Ryan Minor Obituary: former 2-sport OU legend, died at 49

Ryan Minor Obituary: Ryan Minor, a former University of Oklahoma two-sport standout, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Ryan was an outstanding basketball and baseball player for the University of Oklahoma from 1993 to 1995. Ryan played college basketball for the University of Oklahoma and was an All-American. He twice led the Big Eight Conference in points per game while playing for the Sooners.

He was selected Big Eight Co-Player of the Year as a junior in 1995. As a sophomore, he helped lead the Sooners to victory in the 1994 College World Series, and he was chosen to the All-Tournament Team.

Both the NBA and Major League Baseball drafted Ryan. Ryan played professional baseball from 1996 until 2001. His most memorable achievement in the Major Leagues was being the first player to start ahead of Cal Ripken Jr. to break his streak of consecutive games played.

Ryan coached professional baseball from 2006 to 2021. Ryan and his wife, Allyson, have two children, Regan and Finley. The family has created a GoFundMe page to help with medical expenditures. “I’m not sure where to even begin. Many of you know that my cousin Ryan Minor has had stage 4 cancer for a little over a year now. Deep down we all knew that the diagnosis was not good, but it was Ryan. He’s Paul Bunyan, The Marlboro Man, this larger-than-life figure in Oklahoma lore.”

He was a winner. An All-American. Ryan is and will always be Boomer Sooner. Horns down. Scorching #1 Rock Chalk Jay Hawk for 30 and then hitting towering home runs leading the Sooners to the Baseball College World Series title. The family is sad to announce that tragically, Ryan has lost his battle with cancer. Know that Ryan was more than an athlete. Ryan was a husband and a girl dad. He was a manager, mentor, and friend to hundreds of minor and major league baseball players.

Tributes to Ryan Minor

The ultimate warrior and fierce competitor. The best 3 level scorer i ever coached. Ryan was at his best on the road in the ol Big 8. Thank you for allowing me to coach you Ryan. I love you and God Bless you. 🕊️ https://t.co/K0VyT1Vmli
— Coach Kelvin Sampson (@CoachSampsonUH) December 23, 2023