Hall of Fame

Rylander_HOF_26

C. Roy "Doc" Rylander

  • Class
  • Induction
    2026
  • Sport(s)
    Men's Tennis Coach, Athletic Trainer
C. ROY "DOC" RYLANDER, University of Delaware
Athletic Trainer / Men's Tennis Coach, 1946–1993

C. Roy "Doc" Rylander dedicated nearly half a century to the University of Delaware, becoming one of the most consequential figures in the institution's athletic history and a genuine pioneer in his field.

Rylander joined Delaware in 1946 as head athletic trainer and spent 42 years in that role, treating thousands of Blue Hen student-athletes and helping shape the profession of athletic training on a national level. His contributions to the field were recognized in 1986 when he was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame. Simultaneously, he built a remarkable 41-year career as the men's tennis coach — the longest head coaching tenure in University of Delaware history — compiling a record of 343-176-1 and capturing the 1974 Middle Atlantic Conference championship. Beyond his dual roles in training and tennis, Rylander also served the department as director of intramural sports, men's gymnastics coach, and men's assistant track and field coach, reflecting the extraordinary breadth of his service to Blue Hen athletics.

A Professor Emeritus at the University of Delaware, Rylander's legacy extends well beyond the playing fields. He was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and into the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.