1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: This song prominently featured in Office Space. Keep that in 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: the back of your mind, cause I have a question 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: for Ryan Carr as it relates to that said twenty 4 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: seven year old movie. But joining me now on the 5 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 1: Java House Colbrew Coffee guest line. After a long executive 6 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: career with the Indiana Pacers, it was within the last 7 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: few weeks that we found out that Ryan Carr is 8 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: now the executive director of basketball for Indiana University, the 9 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 1: Hoosiers his alma mater, and he joins me now on 10 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: the program. Ryan, how are you. 11 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 2: I'm doing great. It's good to be with you. 12 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: Okay. Let's and I know that some of the things 13 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: that I'm going to ask and we're going to go 14 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: over here are things that are obvious to the two 15 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: of us and probably to many people who might have 16 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: followed your journey. But at the same time, knowing that 17 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: many listening may not know the background of it, I 18 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: think it's pertinent. So I wanted to go back to it. Okay, sure, 19 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: you grew up and see if I can get this correct. 20 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: You grew up in pall Up, Washington. I don't if 21 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: I'm saying that correctly, and went to Rogers High school. 22 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, it's phenomenally close for someone that did not 23 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 2: grow up out there. 24 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 1: Okay, how do you actually say how do you actually 25 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: say it? 26 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 2: I mean you were you were ninety eight percent of 27 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 2: the way to saying that correctly. 28 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:21,039 Speaker 1: Pew ollup right, Yeah, like a church pew pew olyup. Okay, 29 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: so Washington or like those friends in the Star Wars. Yeah, 30 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: there you go, right pretty much? 31 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:27,119 Speaker 2: Okay, exactly. 32 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: So let's begin with this because the journey is pertinent 33 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: to where you are now. And this factoid is, how 34 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: does a kid from Pewallup, Washington, aside from driving a 35 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: car across the country, end up going to school in Bloomington, Indiana. 36 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 2: That's a that's a great question. And I, you know, 37 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 2: I from the time I was probably in late elementary school. 38 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 2: I think I started playing basketball when I was in 39 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 2: probably fourth fourth grade is maybe the team I remember 40 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 2: being on it like a YMCA. I just I loved it. Unfortunately, 41 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 2: from from the moment I started playing up until the 42 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 2: last second I ever played, I was the smallest, stroniest, 43 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 2: most unathletic kid. But that didn't stop me for as 44 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 2: long as I could, and I was able to play 45 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 2: on teams all the way up until my senior year 46 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 2: of high school, and I didn't make the team as 47 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 2: a senior, And shout out to my coaches and in 48 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:34,519 Speaker 2: particular the high school coach at at Rogers High School 49 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 2: that you mentioned, Rod Iverson. Coach Iverson, even though he 50 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 2: cut me, knew how much I love loved the sport 51 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 2: I was. He and his son who was like an 52 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 2: All league point guard, like the opposite talent of me, 53 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 2: and I were best friends and I was at his 54 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 2: house a lot and all that. But he let me 55 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: stick around and and uh and kind of work with 56 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 2: the coaching staff do some statistic stuff that senior year 57 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 2: and kept me around the game. I'd go scouting games 58 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 2: with the coaches and just just really stayed involved. And 59 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 2: and during that time, I wrote letters. Back then, their 60 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: email didn't exist, I wrote letters to I mean, I 61 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 2: always say thirty. I'm sure it was at least thirty 62 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 2: coaches around the country, big time programs, mid programs, just 63 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 2: whoever I watched on TV probably growing up that I 64 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 2: thought looked like good basketball, asking you know what a 65 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 2: kid like me could do? Was there a way to 66 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 2: go be involved with the program and learn and and 67 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 2: originally I didn't even write a letter to Indiana. My 68 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 2: dad was a marine. I think they at that he 69 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 2: I think they always say they are a marine if 70 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 2: they were a marine. So he was a marine, and 71 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 2: and he loved Coach Night. It was shortly, you know, 72 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 2: a season on the brink, that book came out. I 73 00:03:57,600 --> 00:03:59,839 Speaker 2: had read that when I was in middle school. There's 74 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 2: actually I remember very clearly a page or two in 75 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 2: there describing like what managers did in Indiana, kind of 76 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 2: the responsibilities, how it was a good place for them 77 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 2: to grow into coaches, and some of the success stories 78 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: even then of managers. So even though you know, Indiana 79 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 2: was on in our house all the time, I thought 80 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 2: coach and I was kind of crazy myself, but my 81 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 2: dad said, you know, you should write a letter there. 82 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: So I did. Well. Of all those letters, I only 83 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 2: got one back, and only one one coach that I 84 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 2: wrote to wrote me back, and I was coaching I 85 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 2: and there was no promise in that, but he did. 86 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 2: In that letter, which is hanging on my wall and 87 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 2: up in my home, is just kind of describing they 88 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 2: have a manager program and all that stuff. And then 89 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 2: it just so happened at Rogers High school. One of 90 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 2: the guys who was actually a really good player did 91 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 2: make the team, was an All League player. His grandfather 92 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 2: owned bottom Back Basketballs, who at the time, you know, 93 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 2: had Coach Night on an endorsement contract. Indiana used their basketballs. 94 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 2: I didn't really even know any of that at the time, 95 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 2: but I got a call from from Ed Schindler, who 96 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 2: was the owner of the company one day told me 97 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 2: that his grandson, Jamie Haig, who now lives in South 98 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 2: Bend as a Notre Dame Draad, had had told him 99 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: about what I wanted to do, and Coach and I 100 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 2: was coming through Seattle and wanted to know if I, 101 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 2: you know, wanted him to talk to me about having 102 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 2: a chance to to be a manager here. And he'd 103 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 2: talked to him and they you know, and probably a 104 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 2: very you know, very udoubtedly one of the smallest decisions 105 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 2: Coach and I had ever made his life. He let 106 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 2: this kid, you know, come from Seattle to be a 107 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 2: manager and uh, you know, and. 108 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: You had never been on the Indiana campus, right. 109 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 2: No, no way, I'd never been in the Midwest. I 110 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 2: had been to like Washington, d C. I've been to, 111 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 2: you know, trying to ofwhere else but I had never 112 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 2: ever been in the Midwest. 113 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: You know, when you're driving down thirty seven, go ahead. 114 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: Well I was gonna say, when you're driving down thirty 115 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: seven back in those days from Indianapolis after and coming 116 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: down to Bloomington and you get to the little hills 117 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: of Martinsville, it looks like the Cascade Mountains, right, I mean, 118 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: there was no reason to be homesick. 119 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, Well, Brown County and southern Indiana does have 120 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: some beautiful scenery, but not not quite the Cascades. I'm 121 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 2: still looking for the equivalent to Mount Rain here, but 122 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 2: I haven't found it. 123 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: Well, you'll be looking for a while. 124 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 2: It's find on the first drive from the airport down 125 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:40,039 Speaker 2: going through Martinsville was Larry bird Ford and which was 126 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 2: kind of and I knew that John Wooden had grown 127 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:46,279 Speaker 2: up like I had known the history of Indiana, you know. 128 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 2: Obviously Hoosiers had come out not too long before that 129 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 2: as well. So I was all in on Indiana being 130 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 2: like the mecca that, you know, the homeland for basketball 131 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 2: or whatever. So it was it was exciting to come 132 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 2: but led to you know, led to me being here 133 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 2: and the rest of the story. 134 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: Okay, so you and I think most people know by 135 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 1: then after your time in Indiana, you you know, you 136 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: got into college coaching, You were at UTEP for a while, 137 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: you went to a couple of different places, and then 138 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:17,239 Speaker 1: ultimately a connection with Larry Bird got you hired. Really Ryan, 139 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, at I hate to say 140 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: like on the ground floor, but I mean you started 141 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: at the very beginning with the Pacers, and then we're 142 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: moonlighting and fast food right. 143 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 2: Oh heah for sure. Yeah. So so my first my 144 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 2: first jift, like when I got out of school, I 145 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,239 Speaker 2: worked for Kim Night for a while doing doing some 146 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 2: sports promotion stuff. And then a ye, a little over 147 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 2: a year after I got out of school here at Indiana, 148 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 2: got hired to do as a video intern for the Pacers. 149 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 2: This was in the like September nineteen ninety seven. Larry 150 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 2: had just gotten hired as a coach of the Pacers 151 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 2: and they need you know, as a manager here. I 152 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 2: had done a ton of like film breakdowns and different 153 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: stuff helping the coaches, and so they needed somebody that 154 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: knew how to do all that. I got hired to 155 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 2: do that. Yes, that internship was was very low paying. 156 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 2: They pay was thirty dollars a home game, so that 157 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 2: that's not a lot even you know, I mean even 158 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 2: if you have ten home games in a month, that 159 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 2: doesn't pay pay the rent. So yeah, what has become 160 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 2: a fairly infamous or famous part of my story is 161 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 2: yet I got up early in the morning. Is the 162 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 2: only job I could find that I could get done 163 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 2: in time in order to be up at Marcus Square 164 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:41,559 Speaker 2: Arena by noon or so, was to you know, clean 165 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 2: parking lots of Burger king. And I didn't make any food. 166 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 2: They didn't let me handle food, They didn't I didn't 167 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 2: even get to handle money. But they let me clean 168 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 2: the parking lots, and I mean, what the heck? Why not? 169 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 2: Like it was enough to pay rent? And then it 170 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 2: allowed me to be you know work, you know, learning 171 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 2: from Dan Burke and Rick Carlisle, Dick Harter and Larry 172 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 2: for sure, and probably you know that that lasted a 173 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 2: few months. They found out they started paying me like 174 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 2: seven dollars an hour, and I was super jack to 175 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 2: do that and not have to get up at five 176 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 2: in the morning to spray down the parking lot. 177 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: So Ryan, when you were with the pacers and so 178 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: so now that brings us to the meat of the 179 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: matter here, right, You're working for the Pacers. You've been 180 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: there for a quarter century. You've worked your way up 181 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 1: to an executive level. You know, you were overseeing their 182 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: scouting department. You were the you know, involvement player, the 183 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: very top of player personnel. And you know, here's a 184 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 1: franchise that was two quarters away from an NBA title, 185 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: and I know what that franchise meant to you. So 186 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 1: the first question would be this, why leave? 187 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 2: That's a you know, there was no pressure. Certainly, I 188 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 2: love the people I worked with. They could tell you 189 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 2: during my cheery advised last week of how you know, 190 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 2: it's it's obvious how much number one, the people there 191 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 2: mean to me, from mister Simon and Steve Simon, mister Rails, 192 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 2: who over the past few years I got to interact 193 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:17,559 Speaker 2: with tremendously, as you know, kind of part of the 194 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 2: executive staff, you know, with putting together the team and 195 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 2: and all that, all the way down to everybody. I mean, 196 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 2: I've been there so long and I you know, obviously 197 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 2: it's a job and we're putting together a team, but 198 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 2: it's really people, and you developed these very close relationships 199 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 2: and and all of that, and it was as you said, look, 200 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 2: they're going to be back to being really really good 201 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 2: again next year. You know, when when the call came 202 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 2: is a little bit shocking in a way. I over 203 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:53,959 Speaker 2: the years I've put I've put very very little thought 204 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,079 Speaker 2: into even pursuing that. 205 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: So Indiana and Indiana reached out to you, not the 206 00:10:59,440 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: other way around. 207 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, they coach Debreez called Chad and asked for permission 208 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 2: to talk to me about this job that they wanted 209 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 2: to They wanted to create and and add to the 210 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 2: program and kind of the current current uh you know, 211 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 2: uh era of of college sports. And and I had 212 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 2: gotten to know Darren over the last year. He's pretty 213 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 2: close with Chad. They're both from Iowa. So not long 214 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 2: before he took the job, I met him and you know, 215 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 2: just as a fan or you know, an alum all 216 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 2: of that, would text him before games, after games, you know, 217 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:43,439 Speaker 2: offer any anything I could do to help. He had 218 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 2: come up with his family to a couple of games 219 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 2: at different times and just really liked him, and and 220 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,839 Speaker 2: then you know, got to talk a little basketball with him. 221 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 2: I think we're pretty similar in how we view the game. 222 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 2: And over the years to obviously Scott Dolson. When I 223 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 2: came here as a student, he was a young worker 224 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 2: in UH in the Varsity Club, and I've known him 225 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 2: since since then, and we always kept in touch through 226 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 2: changes here. Scott was a person that you know, was 227 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 2: always here, So there's some you know, some familiarity whenever 228 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 2: I'd come down or or or whatever. So yeah, So 229 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 2: so Darren made the call and we started talking about 230 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 2: We had a couple of long conversations, one in particular, 231 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 2: just trying to figure out what maybe we do with 232 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 2: the pacers that could work in this environment, What might 233 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 2: you know, what wouldn't really work what they're doing and 234 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 2: how you know, just a really interesting conversation and trying 235 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 2: to trying to see if there was, you know, something 236 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 2: that that made sense and and worked. And I think 237 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 2: as we started talking, you know that I've said that, 238 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,920 Speaker 2: I said this last week, like obviously there's a ton 239 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 2: of nostalgia for me. But I wasn't gonna take a 240 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 2: job on nostalgia, like I you know, I was gonna 241 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 2: as we started talking about it, it had to be 242 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 2: about the tools here him as a coach, you know, 243 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 2: the resources, the the all the different things. A job 244 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 2: that would be you know, fulfilling and and and be 245 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 2: a challenge. Uh, and be something that would you know, 246 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,680 Speaker 2: I would wake up every morning super excited to go 247 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 2: do like I already had all that. So it had 248 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 2: to it really had to be something perfect. 249 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: Okay, So with that challenge, Ryan, Okay, I don't know 250 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 1: if you've seen the movie Office Space, but in the 251 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:36,719 Speaker 1: movie Office. 252 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 2: Space maybe I did. 253 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 1: All So, yeah, I mean it's old movie, right, but 254 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: there's the dude in it. The main character is at work, right, 255 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: and they bring in consultants that are like trying to 256 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: figure out what everybody does. And So if I'm sitting 257 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 1: in your office right now at Assembly Hall, and you 258 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 1: and I've known each other a long time, right, if 259 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: I'm sitting there in your office Assembly Hall, I'm looking 260 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: around the office. I'm looking at Ryan Carr, who I've 261 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:01,719 Speaker 1: known forever is now the executive director of Basketball at Indiana. 262 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: And then this scene from the movie comes into my head. 263 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:06,679 Speaker 1: This question comes into my head. 264 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 2: Here, what would you say you do here? 265 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,800 Speaker 1: So if I can say it so so point blank, Ryan, 266 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: what exactly does executive director of Basketball at Indiana do? 267 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: Tell me the primary responsibility you have and the day 268 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 1: to day of what it is that you're doing. 269 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, eight Number one is to help build the roster, 270 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 2: help build next year's rosters. So you know that that's 271 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 2: going to be that is, and that's going to be 272 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 2: a huge, huge majority, vast majority of what I do. 273 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 2: Be somebody that has is able to take all the 274 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:52,360 Speaker 2: experience I've I've had with with dealing with agents, evaluating players, 275 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 2: putting teams together, and help Daron in this staff, you know, 276 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 2: figure out, make decisions, help them and they're all awesome. 277 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 2: Like I couldn't be more impressed with my first day 278 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 2: stepping in here, whether it's preparing the team for a game, 279 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 2: the way the practices go, our meetings as a staff, 280 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 2: just really impressed with all these guys. And it's been 281 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 2: a joy to get a chance. It's an odd time 282 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 2: to join a team toward towards the end of a season, 283 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 2: but they've been awesome and I think there's been easy rapport. 284 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: So do you have to figure out salary cap and 285 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: salary caps the wrong word because they don't have that. 286 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: But as part of it going out and saying okay, 287 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: I know that Scott Dolson or the NIL has a 288 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: lot of us this amount of money, and I'm the 289 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: buck that decides who gets what amount based on what 290 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: each player is looking for. Is that a fair assessment 291 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: of what part of the job entails. 292 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't. I mean, I don't see myself ever 293 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 2: like that. What I see is we're gonna work together 294 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 2: and we're gonna use is a ton of collective experience 295 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 2: to figure out the best way to use what the 296 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 2: what what we're allowed to spend on a roster and 297 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 2: do it, you know, do it the best we can make, 298 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 2: you know, try to get the best value where we 299 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 2: can make sure we have the best player evaluations in 300 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 2: making decisions of how we spend that to do it responsibly. 301 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 2: Uh and and and in many many ways, it'll be 302 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 2: a lot of the same conversations that we would sit 303 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 2: around a table up and you know, outside Kevin's office 304 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 2: and do multiple times a week, just going over different scenarios, 305 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 2: talking through how the team fits, what are we lacking, 306 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 2: what would we you know, if we do this, then 307 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 2: what if we do that? What do we need to 308 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 2: do here? Just a lot of a lot of scenario 309 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 2: plane and speaking with agents and you know, all of 310 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 2: that stuff. 311 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 1: Will will you be recruiting? So if that. Let's say 312 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: that there are two point guards and any otitioint guard. 313 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: Are you the guy that goes into the home or 314 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 1: you the guy that simply says, I believe point guard 315 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: A is a better fit for us than point guard B, 316 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: and then you send your people to go get point 317 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 1: guard A. 318 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, so that's a good question. I mean right now, 319 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 2: coming in today, there's the rules. I'm not out recruiting 320 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 2: in the future. There's a ton of things that that 321 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 2: we're going to discuss and and figure out how best 322 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 2: to use the skill set I have as well. So 323 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,959 Speaker 2: the job is, you know, Darren's been great, we have 324 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 2: have it. I threw so many ideas at him, and 325 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 2: we're gonna I think we need to get through the season. Obviously, 326 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 2: then the portal season comes quick. But I think once 327 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 2: we once we get through that, we'll be able to 328 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,679 Speaker 2: kind of design the rest of the job. I have 329 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 2: some some real ideas that I think would be cool 330 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 2: and uh and I could add a lot of a 331 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 2: lot of value you just from a you know, an 332 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 2: experience standpoint coming from an NBA team, But there's there's 333 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 2: much of it will still be developed, uh, in particular, 334 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 2: probably over the summer. 335 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 1: What lacks with this team. 336 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 2: The current Indiana Who's yours team? Yes, I mean I 337 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 2: think you see it a bigger bodies, stronger bodies. I 338 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 2: think they play extremely hard. I've been, like I said, 339 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 2: like the handful of practices that I've been at. I 340 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 2: love how hard they go. I love how hard they play. 341 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 2: You know, I think that this team has at different 342 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:45,920 Speaker 2: times in the years that multiple people that have really 343 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 2: shot the ball well. And I think that's when they've 344 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 2: they've they've played the best. So I think that's over 345 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 2: these next few games, you know, hopefully what what we 346 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 2: can what we can do on the court. 347 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: But you know, so I would think that's a priority 348 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: for next year, right is finding shooters that you that 349 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: you then grow with fair to say, I think yeah. 350 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 2: I think Coach Devrees, you know, I think we've seen 351 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 2: that he likes to have guys on the floor that 352 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:15,440 Speaker 2: can shoot and move the ball and and quite honestly, 353 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 2: in a lot of ways his not not speaking current, 354 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 2: but what we've talked about for the future is it 355 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 2: sounds like he wants a version of a team of 356 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 2: like what we had and what we have with the 357 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,400 Speaker 2: with the Pacers, you know, guys at multiple ball handlers, 358 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 2: guys that can shoot, they play together. They you know, 359 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:39,680 Speaker 2: they'll defend and play really hard. And and that's obviously 360 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 2: a vision that is very easy for me to jump 361 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 2: both feed in on and and have seen the workings 362 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:51,160 Speaker 2: and how we did it up there and the kind 363 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:54,919 Speaker 2: of attributes we looked for. Uh So, you know a 364 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 2: lot of it. Like I said, when we talked about basketball, 365 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 2: was was a natural fit. 366 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: Are you Ryan? Ryan Carr is my guest. He is 367 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 1: the executive director of basketball for Indiana. He is on 368 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: the job of house Colbrew coffee guest line, Ryan, when 369 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: you look at just the job itself in kind of 370 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: this created position, I mean in the new era of 371 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:19,640 Speaker 1: college basketball. I guess one of the questions I have, 372 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 1: maybe selfishly out of a friendship to you, would be, 373 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:26,679 Speaker 1: is this a job where you are attached with this 374 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:30,160 Speaker 1: coaching administration or is it a job that was created 375 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,959 Speaker 1: by the athletic department regardless of who the coach would be. 376 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:37,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm working for coach degrees one hundred percent, and 377 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:42,719 Speaker 2: I couldn't be more excited about that. Again, you know, 378 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 2: the discussions we had, the philosophies him as a person 379 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 2: I mean, and then see seeing how he is in 380 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 2: front of the team, seeing assistant's work, seeing him on 381 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 2: the court. I mean, it's these guys are high quality guys, 382 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 2: very good coaches, and I'm excited to work with him. 383 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:08,440 Speaker 1: Are you This is a really dumb question. With all 384 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: of the work that you did, come off three decades 385 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,479 Speaker 1: of that, right, with all of the work that you did, 386 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 1: and the meetings that you were in and the information 387 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:23,920 Speaker 1: you had and everything at your disposal from the pacer 388 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: standpoint of building up to this late in the year, 389 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 1: will you still be some sort of a voice or 390 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 1: a consultant for them through the draft process or through 391 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,360 Speaker 1: the off season process. 392 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 2: That's a that's a great question. You know, I am 393 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 2: very close to Kevin and Chad and Ted. I would, 394 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 2: you know, and I would do I would help them 395 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 2: any way I possibly can. So if if they you know, 396 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,439 Speaker 2: obviously the majority of the season I was doing my 397 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 2: work up there. If if they feel like you know, 398 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 2: they feel like that I could I could help with 399 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 2: an opinion or something, I would I would be more 400 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:12,119 Speaker 2: than more than happy to help them. They are, again, 401 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 2: like you know, to be in any position in any 402 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 2: kind of athletics for three or four years. I think 403 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 2: you're you would count that a blessing to be somewhere 404 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 2: for you know, the last twenty three you know, I 405 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 2: I love those guys. I've loved working with them. I 406 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:36,880 Speaker 2: worked hard to serve them. And if yeah, I mean, 407 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 2: if if they find my opinion, uh, you know, something 408 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 2: they'd be interested in, they they definitely know that I 409 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:44,400 Speaker 2: would be. 410 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 1: There for him that Pacer roster, assuming that everybody's healthy 411 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 1: next year, big if I realize, but let's just say 412 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:53,679 Speaker 1: for the sake of discussion, Halliburton comes back and it 413 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:55,239 Speaker 1: takes him a while, but he gets back into the 414 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:58,440 Speaker 1: form that that we've known and loved here in Indiana. 415 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,639 Speaker 1: When you look at that PACER's rock, if you were 416 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:04,679 Speaker 1: still part of the franchise, the ingredient that's missing that 417 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 1: needs to be added as what. 418 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:13,959 Speaker 2: I mean, I I don't know. I mean Adam Zubach 419 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:19,240 Speaker 2: with Tie, with Andrew, with you know, Aaron with all 420 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:23,360 Speaker 2: the I mean with TJ with Pascal, I mean, you've 421 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 2: got you've got all the ingredients you need to be 422 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:30,160 Speaker 2: right in the mix at the end of the season. Again, 423 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 2: I don't think there's any anything I could say in 424 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 2: terms of a whole or anything like that. That's a 425 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 2: you know, kudos to Kevin and Chad and Ted and 426 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 2: that whole team, Spencer and Vance and you know, I 427 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 2: got to be a part of that group, and you 428 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 2: know that that's a that's a super exciting team and 429 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 2: fans I know, I mean just from a standpoint up 430 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 2: until you know, a few days ago, sitting in those 431 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 2: corner seats, I mean, what an awesome thing for those 432 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 2: fans the way they've stuck with this. And I mean 433 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:12,120 Speaker 2: they come and they come and they cheer and they 434 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 2: love them, and you know there and the guy I mean, 435 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 2: I just think about like Obi has been out and 436 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,800 Speaker 2: he spends a ton of the game just like interacting 437 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:25,919 Speaker 2: with fans and signing autographs and taking pictures and just 438 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:30,719 Speaker 2: you know, like, but yeah, just kudos to to all 439 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 2: the Pacers fans out there who have who have stuck 440 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 2: through this year and and believed, and I hope that 441 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,879 Speaker 2: the Hoosier fans would will do the same as UH 442 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:45,199 Speaker 2: as we get get ready to start building this this 443 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:48,680 Speaker 2: team uh into a high caliber team as well. 444 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: Ryan. Lastly, if Indiana is to end up, and when 445 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: I say Indiana, I mean the Pacers. Okay, if they 446 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:56,399 Speaker 1: were to end up with one of the draft picks 447 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 1: that they retain, which would be one through four, and 448 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: I know that they could do so they're in the 449 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: latter half of the first round. But let's say, for 450 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 1: the sake of discussion, they do get a one to 451 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,919 Speaker 1: four pick. Is it safe to say that the player 452 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:11,120 Speaker 1: they would be acquiring would be one that is an 453 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 1: accentuation to the roster and probably not one that comes 454 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 1: in and becomes a starter. Or is it that deep 455 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:19,160 Speaker 1: a class where that discussion can be had. 456 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, you know, the Pacers team is so good, 457 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 2: you know that that there's no pressure from any any 458 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 2: player in the in the draft to come in and 459 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 2: have to, you know, shoulder a massive burden. I do 460 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 2: believe that this draft is is one of the best 461 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 2: in all my years, you know, maybe by a margin. 462 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,159 Speaker 2: Like this, This draft, even during the years, seems to 463 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:51,720 Speaker 2: be getting better and better in the top ten or so, 464 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 2: as players keep improving and showing what they can do. 465 00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: So does it have a clear number one? 466 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:01,719 Speaker 2: I don't think there's a clear number one, but I 467 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 2: think there's a phenomenal like top group and and you know, 468 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 2: you could debate exactly how it gets sliced up in 469 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,920 Speaker 2: terms of tears or whatever, but I would say probably 470 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 2: down to seven or eight. I mean, you're getting you're 471 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:21,920 Speaker 2: getting a player that in the right situation can be 472 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 2: an awful, you know, good difference maker in time may 473 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 2: not maybe day one, maybe you know, year two, year three, whatever, 474 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:34,359 Speaker 2: but but there's there's some special, special players in this draft. 475 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:39,879 Speaker 1: Lastly, Ryan, for you personally, you know again and for 476 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:41,520 Speaker 1: those that don't know, maybe I should have mentioned it. 477 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:43,000 Speaker 1: I mean, we knew each other in college, we were 478 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:46,480 Speaker 1: neighbors in college. We've been friends since college. I think 479 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: most people know that that listen to the program, But 480 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:51,920 Speaker 1: you know, I know what, and I think that when 481 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: I was a kid growing up, I really felt like 482 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:57,879 Speaker 1: you had to be from Indiana to get Indiana. And 483 00:26:57,920 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 1: then I saw you and met you and saw how 484 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 1: much what is great about Indiana and the people of 485 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 1: Indiana was instilled in you the same way. You know, 486 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 1: from where you grew up and you came here and 487 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:13,200 Speaker 1: Indiana you became a part of Indiana and vice versa. Right, 488 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 1: So for you, what will the date be when you 489 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 1: walk into Assembly Hall and look down and you realize 490 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 1: you have the keys to every single door within that facility, 491 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,400 Speaker 1: and you can go into Coach Knight's old office, assuming 492 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 1: it still looks the same, or the locker room or whatever. 493 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:32,960 Speaker 1: And when is the moment where it will actually hit you, 494 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,480 Speaker 1: where that doesn't continue to blow you away. 495 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 2: I think that's impossible. I think that you know, for 496 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:47,120 Speaker 2: as many days that I'm employed here, just I mean, 497 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 2: I just know that when I was a student, every 498 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:53,040 Speaker 2: day I got to walk in the building was a joy, 499 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 2: and just I was humbled to be a part of it. 500 00:27:57,160 --> 00:28:00,560 Speaker 2: And certainly the first I think this is my fourth 501 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 2: official day on the job, it's every bit the same 502 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:08,240 Speaker 2: as uh and it I just can't imagine that that 503 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 2: it won't ever be that way. I get the history 504 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 2: of this place. Again I said, I didn't take this 505 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:18,320 Speaker 2: job for the nostalgia, But I get it. I know 506 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 2: it like the back of my hand. I know so 507 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:24,640 Speaker 2: many of the principal players in it. I've I've got 508 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 2: to know them personally, whether it's Coach Knight and that 509 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:32,400 Speaker 2: and his family and or all the former players and 510 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 2: these these people that you know have have built this place. 511 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 2: And I get that like I get it for me, 512 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:45,720 Speaker 2: uh and I said this before this, This is there's 513 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 2: like I think part of the cool part of taking 514 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:52,280 Speaker 2: this job for me was there's no more worrying about 515 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 2: what my next step is in my career. Could I 516 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 2: get another job? Is there a promotion to get none 517 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 2: of None of that. All that is taken care of. 518 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 2: This is this is really a passion project to help 519 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 2: coach degrees and help help these guys in every possible 520 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 2: way I can given all that, all that I've learned, 521 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 2: And it's kind of crazy that college athletics would wind 522 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 2: itself around to to really need somebody that's you know, 523 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 2: that's been in the NBA for so long, with the 524 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 2: skills I've gotten. But this, this for me is I mean, 525 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 2: I'm so excited. I don't know if you can hear that, 526 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 2: but I just it means the world that they would 527 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 2: want me to come here and do this at this 528 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 2: place that you know, again, circling back to the very 529 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:46,560 Speaker 2: start of our discussion that on a very throwaway decision 530 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 2: for coach Night, you know, he said, oh yeah, sure, 531 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 2: this kid, you know can come be a manager and 532 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:56,840 Speaker 2: you know whatever, And for all these years later to 533 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 2: come back in this position in it with a chance 534 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:04,240 Speaker 2: to to help and serve this place and serve these 535 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 2: people and and do everything I can to help you know, 536 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 2: this place win, like we all believe that it should 537 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 2: and can, and it may not be overnight, and you know, 538 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 2: it may take a little bit to get kind of 539 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 2: the roster where we need to get it, because you 540 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 2: can't be building entire teams out of the portal every 541 00:30:28,240 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 2: year like like has happened last couple of years. It 542 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:34,040 Speaker 2: makes it very very hard. But we're going to get there. 543 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 2: And I'm more confident today than when I said yes 544 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:42,480 Speaker 2: to do this job. And yeah, I mean you won't 545 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:44,560 Speaker 2: see me here without a smile on my face. I 546 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:46,520 Speaker 2: mean the hard days are going to be a joy 547 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 2: and and there will be hard days and they'll be challenges, 548 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:52,840 Speaker 2: but I'm so excited to do it. I love this place. 549 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 2: I want to, you know, repay all those who have 550 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:01,400 Speaker 2: who have helped me to even make a chance, Like 551 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 2: you knew me, Jake, Like at twenty years old, when 552 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 2: we're you know, doing whatever we're doing, that was really 553 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 2: pretty boring because neither of us really had a whole 554 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:14,520 Speaker 2: lot of fun. I mean, if you would have said, hey, 555 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:16,680 Speaker 2: Ryan in thirty years you're going to go back and 556 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 2: you're going to be in a leadership role at that 557 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:24,240 Speaker 2: basketball program and have a chance to help help a 558 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 2: coach succeed there. I mean, you know what I mean. 559 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:31,560 Speaker 1: Listen, I would have said, you would I mean, if 560 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:33,280 Speaker 1: I would have said thirty years from now, you're going 561 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:36,120 Speaker 1: to be the executive director of Indiana Basketball and I'll 562 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 1: be interviewing interviewing you in India about it, we would 563 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: have said, well, half of that might happen, and it 564 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:44,520 Speaker 1: would have been your half, not mine, right, definite. I listen, 565 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 1: and then I'd say, and at that point, I will 566 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:50,480 Speaker 1: have only been at IU Alum for fifteen months, you 567 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 1: know what I mean, that's the part that was the 568 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 1: most believable of the whole equation. 569 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 2: I agree. I'd actually agree with that. Well, thanks could 570 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 2: have for you and them for helping you finish that. 571 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 1: That's right, Well, Ryan, best of luck, man. I'm thrilled 572 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:07,120 Speaker 1: for you. I think that's obvious and I think it's 573 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:09,120 Speaker 1: a great story and we look forward to seeing what 574 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:10,720 Speaker 1: you can do down there. I appreciate the time, and 575 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:11,480 Speaker 1: we'll have you back. 576 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 2: On all right, Yeah, anytime, Thanks shake all. 577 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 1: Right, Ryan Carr. The executive director of Indiana Basketball