004-2007 finishing his career with 2.802 yards and 28 touchdowns. The three-time All-NJAC selection averaged 4.3 yards per carry and averaged 90.4 yards per game, the best per game average in program history. After playing as a special teamer in his first season, McCoach took over as the main ball carrier in 2005 rushing for 771 yards and seven touchdowns. He rushed for a pair 100-yard games that season including 190 against Western Connecticut. McCoach’s efforts helped MSU back into the postseason in the ECAC Southeast Championship Game where he ran for 91 yards and a touchdown against Widener University. The next year, McCoach led the NJAC in rushing and collected his second straight All-Conference First Team award as Montclair State went 7-3. He scored seven touchdowns and rushed for 1,026 yards registering the Red Hawks’ seventh 1,000-yard season. Four times McCoach surpassed the 150-yard mark and capped off his 2006 season with 173 yards in a victory versus Western Connecticut. McCoach’s final season was one for the record books. Along with earning First-Team All-NJAC honors for the third time, he scored 14 touchdowns, third-highest single-season total. For the second consecutive campaign, McCoach led the conference in rushing and again led MSU into the postseason in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl against Albright College. Entering the game McCoach was within striking distance of becoming the second back in history to register back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns. Like he had for three seasons, McCoach carried the Red Hawks to victory running 35 times in a 17-13 triumph. Late in the game, MSU held its four-point lead and looked to run out the final two minutes. Montclair turned to McCoach, who needed 19 yards for the millennium mark. Like he had done the last three seasons, McCoach delivered carrying four times for 24 yards including a third-down conversion that sealed the victory. The game’s Most Valuable Player, finished the game with 140 yards and 1,005 for the year joining fellow Hall of Famer John Walker as the only backs to accomplish the feat. McCoach finished fourth all-time in rushing yards and second in attempts in addition to ranking fifth in rushing touchdowns. 16th in total offense (2,818 yards), second in all-purpose yards (3,548 yards) and 10th in scoring (174 points).
