2010 Signee Ryan Cronin

[Matt Natali]

I was out at Alter today for their signing day ceremony and put this story together on Ryan Cronin for another project. Thought I would share it.

Headline: Center of Attention

Subhead: All-Ohio lineman signs with the Flyers

February 3, 2010

KETTERING, Ohio – One the top football players in the Dayton area is officially a Flyer.

Archbishop Alter senior Ryan Cronin signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Dayton Wednesday, Feb. 3, at a ceremony at his high school committing him to suit up for the Flyers next season.

Cronin (6-foot-2, 240 pounds) was a Division IV First Team All-Ohio selection last season and is a two-time All-Greater Catholic League honoree. He started at center for Alter the past two seasons as the Knights won back-to-back state championships.

For Cronin, two main factors played a role in his decision to choose UD.

“The biggest thing for me is it is close to home and you are not going to find better football at the college level that close to home,” he said. “All my aunts and uncles came to all my high school games and I wanted to keep it close for them so they could come to all my college games.

“The coaching staff probably was the next biggest thing.”

Cronin said he noticed similarities between Alter and UD from a coaching standpoint.

“The philosophy is the same and it just felt comfortable,” he said. “(UD head coach Rick Chamberlin) is a great guy and I have gotten to know him over the past couple of months. His philosophy is great and he demands hard work and responsibility.

“They talk a lot about community and that is something we have at Alter and I just wanted to continue my career there.”

Cronin, who plans on majoring in Business Management, took an official visit to UD before landing on the Flyers.

“The teacher-student ratio was perfect and the campus is the perfect size for me,” he said.

“During the recruiting process, one thing I wanted to do was go from one good program to another good program. Hopefully we can continue that with this recruiting class and keep the winning tradition going at UD.”

And a winning tradition is something Cronin is familiar with winning two state championships while anchoring the offensive line in head coach Ed Domsitz’s patented Wishbone offense.

“You could just see him grow each year as he progressed through the program,” Domsitz said. “At the University of Dayton, I think he is going to be an outstanding player and I think he is going to fit into what they do very well and I think they will be very pleased with him.

“He is a kid that does well in the classroom, he cares about doing well in the classroom and all signs indicate he will do well at the University of Dayton.”

Domsitz holds Cronin’s contribution to the Alter program in high regard.

“If you made a list of the best seven or eight offensive linemen at Alter in the last decade, Ryan would be right in there,” Domsitz said.

That is high praise considering 2002 Alter grad Nick Mangold is coming off an All-Pro season at center for the New York Jets. Cronin appreciates the recognition but is focused on finishing high school and starting his college career this summer.

“I just want to do my part and whatever it takes to get on the field and just help (UD) win,” he said.