Ryan Cherepkai grew up in Terre Haute, IN then attended Roxana High School in Roxana, IL where he was an All-Conference player. He continued playing after high school first at Florissant Valley CC and then at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

After college, Ryan started his coaching career both at his alma mater and by creating his club program Illinois Elite. In 2002 Ryan accepted a Graduate Assistant Coaching position at Lindenwood University where he was promoted the following year to the role of Associate Head Coach and Director of Recruiting.

In 2006, Ryan became the Head Coach at Lindenwood, where he led the Lions to their first-ever conference championship and NAIA Final Four and was named HAAC Coach of the Year. Ryan remained the Head Coach for 4 seasons where he still holds the single-season record for wins and was inducted into the Lindenwood Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.

After a sabbatical and a job promotion that led Ryan to relocate to the Kansas City area, he has spent the last 6 years coaching AAU basketball along with training and working with youth players of all ages.

Ryan and his girlfriend live in Liberty, MO along with their two awesome dogs Buddy and Winnie.