Ryan Sloth, an Iowa native spend most of his school years at Belmond. Sloth wore number 22 during his high school football career. He became an Iowa State Cyclone in 1996. He was a member of the Cyclone football team all five years, playing in 5 games in his sophomore year and started in 11 games in 1997 and 1998. His senior year saw him in the starting lineup for 12 games. He still wore number 22. Following college football, Sloth chased football play from 2001 through 2004, playing arena ball with the Iowa Barnstormers, Bakersfield Blitz and the Columbus Destroyers. Beginning in 2005, Ryan Sloth the player became Coach Sloth.
Coach sloth wrote a book as a youngster. He still has it and brings it with him to share with students as he shares his message of persistence, patience and success. His message is geared to youngsters through 4th grade.
A dozen children’s books are published under Coach Sloth’s name. While Sammy Sloth is a recurring central character in the series, other characters are featured. Each story brings to life in the form of animal characters and familiar settings lessons of citizenship teaching youngsters values of self-respect and respecting others.
On Tuesday March 21, Coach Sloth recruited several of the SOS Elementary students for a short skit he guided, based on one of his books, “Hank, the Bully.” Throughout the skit, Hank’s victims employ different ways to deal with the bully to protect themselves from his teasing or meanness. The skit includes sad consequences to Hank for his behavior as well.
Coach Sloth’s football, coaching and acting career always had that very first “Sammy Sloth” book. The writing that came forward in Ryan Sloth’s young years developed into a trove of inspiring books for young hearts and minds.