Fresno State Athletics
20 Years of Dedication: ‘Ry Ry’ a constant in Fresno State Athletics
5/6/2026 3:40:00 PM | Football, General
FRESNO, Calif. - There are a lot of special people involved with the Fresno State Athletics Department. Many come and go, and some stay put. Through the transitions, one familiar face day in and day out has been Ryan Bellflower. Or as many know him, Ry Ry.
Since the spring of 2006, Bellflower has been a volunteer assistant in the Fresno State Strength and Conditioning department. This April wrapped up 20 years with the Bulldogs.
"Day to day, he takes all of the attendance. He does the weigh-ins. Organizationally, he can help the interns when we are in a team run and get them to set up different things," said Fresno State Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance Andy Ward. "When we are in the room, he helps reset the facility. He pretty much does that for [football], men's basketball and women's basketball. He has his routine and he is very consistent with that routine. It is very helpful."
Bellflower is a Fresno native and attended Clovis East High School. In high school, he assisted with the boys' and girls' basketball programs. He dedicated four years to those programs and grew a lot in his time there. The Bulldog strength staff of Andy Bennett and Moses Cabrera at the time had heard of his dedication and work ethic and brought him on board.
He always had a passion for Fresno State.
He grew up attending Fresno State football games from a young age. His earliest memories are from the coaching era of Jim Sweeney, and remembering how exciting Bulldog football games were with the talent on the field throughout the years.
"My earliest memory when I was a kid was when Jim Sweeney was coaching," said Bellflower. "I was really young. I think the last game I watched, we were up 38-3 against Air Force. It really showed me how much Fresno State meant to this place. That stadium was rocking. It was unbelievable, and it still is."
Now, Bellflower soaks in the behind-the-scenes work from the weight room and practice facilities on a daily basis. Assisting Andy Ward and the sports performance staff each day, Bellflower comes to the facility every day with a smile on his face, ready to work.
He loves being around the staff and athletes each day. Not only has he assisted with football over the years, but he is also a consistent presence with men's and women's basketball.
"Coach Ward has been awesome," said Bellflower on the opportunity to work with Ward. "I love that guy so much. I really appreciate what he has done for me, not only as a strength coach but as a person as well."
Ward follows a past of Bulldog strength coaches that have taken Bellflower under their wing at Fresno State, including Bennett and Cabrera. Bellflower also worked closely with Johnny Olguin and Joey Boese in their tenures as Bulldogs.
Over the years, he has grown in the space and become more confident in his contributions to the teams. When he began, he would wait around for somebody to tell him what to do, but now he has filled into roles where he takes charge. Each day, he is responsible for getting the football team weighed in before lifts or practice. At practice, he can be seen with his paddle to assist the coaches with identifying the end of a play on film.
"I never thought in my life that I would ever be in this situation. I wouldn't expect myself to be here for 20 years. I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly," added Bellflower.
In his 20 years, he notes his most memorable and favorite seasons being the Mountain West Championship-winning seasons in 2018 and 2022. As almost every other Bulldog football fan, Bellflower talks highly of the program-record 12-win season in 2018 and the historic turnaround season in 2022.
However, that 2022 season saw a hardship to Bellflower and his family that sits heavily on him.
"I lost my mom that year to stage four breast cancer," Bellflower explained, fighting tears. "It broke my heart. My mom was not only my mom, she was my best friend. I loved her so much, and I appreciate everything she did for me."
The Fresno State community rallied around Bellflower during this time, creating a GoFundMe that more than doubled the initial set value. A majority of the donations were made by former Bulldog staff and student-athletes, proving the impact he had on people when they were here.
"I felt love from this place," said Bellflower. "I really did. [Losing my mom] broke me."
He and his mother used to attend Bulldog games together. His mom was a big Bulldog fan herself.
"My mom loved Fresno State," said Bellflower when reflecting on their relationship. "She would tell me so much about men's basketball. She would be chirping in my ear, telling me about football and everything else. I was really big on football and men's basketball back in those days."
Just a week and a half after his mother's passing, Bellflower returned to a Fresno State football game. It was the Bulldogs' home game against San Diego State, which was a win but far from easy. With a near-empty stadium and the clock winding down, the Bulldogs down 28-17 late in the fourth quarter, Bellflower saw fans leaving but sat in the stands, knowing the Bulldogs had what it took. Fresno State would score two touchdowns in a 13-second span in the game's final 70 seconds, securing the 32-28 win and sending the few remaining fans home with a memory of a lifetime.
Bellflower has many memories from his years with the Bulldogs, but he appreciates the relationships he has built with the staff and athletes. Oftentimes, those who return approach him with an excited "Ry Ry!" greeting.
A pair of women's basketball former athletes, Jaleesa Ross and Candice White, left some of the biggest impacts on Bellflower. Both known for their basketball skills, Bellflower sees them as more than athletes but amazing people. To some generations of the football program, Ry Ry is joked to be "the mayor of Fresno State".
"Ry Ry is an integral part of our program," added Ward. "He knows everyone, so anytime somebody comes in, he knows everything about them. The vibe that he brings. Everybody likes Ry Ry. He goes around everyday and says hello to all of the players. They all love him."
The 2026 Fresno State football team and head coach Matt Entz recognized Bellflower for his hard work and 20 years of dedication to the program at the conclusion of the Spring Showcase on April 25. Even though the coaching staff changes over the years, there is no denying that his consistency and dedication to the program aren't going unnoticed.
"I feel appreciated pretty much every day," said Bellflower.
Since the spring of 2006, Bellflower has been a volunteer assistant in the Fresno State Strength and Conditioning department. This April wrapped up 20 years with the Bulldogs.
"Day to day, he takes all of the attendance. He does the weigh-ins. Organizationally, he can help the interns when we are in a team run and get them to set up different things," said Fresno State Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance Andy Ward. "When we are in the room, he helps reset the facility. He pretty much does that for [football], men's basketball and women's basketball. He has his routine and he is very consistent with that routine. It is very helpful."
Bellflower is a Fresno native and attended Clovis East High School. In high school, he assisted with the boys' and girls' basketball programs. He dedicated four years to those programs and grew a lot in his time there. The Bulldog strength staff of Andy Bennett and Moses Cabrera at the time had heard of his dedication and work ethic and brought him on board.
He always had a passion for Fresno State.
He grew up attending Fresno State football games from a young age. His earliest memories are from the coaching era of Jim Sweeney, and remembering how exciting Bulldog football games were with the talent on the field throughout the years.
"My earliest memory when I was a kid was when Jim Sweeney was coaching," said Bellflower. "I was really young. I think the last game I watched, we were up 38-3 against Air Force. It really showed me how much Fresno State meant to this place. That stadium was rocking. It was unbelievable, and it still is."
Now, Bellflower soaks in the behind-the-scenes work from the weight room and practice facilities on a daily basis. Assisting Andy Ward and the sports performance staff each day, Bellflower comes to the facility every day with a smile on his face, ready to work.
He loves being around the staff and athletes each day. Not only has he assisted with football over the years, but he is also a consistent presence with men's and women's basketball.
"Coach Ward has been awesome," said Bellflower on the opportunity to work with Ward. "I love that guy so much. I really appreciate what he has done for me, not only as a strength coach but as a person as well."
Ward follows a past of Bulldog strength coaches that have taken Bellflower under their wing at Fresno State, including Bennett and Cabrera. Bellflower also worked closely with Johnny Olguin and Joey Boese in their tenures as Bulldogs.
Over the years, he has grown in the space and become more confident in his contributions to the teams. When he began, he would wait around for somebody to tell him what to do, but now he has filled into roles where he takes charge. Each day, he is responsible for getting the football team weighed in before lifts or practice. At practice, he can be seen with his paddle to assist the coaches with identifying the end of a play on film.
"I never thought in my life that I would ever be in this situation. I wouldn't expect myself to be here for 20 years. I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly," added Bellflower.
In his 20 years, he notes his most memorable and favorite seasons being the Mountain West Championship-winning seasons in 2018 and 2022. As almost every other Bulldog football fan, Bellflower talks highly of the program-record 12-win season in 2018 and the historic turnaround season in 2022.
However, that 2022 season saw a hardship to Bellflower and his family that sits heavily on him.
"I lost my mom that year to stage four breast cancer," Bellflower explained, fighting tears. "It broke my heart. My mom was not only my mom, she was my best friend. I loved her so much, and I appreciate everything she did for me."
The Fresno State community rallied around Bellflower during this time, creating a GoFundMe that more than doubled the initial set value. A majority of the donations were made by former Bulldog staff and student-athletes, proving the impact he had on people when they were here.
"I felt love from this place," said Bellflower. "I really did. [Losing my mom] broke me."
He and his mother used to attend Bulldog games together. His mom was a big Bulldog fan herself.
"My mom loved Fresno State," said Bellflower when reflecting on their relationship. "She would tell me so much about men's basketball. She would be chirping in my ear, telling me about football and everything else. I was really big on football and men's basketball back in those days."
Just a week and a half after his mother's passing, Bellflower returned to a Fresno State football game. It was the Bulldogs' home game against San Diego State, which was a win but far from easy. With a near-empty stadium and the clock winding down, the Bulldogs down 28-17 late in the fourth quarter, Bellflower saw fans leaving but sat in the stands, knowing the Bulldogs had what it took. Fresno State would score two touchdowns in a 13-second span in the game's final 70 seconds, securing the 32-28 win and sending the few remaining fans home with a memory of a lifetime.
Bellflower has many memories from his years with the Bulldogs, but he appreciates the relationships he has built with the staff and athletes. Oftentimes, those who return approach him with an excited "Ry Ry!" greeting.
A pair of women's basketball former athletes, Jaleesa Ross and Candice White, left some of the biggest impacts on Bellflower. Both known for their basketball skills, Bellflower sees them as more than athletes but amazing people. To some generations of the football program, Ry Ry is joked to be "the mayor of Fresno State".
"Ry Ry is an integral part of our program," added Ward. "He knows everyone, so anytime somebody comes in, he knows everything about them. The vibe that he brings. Everybody likes Ry Ry. He goes around everyday and says hello to all of the players. They all love him."
The 2026 Fresno State football team and head coach Matt Entz recognized Bellflower for his hard work and 20 years of dedication to the program at the conclusion of the Spring Showcase on April 25. Even though the coaching staff changes over the years, there is no denying that his consistency and dedication to the program aren't going unnoticed.
"I feel appreciated pretty much every day," said Bellflower.
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