IUP Athletic Hall of Fame
Ryan Uhl put together one of the greatest turnaround seasons in IUP history in 2015.
After hitting only one home run as a junior, he capped an outstanding career by clubbing 29 homers, which not only shattered school and PSAC records but led all NCAA Division II batters. Uhl also topped Division II in home runs per game (0.66), RBIs per game (1.68) and slugging percentage (1.085).
Uhl’s monster total of 29 home runs in 44 games ranks him fourth in Division II history, and his home runs per game figure ranks third all-time.
The Crimson Hawks first baseman was selected as a first-team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, a second-team All-American by Daktronics, a first-team All-Atlantic Region pick by all three and an All-PSAC West first teamer. He was also named IUP Men’s Athlete of the Year and was a finalist for the Tino Martinez Division II Player of the Year award.
In addition to homers, RBIs (74) and slugging percentage, Uhl led coach Jeff Ditch’s 2015 Hawks in batting average (.415), hits (59), runs (53), total bases (a school-record 154) and walks (33) as a senior. He ranks first in program history in career home runs (42) and slugging percentage (.646), third in RBIs (147) and total bases (339), eighth in hits (177), ninth in doubles (36) and 10th in runs (126).
Uhl was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the seventh round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in 2015. He played two seasons of minor league ball in the Mariners chain. Uhl then returned to IUP and in 2017 earned a BS degree in finance.
He currently serves as an assistant baseball coach at Gannon University in Erie. Uhl previously made coaching stops at California, IUP (2018) and Penn State-Behrend, and spent the summer of 2019 as the hitting coach for the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Uhl lives in Erie with his wife, Caitlin, an IUP grad, and their son, Jett, 2.
Â
Personal Reflection
It’s truly an honor to be inducted into the IUP Athletics Hall of Fame. Looking back, my time in this program shaped me in ways that go far beyond baseball, and it’s something I’ll always be grateful for.
When I first stepped on campus, I was just excited for the opportunity to compete. Over time, that opportunity turned into so much more—lifelong friendships, lessons in discipline and resilience, and the experience of being part of a team that showed up every day ready to work and push each other to be better.
Baseball has a way of keeping you grounded. It teaches you how to deal with failure, stay consistent and trust the process. Any success I had came from being surrounded by teammates and coaches who challenged me, believed in me and held me to a high standard. I’m incredibly thankful to Coach Ditch and Coach Rebyanski for all of their help and guidance throughout my baseball career. I am also thankful for all of my teammates throughout my years here, and the lifelong friendships.
I am especially grateful for my family’s unwavering support—particularly my wife, Caitlin, and my son, Jett, who continue to inspire me and remind me what truly matters beyond the game. Everything I do now is with them in mind.
 Being included among so many great players and coaches who helped build this program is something I don’t take lightly. I’ll always be proud to be a part of this program and thankful for the role it played in my life.
Â
