Transcript
@NoConfForOldMen: Welcome folks to another off season edition episode number 81 of the No Conference for Old Men podcast today. It's been a long two months since our last episode, but we're coming back with a bang as three old guys have a special guest joining us today in former player, fan favorite, and guys, I would consider, I'd say, cult hero from our Texas A&M tourney game from two years ago. And who do we have? We have Ryan Elvin here with us today. I'd also like to remind fans that Ryan is also part of the men's basketball staff at the University of Houston currently as grad assistant of internal ops and we'll get into that. Welcome to the podcast, Ryan, and thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule today.
Ryan Elvin: Thank you guys for having me. I'm looking forward to it.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, no, I know you guys are in the midst of preseason training and things of that nature. and And you're actually one of the guests that fans have been clamoring for. So we're really happy to get you on here. And why don't we dig right into some of the questions that we've gathered at this point.
@NoConfForOldMen: And when we look at the history of your time with the team, being part of u h men's basketball since 2020 as a walk-on player and then as a grad assistant now, your experience has been Houston Cougars basketball at its very peak.
@NoConfForOldMen: Because even, i'd say year one, that was our first Final Four trip under Coach Sampson, wasn't it? With versus Baylor. Is that your first year?
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, 2020. Yeah, 2020.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. So wait, maybe you can describe to the fans, how has that experience been for you these past six years? Because it it's been just at the most elite years of the program.
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, the experience been just a dream come true, honestly. When Coach and... Coach Samson Coach Kellan first proposed the idea to me of walking on. You know, I couldn't have imagined it went this well.
Ryan Elvin: So I'm extremely blessed that I got put in this scenario and that it's worked out the way it has. i would say i was already coming into a great program.
Ryan Elvin: So the role I played was probably very minimal and and all that. But it was super like,
@NoConfForOldMen: I don't know about that. and we'll get into that.
Ryan Elvin: They got Coach Sampson and the rest of the staff. They had a rolling. When I came on my visit, I saw how good of a culture they had already instilled. So that was something that I really enjoyed about the program.
Ryan Elvin: But just past the past six years, just all the connections, all the relationships I made with teammates, staff, and everybody that you meet along the journey has been special and I think that when I was young I used to dream of that type of scenario watching college players and how it looks from the outside looking in and then to be a part of it at the highest level and be a part of a program that has had the success that it's had over the past few years has has been awesome and like I said dream come true so I can't I can't it's hard words yes sir
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice. is
Tom Lidiak: Hey, Ryan, cause you should could you share some of the other offers you had besides ah U of H?
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, so I didn't have many D1. I didn't have no other D1 offers, really. And I would say it was a preferred walk-on here at UH. But some of us some schools, D3 and D2 in Texas, I had Shriner, East Texas Baptist,
Ryan Elvin: I had a lot of high academic schools up in the Northeast that I had to make a tough decision because I'm originally from Philadelphia and had a lot of rules up there like John Hopkins and schools like that that was interested in me like high academic wise.
Tom Lidiak: Mm-hmm.
.0Bill Walker: Right.
@NoConfForOldMen: Thank you.
Ryan Elvin: But ultimately, I made a decision that I wanted to stay closer to home because I grew up in Round Rock. like Austin area. So once I kind of made that decision, I was more focused on the D3 schools in Texas and surrounding areas, but really more in Texas, you know, had a few D2 looks and stuff at the time.
Ryan Elvin: i was a little undersized for them to pull the trigger on offer. But a lot D3 Texas schools and like the a ASC conference was kind
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, that's a good question. So I it wasn't really connection. Well, kind of, I would say. So I was familiar with the program because Armani Brooks went to McNeil High School and I went to Cedar Ridge High School and we're in the same district.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Okay. Okay.
Ryan Elvin: So he was a few years older than me. But I kind of knew of the program through him. His dad kind of like works for the district. And so I would see him. he would pop into my school sometimes and I kind of knew him a little bit.
Ryan Elvin: And so i knew I was familiar that Armani had went to Houston and was having a good career. And then I was close with Jamal Shed. He grew up in Austin as well. He went to Maynard High School.
Ryan Elvin: And so I knew him and his family and he kind of, we kind of trained at the same basketball facility in Austin.
@NoConfForOldMen: Thank you.
Ryan Elvin: And so we had a good relationship. So when he kind of started getting recruited by there, I was even more familiar with the program. So that was kind of the the tie. and then the original tie from getting recruited by Coach Kellan is somebody that, like, I knew just, for like, being connected, like, in the basketball world kind of just put a word into his ear to look at me, and, you know, it kind of just went from there. Oh,
Tom Lidiak: Good deal. Hey, by the way, by the way, Ryan, my brother lives in Philly.
.0Bill Walker: What the...
Tom Lidiak: i don't know if you ever heard of Newbold. That's where he lives. Okay.
Ryan Elvin: really? Okay, yeah. i I would have to look at where that is. my I'm not too familiar with
Tom Lidiak: It's, it's, it's South Philly.
Ryan Elvin: Okay.
Tom Lidiak: It's South Philly. Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: Okay. Okay.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: Yeah. this It's a nice area there where my dad and mom are both from. So I go back a lot in the summers and stuff like that.
Tom Lidiak: Sure.
Ryan Elvin: But I didn't spend much time there growing up.
Tom Lidiak: Awesome.
Ryan Elvin: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah. Go ahead, Bill.
.0Bill Walker: my my sister and her family live in wayne if if
Ryan Elvin: well Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I've heard of Wayne for sure.
.0Bill Walker: okay uh okay just a just a
Ryan Elvin: Yeah. I've heard of Wayne for sure.
.0Bill Walker: kind of add on to what what Tom was asking. I'm curious, obviously the culture is key, but what, because I may have done the opposite if I was good enough, but what what made you choose U of H as a walk on over over going to one of the D3 schools and and being able to, you know,
.0Bill Walker: fire up threes for 30 plus minutes a game because I i may have i may have chosen shooting such as much as I possibly can.
Tom Lidiak: Ryan should have gone to, Bill, Ryan should have gone to Grinnell.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: don't know if Ryan's ever heard of Grinnell.
Ryan Elvin: No, sir. haven't.
@NoConfForOldMen: No date.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah. Anyway, go it go ahead, Ryan.
Ryan Elvin: Yeah. and To answer your question, I would say The biggest thing that impressed me about UH and the opportunity other than the culture was just how I kind of wanted to experience the d one aspect of college basketball. And even on like the educational side, a bigger school and a bigger city, I thought for my future and what I wanted to do, like aspiring college basketball coach and being involved in
Ryan Elvin: basketball at the highest levels for year to come for years to come. I thought it was best to place myself in Houston, like a big city. At the time, we was in the American.
Ryan Elvin: Now it's even better, like in the Big 12, bigger platform, just more more connections, get the
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: Just experience that and then learning from a hall of Famer and Coach Sampson. Even as a player, I still feel like I had four years in addition to my short coaching career so far to learn from guy that's going to be in the Hall of Fame and the rest of the staff is awesome as well and super high level are going to be great head coaches one day. So just kind of putting myself in position to be a sponge and being able to learn every day from those guys. That was kind like on a personal level, but I would say more so as what i was looking for as a player, i was looking for like a family atmosphere where I knew that
Ryan Elvin: I was going to be pushed, coach hard and kind of getting outside my comfort zone, both on on the court and off. I would say one thing about UH and the the coaching staff here is they really make you a better person off the floor. like I don't know where I'd be if it wasn't for them, like off the floor wise, like my social skills, interacting with kids, interacting with, you know, parents, interacting with friends, like all that is just, they kind of encompass all that and the way that they run their program based off discipline, like hard work and just treating people with respect and being the best person you can, that's something that really stood out for me.
@NoConfForOldMen: Mm-hmm.
Ryan Elvin: And, you know, at the time of visit, I'm a high school kid and I was just in awe of like how,
Tom Lidiak: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Ryan Elvin: how like encompassing everybody was of me and you know i was a walk-on and not yeah i was a big recruit but they was still like super like family family oriented showing me and my parents and my brother mad love and respect and so that was just something that really stood out and you know it's
Ryan Elvin: It's really cool how it worked out. Nothing against the D3 route. That would have been awesome as well, but it just would have been like a different experience. And I was willing to kind of set my playing time and my so-called playing career aside for the future because i thought it would set me up better for the future. Just you know being able to learn from the guys at UH, if that makes sense.
@NoConfForOldMen: absolutely.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah, great on-the-job training.
@NoConfForOldMen: Very thoughtful.
.0Bill Walker: Nice.
Ryan Elvin: Yes, sir.
Tom Lidiak: it movement
Ryan Elvin: For sure.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah. Yeah, if you don't mind, we we'll we hop off the court for a second. yeah you were You were roommates with a few players. I think most people will will certainly recognize Marcus Sasser, Malik Wilson. And I've read and heard that that that you cooked for a lot of the team, your teammates. and any Any humorous stories, whether it's food related or anything anything at all, about your teammates that the fans might not know about that that you might share with us at at the risk of maybe embarrassing some of them?
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, like you said, I feel like it it goes back to what i was saying earlier about the family atmosphere. Like, you know, we had roommates and stuff, but like we was all always with each other in each other's room after practice, before practice, on the weekend, in the summers, we'd hang out, go places. It's just like,
Ryan Elvin: the you know the family atmosphere i would say it's safe to say jaywan roberts didn't miss a meal very often when i was cooking thought he was first at the door for sure he used to text me like what time what time food gonna be done but yeah jaywan he was a he was a frequent visitor for sure he was a frequent visitor for sure
Tom Lidiak: Ha, Ha, ha. see
.0Bill Walker: guys
Tom Lidiak: Ha, ha. Ha, ha.
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, funny stories though. Just, you know, it's just, you know, it's just feel one time, think it was one time, you know, everybody came over and, you know, Jaywon or somebody tried to,
Ryan Elvin: tried to cook a little bit and, you know, teaching him a little bit what to do.
Tom Lidiak: Thank
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: And, you know, he kind of messed it up and everybody was getting on him a little bit about about how bad the food tasted.
Tom Lidiak: you.
Ryan Elvin: But it really wasn't that bad.
Tom Lidiak: it
Ryan Elvin: But, you know, he had never cooked before. so not really. So he was, you know, trying to figure it out.
Tom Lidiak: me
Ryan Elvin: oh But, you know, yeah, I feel like, you know, cooking was – one of my things that I did in my free time here and there when we had it. and it was just a way like, I didn't, it's hard cooking for one person.
Ryan Elvin: So, you know, i always just and invite some of the guys over if there's extras, like they knew our door was always unlocked.
.0Bill Walker: Thank you.
Ryan Elvin: I was in my room out of here, they'd be like, yo, what's up? And just come in, give me whatever they need.
Tom Lidiak: Mm-hmm.
Ryan Elvin: And then if I'd ever go home and stuff, my mom and dad, they knew, they knew lot of the players from visiting. And so they would send stuff back from them. Like J-Won loved this cake that my mom made.
Ryan Elvin: And every time I went home when I was a freshman, because when I was freshman, kind went home a lot weekends to visit family and stuff.
@NoConfForOldMen: And.
Ryan Elvin: And would always come back with it. So I feel like it's just one of those things that, cool to do just to continue to build relationships with the team and spend time with them and you know that's what college is all about just building relationships with people and you know having a good time and so there's just another form of that
Tom Lidiak: Ryan, what's your go-to meal? If I said cook your best meal, what would it be?
Ryan Elvin: I keep it simple right now. you know know I can't do too much exploring.
Tom Lidiak: hit me
Ryan Elvin: I don't got a whole lot of free time, but maybe some tacos, spaghetti, you know if I'm hamburgers or something, something simple, you know nothing and nothing crazy right now.
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice. Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Sure. Sure. Sure.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Not into smoking meats yet, because it probably takes too much time.
@NoConfForOldMen: got got
Ryan Elvin: No, not yet. Maybe, yeah, when I get older, a little bit more, you know I'll i'll be able to get into that a little bit more, get my own grill and stuff, but not yet.
Tom Lidiak: Thank you.
@NoConfForOldMen: There you go. Hey, so so taking you back onto the court then, i mean, obviously, you know, you've always been a fan favorite all four years there.
Ryan Elvin: there.
@NoConfForOldMen: I think that's pretty typical for for walk-ons, right? Everyone wants to see the walk-ons get some playing time, get some exposure and things like that. And it's obviously going to be tough getting minutes as walk on elite program like Houston.
@NoConfForOldMen: But you actually had what I would consider an iconic moment on court when it counted in the tourney game versus Texas a and m making one of two free throws for four-point lead in OT to basically ice the game for the Cougs.
@NoConfForOldMen: So maybe you can spend a couple minutes, and you've probably covered this endless times, but just bring us back to that moment and share kind of what went through your head, you know how that whole experience was, and how you felt.
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, for sure.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Mm-hmm.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: Because if we didn't blow people out the way but we did, i probably wouldn't have gotten
Tom Lidiak: easy
Ryan Elvin: So, you know, that that was a lot of fun, you know. So shout out to being and on some great teams over my four years because that definitely made for a better experience for me. But, yeah, so, I mean, you know, just, you know, you said a fan favorite. I mean, it kind of took me a little while to embrace that, you know, because not a guy who likes all the attention stuff, but all the – hooting and hollering to get in the game, you know, I mean, you know, it is cool to have the support and definitely appreciate it from all the fans.
Ryan Elvin: So that was like something I'll never forget. I always look back on, you know. But so i would say to the Texas A&M game, yeah, that was just like a blur, you know?
@NoConfForOldMen: hope that.
Ryan Elvin: But yeah, so to go back to that moment, I think it was it was a crazy game as a whole.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: We was up pretty big and
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: We got late in the second half and there was a lot of fouls going back and forth. There was a lot of stuff stoppage, you know, fouls on both sides. And we had a team that we got in foul trouble. And I never really was thinking it, but as more people were started to foul out, I remember this late in game and Emmanuel Sharp, like, looked at me. And this was at the time that, like, you know it was a closest game, like six, four per game. And he looked at me and he's like, stay ready. Like, we might need you. And in my head, i was like,
Ryan Elvin: Like, okay, he's kind of right. Like, because I didn't think, but like but bodies was dropping and, you know, we, you know, we was getting down to, to it went from nine eight to seven.
Tom Lidiak: Hehehehe.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: And then, you know, it was like seven plus me. So he at eight and then now he's at seven with or without me. And I was like, oh, this might be getting real. So, you know, I was a little bit more, you know, had to lock in a little bit more, but it's like, he looked over me, he's like,
Ryan Elvin: I'll be ready. Like, I need you. And and then I think it was, i forget, I'd have to go back and watch the game again. i've You know, from time to time, I always try to go back and watch like old games just for fun or anything.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah,
Ryan Elvin: But, I'd have to go back watch. don't remember, but who fouled out. And then somebody fouled out and it was like 20 some seconds left. And, you know, coach started moving me up the bench, telling me like, be ready, you know, because it's going be like a possession possession game.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah.
Ryan Elvin: And then all a sudden I got subbed in and I don't even remember in that moment what happened because, you know, I like blacked out for real.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: He he he.
Ryan Elvin: You know, I was when I got in, you know, I was I was pretty nervous. But I would say one thing that really helped me probably with that moment is just like the preparation leading up.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
Ryan Elvin: I mean, Coach does like a great job of putting players through adverse situations through their whole career, whereas like you're putting pressure scenarios.
Ryan Elvin: where So like in the game, it's kind of easier. I feel like I started... senior night against Kansas. And when they told me like a few days in advance, that was the most nerve wracking few days I've ever been a part of.
Ryan Elvin: I was so nervous. I'm not going to lie to y'all. So I feel like that moment, like starting there kind of like really i eased up some nerves in that moment because Kansas was a really good opponent.
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice.
Ryan Elvin: And so I kind of had was like prepared myself for that game. And I feel like it kind of helped like Even though two or three minutes that, you know, I did get in that in that game at the start kind of like helped prepare me for like a bigger moment rather than like just like the end of the game.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: So when the game is, you know, already out of control a little bit. oh
Tom Lidiak: Thank you.
Ryan Elvin: So it was kind of just a different feel, you know. But yeah, I just went in there and there's pressing. I think he was up two or three.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: And
@NoConfForOldMen: Three.
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, it was three and it was like 27 seconds left.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: And I remember them, they just kind of like telling each other to like leave me open because I hadn't been in and just like, see, so I cut, get the ball they found me. And in that moment, yeah, I was really nervous at that time.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: I would be lying to you guys if I said I was not nervous, but I really nervous. And me and Jaewon from that team had a good relationship. And I remember he pulled me to the side and he was like, you're real for this. You got this. i You know, he just like, he was like, we just need one for real.
Ryan Elvin: Like, just make one. We're good. was like, I mean, I was listening to him, but I don't know if I was really listening to him. i yeah
Tom Lidiak: you
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: It's easy.
Ryan Elvin: And then it was a cool moment. I look over to my, to my mom was in the stands and she had like a believe sign. She was big at on Ted Lasso at the time. And she has, some she has some sign, you know, that she always, it was like her good luck charm, whatever.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. yeah
Ryan Elvin: No. and it said like believe on it and i've seen her and i could tell she was super nervous so like looked over to the side breaking out and then i was like i'm gonna go to the pre-throw line and i missed the first one uh i think it long just because you know no nerves and then i was like i was like you know let me just shoot this one i think i tried to make the first one a little too much and the second one i just shot and you know let all the reps and hours in the gym just you know take over you know just kind of
Tom Lidiak: Thank you.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep.
Ryan Elvin: but it happened and then, you know it happened and, you know, I made the shot. We was up four, you know, got subbed out and then we got a stop and won. So it a, it was a cool moment that, you know, I'm definitely grateful that got the opportunity, but oh yeah, that's something that you always remember, you know?
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Oh, yeah, absolutely. Thanks so much for sharing that that moment and in finding that insight.
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, no, for sure.
@NoConfForOldMen: That's awesome.
Ryan Elvin: Yeah. Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Now, transitioning to your your current role, right? Yeah. the The website says you're focused on internal ops. And for us fans, maybe you can give us a sense of what what your areas of responsibility are. I mean, and we're not sure if there's any actual coaching involved in your current role or is it day-to-day ops?
@NoConfForOldMen: Maybe you can give us a sense of of what your kind of day-to-day looks like.
Ryan Elvin: Yes, sir. So for the past two years, i was a graduate assistant. And then this year, I'm more of like a player development role. And I kind of,
@NoConfForOldMen: okay. So there is a transition. Okay.
Ryan Elvin: Yes, sir.
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice.
Ryan Elvin: And then I'm so I work a lot with the the guards. So i coach Anthony Goldwire and Coach Hollis Price. They're in charge of the guards. So I assist them with the guards group in our workout. And then our video coordinator, Matthew McDonald,
Ryan Elvin: I assist him as well in the video room. So a lot of video edits as far as cutting up tape for players, coaches, doing scouts. So usually during the year, I'm paired up with Coach Kellen and I assist him in any way needed for the games that he has scouted. So every coach kind of has their teams that they're in charge of to scout.
Ryan Elvin: Every assistant coach does. And so I kind of, help him with that, anything that's needed, paperwork, you know filling out scout forms. But on the day to day, just kind of help with the guards, you know just try to bring a lot of energy.
Ryan Elvin: And when it's when we have like recruits or something on campus and showing them film or something, help Matt, our video coordinator and do whatever is kind of needed.
.0Bill Walker: Thank you.
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice.
Ryan Elvin: in that domain. So it's good because it's a little bit on the court stuff and hands on in that. And then also in in the video room as well, which coming from the player role was something that I really was deficient in when I started two years ago, but it's been a great learning experience. And Matt has really done a great job, like teaching me everything and,
Ryan Elvin: how how it goes back there. So that's been a like a learning curve the first two years, but i think I finally got the hang of how technical stuff, the more technical side goes.
Tom Lidiak: He he he.
Ryan Elvin: so it's been it's been good because you know going in, i think I thought coaching was all this and that, but it's you know there's so much more to it than people might realize.
@NoConfForOldMen: All
Ryan Elvin: So it's been great.
@NoConfForOldMen: right.
@NoConfForOldMen: Hey, Tom, I think.
.0Bill Walker: Tom, are you going to add anything to that?
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Oh, yeah. ah A couple things here, Ryan. yeah You're a young guy and you know you you just got through playing. Could you take us through the transition from going from a a player to a coach? but But you also said that you knew going in going into college you wanted to coach. Is that is that correct?
Ryan Elvin: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. That's correct.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah. has it Has it been difficult, you know, making that transition from from a player to a coach? Or have you, in your mind, had you made that transition a while back?
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, so that's a good question. One of the things that I really thought about, like I said earlier in my my recruitment decision process was like my future. So I was kind of, I really, when my four years were done, I did have one more year because the COVID eligibility.
Ryan Elvin: And I was kind of thinking about different opportunities there, you know.
@NoConfForOldMen: That's right.
Ryan Elvin: But ultimately i just decided, you know, I was, content with, you know, the type of career I had as a walk on, you know, like I said, it was a dream come true. And I thought I really, I gave it all I got. And so I kind of i kind of came to terms with it pretty easy that, you know, I didn't really want to explore anything else. And I kind of wanted to be done with it.
Ryan Elvin: I would say that it was just time I felt like to start my career and I kind of wanted to get going.
Tom Lidiak: Mm-hmm.
Ryan Elvin: I was young, that way I have a lot of time to, learn and work my way up in the industry. And i would say that one of the biggest things, like the adjustment, it was it's always tough because you don't realize like it's done until it's done.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: But I would say one thing that made it easier was staying within the program. So I was blessed by Coach Sampson and the staff that they put me in the graduate assistant role for two years because i feel like
.0Bill Walker: Thank you.
Ryan Elvin: I had to learn the coaching side, but i didn't have to learn the culture side. Whereas if I was going to another program, i would, it might've been a different experience. I would have had to learn.
Ryan Elvin: a whole new program, whole new people, whole new staff, whole new coaching staff, whole new players, all that. And then on top, now I'm personally going through, okay, I'm going from a player and working out every day.
Ryan Elvin: Now i'm working out people. It's just different.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: So I would say that it was really great experience for me because I could focus more so on the transition in the coaching rather than like the culture shift because I kind of was already familiar, already comfortable. And I would say because I was really at peace with it and kind of made that decision pretty early on that the transition wasn't too hard. It was different. you no you know, you don't get the breaks in the middle of the day between practice, you know, and stuff to reset.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: He he he.
Ryan Elvin: Now you're up there all day, you know, working out players, coaches meetings, watching videos, you know, some days you might be up a little later in the season, especially like around tournament time conference season, scouting.
Ryan Elvin: So, you know, it was a different challenge, whereas coaching is a lot more of a mental challenge and, know, playing is a mental challenge too but it's also like physical like body the demand you know whereas coaching you kind of got to be sharp like at all the times the day like even two or three o'clock at night sometimes of watching film you know late in the season you got to be like mentally sharp to try to help the assistant coaches prepare for the games as good as possible so I feel like
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep. Yep.
Ryan Elvin: because I you know already had and and this is what I wanted to do. It wasn't something like an injury or something like that that kind of deterred me away from basketball. You know, I kind of left on great terms with the game as far as the playing aspect.
Ryan Elvin: So the coaching thing was just, know, pretty seamless transition. so
Tom Lidiak: So you've clicked, you've clicked from player to coach pretty, pretty much already.
Ryan Elvin: Yes, sir. I feel like first year, you know, sometimes I would find myself up there on the weekends a little bit more, you know, still trying to shoot and stuff because I kind of needed that.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: Like I had that itch. But now, you know, transitioned a little bit more to the weight room side and the running side rather than the basketball side.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice.
Ryan Elvin: know, still keep in decent basketball shape. But I could say that now you could see a difference between my game three years ago and my game now. I've hit that point, you know.
Ryan Elvin: It's time for the men's leagues maybe be rather than, you know, playing with our guys.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
Ryan Elvin: So, yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: eyes
Ryan Elvin: and so
Tom Lidiak: And know Steve and Bill, i I don't know if you guys had this on your question sheet, but Reiner, would you want to discuss your coaching goals? You know, like, for example, what could you see yourself doing, you know, in 15 years?
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, no, for sure. I mean, I really just want to continue to get back to the game and learn. My goal one day would be to be a head coach at the Division I level or really any college professional opportunity that have.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: You know, I just want to – but I got a long way to go, so I just want to continue.
Tom Lidiak: well that's – yeah.
Ryan Elvin: Yeah.
Tom Lidiak: I've always – and I'm kind of biased, but I think guards make the best head
Ryan Elvin: But, yeah, I just want to continue to learn, you know, work myself, work my way up, connect make connections, learn the game at professional level, college level.
Ryan Elvin: I got a lot to learn as far as, like, recruiting all that goes and all that kind of stuff. So I got a lot to learn. But eventually my goal one day is to be head coach, run my own program.
Tom Lidiak: Awesome.
Ryan Elvin: That's kind of a big goal of mine.
@NoConfForOldMen: All right.
.0Bill Walker: Nice. Yeah, just to add one quick thing onto that, guards are certainly the smartest people, no question about that.
Tom Lidiak: And hey, maybe when Kellan's done, Ryan, you you can be the successor to Kellan.
Tom Lidiak: That'd be awesome. But go go ahead, Bill.
Ryan Elvin: sir
.0Bill Walker: Oh, okay. Well, I wanted to... going off track a little bit. We all know, we read certainly what what a huge influence your father was on you, especially academically. I know you're you're academic All-American three times. this This question is is probably good that I'm asking it because my father tried to do everything he could to push me in that direction and unfortunately failed and that that's 100% on me.
@NoConfForOldMen: Thank you.
.0Bill Walker: But can you discuss you know the impact that that your dad had on your life, your development as as a person, player, and and now as a coach?
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, my dad, Scott Elvin, he had a big impact on my life growing up. Me and him had like a unique, I would say, relationship because of how tight we were.
Ryan Elvin: oh Sometimes my mom would be like, y'all two peas in the pod. Like, I can't deal with y'all.
Tom Lidiak: Hehehehe.
Ryan Elvin: You know, to be before my brother, you know, I was still young, but we had, you know, maybe team up on her a little bit, you know, and she would get all upset.
.0Bill Walker: Thank you.
@NoConfForOldMen: Mm-hmm.
Tom Lidiak: you think it
Ryan Elvin: But I feel like one thing that, you know, i appreciate about my dad is that he never – really tried to push me to do anything that i didn't want to do.
Ryan Elvin: But if I said I wanted something out of the game of basketball, like I did, he was going make sure that I had the best experience possible. And he did a great, him and my mom both did a great job of showing me like what hard work it looks like,
Ryan Elvin: on everyday, you know, everyday basis. And I feel like, you know, one of the things that I really learned from them is my work ethic and how nothing in life is handed to you.
Ryan Elvin: You got to go get everything in life. And so, yeah, me and him just bonded through through the game of basketball.
Ryan Elvin: He actually played baseball. My mom played college basketball. So she was kind of a hooper in the family.
@NoConfForOldMen: wow.
.0Bill Walker: Mm-hmm.
@NoConfForOldMen: Okay.
Ryan Elvin: She kind of you know gets upset when people say you learn about shooting from your dad.
@NoConfForOldMen: There you go.
Ryan Elvin: She'll try to tell you that she's a shooter in the family and that these are from her.
Tom Lidiak: but Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
Ryan Elvin: But hey, that's a conversation from a different day.
Tom Lidiak: Mm-hmm.
Tom Lidiak: we
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep. Hmm.
Ryan Elvin: But yeah, so he we always used to go to the gym together like after school, but he never would be like, we go into the gym. You know, his rule was I always had to ask him.
Ryan Elvin: And, you know, when I didn't, you know, we didn't go to the gym, but most times, you know, I wore him out and I was blessed that he had a flexible job that, as I got older, he worked from home more. And so he had a little bit more flexibility. And so, you know, any day we had off school, he was going, like, I remember times I got up at five, five AM and we would go to the gym before his work, before my school. And, you I'm grateful that I had a father that,
Ryan Elvin: was able to do that and willing to do that. So yeah, that was a big part. And then I just feel like He had a big impact on me going to UH because he really liked Coach Sampson and the whole staff. And he is like, you're going to be set here.
Ryan Elvin: He really loved the discipline and the accountability. And one thing that really stood out to him was how no matter if you're the best playerer first player, player, like in the program, you're going to be treated the same. And he was like, you know, that's rare. And so that was something that kind of stood out to him about the University of Houston. But yeah, so going back to him, just I really learned a lot from his work ethic and his everyday life. And you know now I just try to make him proud, work as hard as I can.
Ryan Elvin: And hopefully one day, you know I can pass on that that same characteristic to my kids and the kids on my team and and stuff like that. So definitely a big a big part of my life. And my mom, you know, she was heavily involved as well.
Ryan Elvin: Just having two two parents that really wanted the best for me, put put me in every situation I could to be successful. You know, i can't I can't you can't ask for anything better than that.
Tom Lidiak: That's awesome.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah, read where you weren't going to be allowed to play and unless you made a's
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, my my my my dad had a no Abe, no play rule because you know he saw that I was able to get all A's and you know, his big thing was never, oh yeah, my bad. I forgot you asked about the academic side as well. Yeah, no A, no play rule was a big thing in our house, our household.
Ryan Elvin: He really believed in like, if I wasn't capable of it, he wouldn't hold me to that standard. But once he saw that, know, was capable A's, you know, it was all A's, you know, one time i remember there was, it was a close call.
Ryan Elvin: I was like, you know, like,
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: 89, 88.8.
Tom Lidiak: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Ryan Elvin: like, I had to beg my teacher.
Tom Lidiak: Mm-hmm.
Ryan Elvin: i was like, you know, you don't understand, ma'am. Like, basketball is going to be on a show for about four weeks if you don't bump up my grades. I thought I was a crazy man for asking for 89 to be bumped up to 90.
Tom Lidiak: youp fifty
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: I'm like, ma'am, you don't understand.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: Like, this is this is my life.
Tom Lidiak: didn
Ryan Elvin: is So I remember he he told me, is you know, he went to my mom and he was like, hey, like, Are we going to budge on this if he gets 89? And my mom's like, yeah, we can let him play.
Ryan Elvin: And my dad's like, all right. Well, if you budge, then the no A, no play rule is over because he's going to know, you know, that didn't stay on.
.0Bill Walker: Bye.
Ryan Elvin: So good thing I didn't put them in a situation where they really had to budge. But it wasn't, you know, I've made most the A's for my whole career. You know, college got a little different.
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice.
Ryan Elvin: know, me and him had to talk about that, you know, exactly.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, yeah. Nice.
Ryan Elvin: but But, yeah, so he, you know, he but he was also knew i was really hard on myself when it came to to academics and, you know,
Tom Lidiak: e
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
Ryan Elvin: You know, he he was he was big on the academic side. Like, I would have friends that he kind of took under his wing and would have over to the house. And that's actually who I learned my cooking from because he was a big cook.
Ryan Elvin: And we have, like, an open house policy where all my friends would come in and his big thing is, like, all right, like, show me them grades. Like, because a lot of them struggled and kind of made sure that it was on the right path.
Tom Lidiak: yeah
Ryan Elvin: And a lot of them went on to play, like, D1 football and stuff. So, yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice.
Ryan Elvin: Yeah.
@NoConfForOldMen: No, that's awesome.
.0Bill Walker: God, if it had been it had been no way no play for me, sports would have played no role in my life.
Ryan Elvin: yeah
Tom Lidiak: Thank
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
.0Bill Walker: None.
Tom Lidiak: you.
.0Bill Walker: None.
@NoConfForOldMen: nothing
.0Bill Walker: So it's it's hard for me to even comprehend what you're talking about.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
Ryan Elvin: That's funny. That's funny.
@NoConfForOldMen: No, I love it. Hey, so as we transition now on to the team right itself and your involvement with the team, you know as we look at this past season, you know it's three seasons in the Big 12. We've been first, first, and then second of the Big 12 with yet another Sweet 16 run this past season. And it's just been elite success with this program.
@NoConfForOldMen: And quite surreal for us old timers right that had to live through basically two decades of the desert with uh really poor play and but But if you look at this past season, it was also probably our youngest team that we've had in in quite a bit of time. And it showed at times on the defensive side.
@NoConfForOldMen: And especially so since, you know, coaches defensive schemes really require a certain level of intensity, you know, physicality, as well as familiarity, right, in order to to move quickly and and cover things off.
@NoConfForOldMen: This upcoming season, though, I mean, you guys have gone a different direction. We still got a couple of really phenomenal freshmen coming in.
@NoConfForOldMen: But now it's the guys that are coming in are all experienced D1 players, right? Some from smaller programs, so they've got a bit of an edge to them as well. And so, you know, from your perspective, I don't know how involved you are in the recruiting front and kind of the decision making there and the discussions there, but it looked like it was a conscious effort to to kind of create a different type of profile for this upcoming season. Is that, or are we reading too much into it?
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, i mean, obviously I don't play too much of a role in the decision-making process and the recruiting at all. My role is more so the prospects that they do send us, you know, that they want pull highlight tape for and stuff that.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: That's kind more my role. So when they when our coaches get a name in the portal whatever, they'll – though text the video room and we'll kind of get on it and make an edit so they can kind of see the strengths and weaknesses of that player's game and how they kind of fit. They usually already kind of have a familiarity from word of mouth or seeing highlight tapes or sometimes, you know, a player might be coming from our same conference what or we played against, whatever whatever it may be.
Ryan Elvin: But yeah, I mean, I would say definitely this year's team is more veteran and more experienced. Last year's team was a great and we had a great season.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: You know, a lot of those guys are drafted, super talented.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: So it'd be definitely fun to watch them and their careers. And they had a they had a great impact in the program. And there was a lot of fun to be around.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: So it sucks that it can only be for one year. but
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, yeah.
Ryan Elvin: happy for them and you know they're all uh great guys you know milos kingston emmanuel chris all those guys like they were awesome so i'm definitely rooting for them but yeah this year it's gonna be exciting year as well have a lot of guys that have you know been in college programs for a while that could you know haven't been
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: a part of the program here at Houston, but they do have experience and in college and they're older. So it's going to be interesting to see how it all comes together for us this year. So it should be a lot of fun.
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah. And to kind of jump on that, yeah know we're replacing four starters, three key reserves. How do you right now see the team materializing? And the new players, as much as you've seen them so far, who do you see potentially making an immediate impact?
Ryan Elvin: Yeah, I think that, you know, all of the guys that we brought in are all talented in their own ways.
Ryan Elvin: oh You know, freshmen that we brought in, they're all very talented coming from high school programs. So now they're just having to make that transition from high school to college that we all go through learning how hard it is, how you got to practice hard every day, compete, you know, or sometimes in high school, you know, I was guilty of this.
Ryan Elvin: I kind of just might coast through practice, you know, because, you know, looking forward to the games.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: But, you know, at UH, like practices are extremely important. Every workout, every conditioning thing is a big thing. And, you know, one thing I feel like an adjustment that you have to make is learning how to, you know,
Ryan Elvin: do things for others. You know, you're not just trying to score points and stuff like in high school for your own self to get recruited or your team to do well and win games. But here, like you're just creating memories with your brothers that will last a lifetime, both on the court and off the court.
Ryan Elvin: so all the freshmen super talented and you know just we'll have to make that adjustment like every freshman that's ever played college basketball and then the returners that we've had at this u h Chase, Mercy, Cordell, this they'll have just the JoJo, they just continue to lead the new guys and show them the ropes because even though some of the newer guys have played a lot of college games, it's different playing
Ryan Elvin: playing for Coach Sampson. So just for them to continue to lead those guys and show them how things are done here at UH. But I would say all the all the transfers are going to have a big impact.
Ryan Elvin: They continue to learn our system defensively and offensively, just like the culture and the brotherhood that it takes. to play here and you know when once they learn that it's going to be a great season and then they can really use their veteran experience and their experiences that they've personally had to kind of you know give that to the team and that's when everything comes together and we try to you know do great things
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice. So you mentioned JoJo, Chase, and Mercy, right? And obviously, I think everyone's expecting them to play more prominent roles this upcoming season. But are there other returning players that that you've seen that you believe are going to make that big jump coming into this season?
Ryan Elvin: I mean, yeah, so the other returners would be Cordell and Bryce. Bryce coming off his redshirt year, he's really good.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: He really pushed our guys last year in practice, and you know there's times you can really see glimpses. of how good and how hard he plays. So a year for him, like learning from the older guys, like the guards, like last year, Emmanuel, Milos and all those guys. Now he kind of sees the culture and how he can carve out a role for himself. And then the other guy, Cordell,
Ryan Elvin: coming off injury he's really been locked in and spent a lot of time in the gym and you can tell like he's really trying to push those guys that are incoming because he knows the ropes you know it's his fourth year in the program so it's his
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice. Yep.
Ryan Elvin: his opportunity to step up in more of like a leadership role. And, you know, that's just kind of the natural cycle. You know, when he first came in, he had Jamal and those guys to look up to. And now he's that he's that guy that has to set the tone in in workouts or in practice. So it's going be fun watching him embrace that role. And so I'm excited to see that as well.
.0Bill Walker: Nice. Steve, you want to hit hit this next one and I'll get to the most important question last.
@NoConfForOldMen: Sure. I mean, so, so what's your, what's your expectation, right? Now you're part of the, the coaching staff. Is it, is the standard remain the same in terms of like big 12 contention, final four contention going into the year?
@NoConfForOldMen: Is that, is that,
Ryan Elvin: I mean, yes, sir, of course. I feel like this time the year is still early. So one thing that's just coaches big on just being in the moment, not looking too far ahead.
Ryan Elvin: So, you know, the first thing that we would want to accomplish is when the the regular season Big 12 conference. And then once you do that, everything after that will come after that.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep. Yep.
Ryan Elvin: So we just try to keep the guys locked in. You know, right now, like the focus is just preparing every day, getting better for the first game or the first exhibition, and first scrimmage, like everything is leading up to that first scrimmage right now. So that that's the main focus. And as a coach, I try to keep that,
Ryan Elvin: that same perspective, just really focus on what's ahead, not looking in too far. So I would say, you know, the first game is the the main focus and then, you know, a bigger goal would be the first bigger goal to check off our box as a team would be to win the regular season Big 12 Conference Championship.
@NoConfForOldMen: That's great.
@NoConfForOldMen: Nice.
.0Bill Walker: Nice. Well, guess to conclude, and like I said, most important question is, you know, based on based on your your your popularity, the relationships with everyone that that you've developed, a any chance you can leverage these relationships and hook us up i
Ryan Elvin: I
.0Bill Walker: with with with with with at least one or more high dollar sponsorships, like like the one you've had with Star Pizza.
Ryan Elvin: don't know about that, but hey, you said you're the Houston area, maybe I got reach out to start pizza and me you go get a pizza one day or something like that.
.0Bill Walker: Done, done.
@NoConfForOldMen: very There you There you go.
Ryan Elvin: yeah like Sounds like a plan.
Tom Lidiak: mr put
.0Bill Walker: Absolutely.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah
Tom Lidiak: no
Ryan Elvin: yeah
@NoConfForOldMen: That's awesome.
.0Bill Walker: I'm 100% on board.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: All right.
@NoConfForOldMen: Hey, so that's really all the questions that we had planned here today. in Ryan, I don't know if there's anything else that you wanted to say to our listeners before we close out the the interview.
Ryan Elvin: No, just want to thank y'all for having me on. You know, I definitely have to, youu you said episode number 81. I'm definitely going have to go back and see all the things that y'all did.
@NoConfForOldMen: Ha ha ha ha ha.
Tom Lidiak: Thank you.
Ryan Elvin: Like, you know, so.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yep. Yep.
Ryan Elvin: I got to go see all the different episodes. But to all listeners, man, you guys tap in with No no Conference for Old Men podcast. Three great dudes that they just love basketball.
@NoConfForOldMen: it
Ryan Elvin: They just trying to, you know, get back to the sport and they big UH fans. So i feel like the Cougar community needs to rally around these guys and, you know, make sure everybody knows about this podcast because it's big time. So i appreciate y'all for having me on. Go Cougs, baby.
Tom Lidiak: yep yep yep thanks so much for ryan
@NoConfForOldMen: Go Cougs.
Ryan Elvin: Yes, sir.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah, and thank you so much.
.0Bill Walker: You are a genius.
@NoConfForOldMen: yeah There you go.
Ryan Elvin: We appreciate y'all.
@NoConfForOldMen: And you've been an awesome guest. We really appreciate it And we know the fans are really gonna appreciate this.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah. that
Ryan Elvin: Yes, sir.
@NoConfForOldMen: All right.
.0Bill Walker: Yeah. Thank you. Thank you so much.
Tom Lidiak: and wait we'd like to have you on again sometime you know maybe next yeah
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah.
Ryan Elvin: Oh, for sure. Let's do it again, for sure.
@NoConfForOldMen: Yeah. All right.
.0Bill Walker: Maybe we can tape from Star Pizza.
@NoConfForOldMen: there he There go.
Tom Lidiak: but
Ryan Elvin: Hey, now you understand it. There you Hey. There you go.
@NoConfForOldMen: Okay, so that's it for this episode 81 of the No Conference for Old Men podcast. Hope you all enjoyed it. And again, we'd really appreciate it if folks would follow, subscribe, or click our podcast on whatever your platform of choice is.
@NoConfForOldMen: We're also available via Dave Campbell's College Podcast Network as our only basketball-centric podcast. We're at the GoCooks.com YouTube page for those that want to see what we look like. We appreciate the continued support from all. Also, please give us a follow on our Twitter account, No Conference for Old Men. Thank you all again for listening.
@NoConfForOldMen: And again, as a reminder, we're in our off-season cadence now, and we'll have one episode per month. So be on the lookout to download and listen as the next episode drops. Take care, everyone. Go Cougs!
.0Bill Walker: Go Cougs. cos
