Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has named Ryan Wall head men’s basketball coach. Wall took over as head coach of the Saints in November 2013 on an interim basis after the resignation of Russell Vanlandingham. Vanlandingham was the first coach of the men’s basketball team when it returned to competition in 2009 – he coached the team for four years. Wall joined the Saints in the 2012-2013 season as assistant coach.
OLLU Athletic Director Jack Hank said, "Ryan had a great season last year, and his success with the team put an important emphasis on his capabilities. He worked tirelessly to continue to build the Saints as a nationally rankled basketball program. He proved to be an effective recruiter and motivator, which led the team to a 21-11 record – one game away from the national tournament. I look forward to working with Coach Wall and being a part of what he will accomplish from this point on."
Since its inaugural season in 2009, the Saints have experienced a winning record and a trip to the conference tournament each year. In the first season, the Saints earned a share of the Red River Athletic Conference regular season and sole champion of the 2011-2012 season. In 2012, the team earned an automatic bid to the national tournament, where the Saints made it to the Sweet 16 round. Wall guided the Saints to a 21-11 overall and 14-4 record in the conference. The team lost to the University of St. Thomas in the semifinals of the conference tournament in March 2014.
Wall commented, "I am very grateful to have this opportunity to be the head coach of OLLU. The people here do all they can to make this a great working environment. OLLU faculty and staff have made this a place I can call home."
Wall came to OLLU from Ranger College, where he was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Under head coach, Larry Brown, Ranger College won the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference his last season – the first time in more than 40 years.
Prior to Ranger, Wall was the graduate assistant for the University of South Alabama men’s basketball team. While here, he met and mentored future OLLU standout Xavier Roberson, who became only the second Saint to earn NAIA All-American honors. Roberson became the Saints’ all-time leading scorer and was the runner-up in the NAIA’s 3-Point Shooting Contest and a member of the winning inaugural all-star team.
In high school, Wall played on the Coppell varsity team for four years — the team lost just one district game in those four years. He received the following honors: District 6-5A All-State Basketball (two years), District 6-5A All District Basketball (four years), District 6-5A All District MVP (three years), District 6-5A Basketball Champions (four years) and McDonalds Pre-Season All American Basketball (2003). Wall spent two years at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he played on the Mountain West Conference Championship Team. The team lost to Villanova in the first round of the NCAA tournament during his sophomore year.
Wall received a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in education administration from Texas Christian University. While at TCU, Wall was a standout point guard on the Horned Frogs squad. He led the team in steals and in free throw percentage. He also excelled in academics and was named to the All-Mountain West Conference Academics Team.
Wall is a native of Fort Worth, Texas. He is the son of legendary coach Jim Wall, who was assistant coach for Texas Tech University, West Texas University and Sam Houston State University. He is currently the head coach of women’s basketball at North Forney High School.
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