Bryan was the Southern Conference wrestling champion for Davidson in 1967. He also played football and baseball for the Wildcats. In 1991 he received the James P. Hendrix Award, which is presented to the Davidson football letterman who by use of the lessons learned on the playing field has gone on to achieve outstanding success in his chosen profession. Bryan is a partner with McKinsey and Co., a New York financial consulting firm which advises top managers of companies on strategy and the impact of economic and credit changes in their industry.