Ryan Chapman took over as the head coach of Aurora University's cross country and track and field teams in the fall of 2008. He is the second cross country and track and field coach in the history of Aurora University.
Chapman has been honored as the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year 21 times. He was awarded the honor in 2008 (women's cross country), 2010 (men's cross country), 2011 (women's indoor track and field), 2012 women's outdoor track and field), 2012 (men's and women's cross country), 2013 (men's and women's indoor track and field), 2013 (women's outdoor track and field), 2013 (men’s and women’s cross country), 2014 (men's and women's indoor track and field), 2014 (men's and women's outdoor track and field), 2014 (women's cross country), 2015 (men's and women's indoor track and field), 2015 (men's and women's outdoor track and field) and 2015 (men's cross country).
His Spartan teams have captured 20 conference championships in his time as head coach. AU captured men's cross country championships in 2012, 2013 and 2015, women's cross country championships in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014, men's indoor track championship in 2013, 2014, and 2015, women's indoor track championship in 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015, men's outdoor track championship in 2014 and 2015, and women's outdoor track championships in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Individually, Chapman has had 153 Spartans claim individual conference championships in men's and women's indoor and outdoor track.
Chapman came to AU from Washington University, having served as an assistant coach on the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams for the past three seasons. Prior to that, he spent a season as a volunteer on the coaching staff of Florida Atlantic University’s cross country team.
Chapman’s brief yet distinguished coaching background includes being a member of the   University Athletic Association (UAA) Women’s Indoor Track Coaching Staff of the Year (Winter 2008), Midwest Region Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year (Fall 2007), UAA Women’s Cross Country Coaching Staff of the Year (Fall 2007), Midwest Region Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year (Fall 2006), Midwest Region Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year (Fall 2005), and UAA Women’s Cross Country Coaching Staff of the Year (Fall 2005).
As a runner at Augustana College, Chapman was a team captain as a senior and twice won the team Leadership Award. He graduated from Augustana with a B.A. in English with a writing emphasis and also holds a master’s degree in creative writing from Washington University in St. Louis.
