THE RYLAND GROUP, INC.
Power of Attorney

The undersigned constitutes and appoints each of Timothy
J. Geckle and Sheri L. Markham, signing singly, the
undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

1.	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director of The
Ryland Group, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in
accordance with Section 16(a) and any other forms required
by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules
thereunder, as well as any forms required in connection with
the Securities Act of 1933 or otherwise under state or federal
securities laws (the "Forms");

2.	do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of
the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to
complete and execute the Forms and timely file the Forms
with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, any stock exchange or federal, state, local or
other authority; and

3.	 take any other action of any type whatsoever in
connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such
attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of,
or legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood
that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on
behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney
shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such
attorney-in-fact's discretion.

The undersigned hereby grants to each attorney-in-fact full
power and authority to do and perform any and every act
whatsoever requisite, necessary or proper, to be done in the
exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as
fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution
or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or
substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of
this power of attorney and the rights and powers herein
granted.

The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-
in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company
assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to
comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the
Securities Act of 1933.

The undersigned agrees that each such attorney-in-fact
herein may rely entirely on information furnished orally or in
writing by the undersigned to such attorney-in-fact.


The undersigned also agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and each such attorney-in-fact
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in these respects) that arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statements or omission of necessary facts in the
information provided by the undersigned to such attorney-in-
fact for purposes of executing, acknowledging, delivering or
filing the Forms (including amendments thereto) and agrees
to reimburse the Company and such attorney-in-fact for any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect
until the undersigned is no longer required to file the Forms
with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and
transactions in securities issued by the Company, or earlier
revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to
the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this
Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 14th day of
February, 2002.

/S/
R. Chad Dreier