National Careers Week 2025 | Ryan Cuskelly

As part of National Careers Week, Squash Australia is proud to shine a spotlight on those looking to establish their place in the sporting landscape.

In this article, we catch up with Ryan Cuskelly, the former world no.12, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and two-time World Doubles champion who is helping guide the next generation of Australian stars.

After a decorated professional squash career that saw him climb into the world’s top 20 and compete on some of the sport’s biggest stages, Ryan Cuskelly has found renewed purpose and passion.

The former Australian No.1 has transitioned into his post-playing career as coach with focus and humility, guiding the next generation of talent while also navigating a major life change: relocating his young family back to Australia after years in the United States.

Cuskelly officially retired from the professional squash circuit in 2020, though the seeds of his next chapter had already been planted.

“I was always involved in coaching throughout my playing career,” he says. “From about 18 years old, I’d work alongside Rod [Martin], helping out with juniors, running camps - it was almost like an apprenticeship.”

That natural progression into coaching provided a solid foundation, but it wasn’t until a sense of stagnation began creeping in during the tail end of his playing days that he fully considered the shift.

“I’d arrive at these big tournaments and think, ‘I just don’t really want to be here anymore’,’” he recalls. “That’s when I knew it was time to start thinking about what came next.”

What came next was an enriching blend of coaching roles in the United States and a determined pursuit of a return home. “I’d been trying to get back to Australia since retiring, really,” Cuskelly admits. That opportunity finally materialised in late last year when the two-time World Doubles Champion was named as an AIS Gen32 Coach at the Squash Australia National Performance Centre at Carrara.

Now one of 20 high-performance coaches across multiple sports, he’s not only refining his sport-specific skills but learning from a broader coaching network. “It’s been really refreshing,” said Cuskelly. “As squash players and coaches, you don’t often get exposure to other sports. Hearing different perspectives on athlete engagement and development has really opened my eyes.”

Having already been able to establish his coaching credentials in the States, Cuskelly’s move back tio Australia wasn’t just professional - it was personal. Relocating his wife and two young children from the U.S. was a massive undertaking. “It was a huge move,” he says. “New job for my wife, school for the kids, settling back into life here. But we’re super happy we did it.”

Now based at Squash Australia’s high-performance centre on the Gold Coast, Cuskelly is working with emerging talent across the country, many of whom are juggling squash aspirations with academic pursuits.

That, too, marks a shift from his own journey. “When I was coming through, it was just: go pro. There wasn’t a lot of thought about balancing study. But now, there’s more structure and support for combining sport with education, especially through U.S. college pathways.” 

Cuskelly sees this as a positive evolution, though he’s quick to emphasise that elite success still demands full commitment. “You can have options, but if you want to play at the top level, there’s no shortcut - you’ve got to put in the work every day.”

While Cuskelly is shaping players on court, he’s also consciously mentoring them off it.

“I try to give them perspective,” he says. “It’s not always about being world number one. Playing squash professionally opens doors, it builds character, exposes you to the world, creates lifelong connections.”

His advice to emerging players often leans on his own lived experience: “I’ve got friends all over the globe now. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

He also believes that former pros - his own generation and those before - have a crucial role to play.

“There’s a wealth of experience in Australian squash that’s just waiting to be tapped,” he said. “I always tell the younger players, ‘We’re here to help. If you want to give it a run, we’ll help you get started'."

With Brisbane 2032 on the horizon, Cuskelly is hopeful that Australia can once again become a force on the international stage. But more than medals or rankings, his vision is about nurturing complete athletes, on and off the court. And as someone who’s lived the highs and challenges of professional sport, he’s uniquely positioned to guide them every step of the way.