LIBERTY, Tex. -- Dr. C. Roy “Doc” Rylander, who served as head athletic trainer at the University of Delaware for 36 years and was inducted into the UD Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998, has passed away at the age of 88.

Rylander, who retired as head athletic trainer in 1988 and as head men’s tennis coach in 1993, died on Tuesday morning, Dec. 2, at a nursing home in Liberty, Texas where he moved several years ago with his wife Renee, who passed away last month. The Rylanders had a son and a daughter. Memorial services will be held for the Rylanders in January in Delaware.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Dr. Rylander was regarded as one of the finest collegiate athletic trainers in the nation and held the position from 1953 until 1988 and was succeeded by Keith Handling. In addition to being inducted into the UD Athletics Hall of Fame, he was a pioneer in the field of athletic training and earned a spot in the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 1986. He also was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1996.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Southern Illinois University and his master’s and doctorate degrees from New York University. He joined the Delaware faculty in 1946 and held many positions.

In addition to serving as athletic trainer, he was Delaware’s first and only men’s gymnastics head coach (1947-51) and served 41 years as men’s tennis coach, leading his teams to a record of 343-176-1 between 1953 and 1993. His 41-year tenure is the longest for any head coach in UD athletics history. Among his career highlights was leading the 1974 team to the Middle Atlantic Conference title. He also served as director of intramurals and was assistant track and field coach while at Delaware.

Rylander served two tours of military service and was a unit training officer and a combat unit leader during World War II. He was recalled during the Korean conflict to serve as unit training officer in the United States and Okinawa.