Nov. 3, 2017
NOTRE DAME, Indiana – The Notre Dame Monogram Club recently welcomed Ryan Harris (’07, football), Ruth Riley (’01, ‘16 basketball) and Takashi Yoshii (’10, tennis) to the organization’s board of directors. They were unanimously approved by Monogram Club membership at Saturday’s annual meeting. The new directors will serve four-year terms through 2021.
In addition, the Monogram Club re-affirmed the executive committee officers, highlighted by Terri Vitale (’94, ’95, tennis) being introduced as president. Kevin O’Connor (’89, lacrosse) will serve as past president. Don Casey (’82, ’83, swimming) is first vice president, while former Club advisor Kate Sobrero Markgraf (’98, soccer) joined the presidential rotation as the second vice president. Mike Frantz (’73, football) will continue to serve as secretary and Pat Garrity (’98, basketball) was re-appointed as treasurer.
New Director Bios
Ryan Harris (’07, football)
Harris earned four Monograms as a four-year starter on the Fighting Irish offensive line. He is a native of St. Paul, Minn. and graduated from the College of Arts and Letters with degrees in political science and economics.
Harris was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played his first four seasons with the Broncos before having stints with the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs. Harris returned to Denver in 2015 and helped the Broncos capture Super Bowl 50. Harris concluded his 10-year NFL career following the 2016 campaign, which he spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Over his career, he played in 114 games, including 70 starts.
Among his charitable work, Harris is involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and Wish of a Lifetime, which helps senior citizens eliminate feelings of isolation and have a more purposeful life. He also founded the Education for Elevation Campaign, a program that sent six youths in refugee camps to University.
Harris currently works for Altitude Sports Radio and Television in Denver. He is an analyst for Notre Dame’s digital postgame show, speaks internationally, and served as a special guest host for Notre Dame Day 2017. Harris and his wife, Jamie, have two children.
Ruth Riley (’01, ‘16, basketball)
Riley, a four-time Monogram winner, helped Notre Dame to its first women’s basketball national championship during her senior campaign in 2001. Riley graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology in 2001, and in 2016 earned a Master of Business Administration degree through Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business Executive MBA program.
Riley was selected by the Miami Sol with the fifth overall pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft. Her outstanding 13-year playing career included two WNBA titles with the Detroit Shock. In 2004, Riley earned an Olympic gold medal as a member of the United States women’s basketball team. Riley retired from the sport in June of 2014, and currently is the general manager of the San Antonio Stars.
In 2015, Riley received the Monogram Club’s highest honor, the Edward “Moose” Krause Distinguished Service Award, for her numerous service endeavors around the world. Riley is an NBA/WNBA Cares Ambassador and a spokesperson for the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign, which strives to prevent malaria in Africa. Riley also co-founded Inspire Transformation, an organization focused on creating community-based programs to support and sustain women and children and be a catalyst for positive social change. She also is a member of the national council for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign to eradicate childhood hunger in the United States as well as on the board for Hunger Free America.
Riley assisted with the creation and supervision of the first summer study abroad program for Notre Dame student-athletes, which took them to South Africa in 2015.
During her playing career at Notre Dame, the Macy, Indiana native was a two-time first-team All-American and two-time first-team Academic All-American. In 2012, Riley was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame.
Riley is engaged to Benjamin (Robinson) Hunter (’99, football).
Takashi Yoshii (‘10, tennis)
Yoshii competed four seasons with the Fighting Irish tennis team, and he graduated from the College of Arts and Letters with a degree in Industrial Design. Yoshii, a native of Tokyo, Japan, currently is the Head of Product at Bettinardi Golf in Chicago.
Yoshii has been involved with the Monogram Career Network, including taking part in a Lunch & Learn event with the women’s basketball program in 2016. He also assisted with the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team’s trip to Tokyo in 2010.
Yoshii has participated in Hands on Tokyo, an affiliate of Hands on Network-Points of Light Foundation, working to spread volunteerism in Japan, and Skate Today a figure skating program that involves Special Olympics along with orphaned children and children with intellectual disabilities in Tokyo.
In Chicago, he has mentored for the One Goal Graduation, which works to ensure every young person in America will have a real opportunity to earn a college degree. Additionally, he has worked with Green Star Movement, a program that inspires students and community members through the creation of public art.
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