Linn graduate and longtime coach Ryan Rost will take the next step in his career after accepting the head girls’ basketball coaching position at Capital City High School, where he will teach physical education and weight-training.

The decision to leave wasn’t easy, but Rost emphasized it was driven by a desire to grow professionally while embracing a new challenge at a larger school.

“I am incredibly grateful for all the opportunities and the memories that I’ve gotten to have at Linn,” he said. “Growing up there, going to school there, getting to come back and teach and coach — it’s just been a dream. I can’t thank enough all of the wonderful students and athletes I had the opportunity to teach and coach over the years. I truly enjoyed every second of every season thanks to them. I also can’t thank the community for all of the support they have provided throughout the years. Everyone always made Linn feel like home in every sense of the word and I will always be grateful.  This was just an opportunity to further my career and to challenge myself at a bigger school and help build a program.”

Rost said the move came together quickly after he saw the opening and decided to pursue an opportunity that aligned with his long-standing passion for basketball.

“I saw that the position was open, and basketball has always been a huge passion of mine,” Rost said. “Cap City is a wonderful school, and I kind of figured I’d put my hat in the ring; it ended up working out. I’m just really excited for the new opportunity.”

Rost will serve strictly in a basketball role at his new school. “It’s hard to say what the future will hold. As of right now, my main focus is going to be on the basketball program,” he said. “I’m just excited to get started.”

Rost led the Lady Cats for three years on the hardwood, finishing with a 54-27 record from 2022-25.

Rost stepped away from coaching at the end of the 2024-25 hoops season to focus on completing his advanced degree, but returning is exciting.

“I didn’t feel that I could focus on basketball while I was trying to complete my studies,” said Rost last spring. “Basketball is a long season, and you have to be committed.”

The transition also coincides with the completion of his master’s degree, which Rost said positioned him to return fully to the demands of a high school basketball season.

“I’ll be done at the beginning of June,” he said. “That was another thing that allowed me to consider basketball — being done with that and actually having enough time to put all of my effort and focus on basketball.”

The move also comes during a period of significant personal milestones. Rost said he will complete his graduate degree, begin his new position, and get married in mid-June.

“Life’s coming at me pretty fast,” he said.

Rost, who moved to Holt Summit last fall, said he hopes to maintain connections with Linn, including the possibility of future match-ups between the programs.

“I’ll always cherish Linn … it helped build me into the person that I am today,” he said. “This was just an opportunity that I felt I was ready to take. I’m excited to see what else is out there and keep moving in my career.”

He added that he hopes to return to Linn in a coaching capacity if schedules align in future seasons.

Rost is also known for coaching softball, including back-to-back Class 2 fourth-place finishes with the Lady Cats in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He ended his tenure with 97 wins.

Rost also led the Linn golf team to back-to-back top-four finishes at state during his coaching career.