Local basketball legend Ryan Brock has returned to Loyola as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team.

Coach Brock’s journey since Loyola has taken him from the playground in New Orleans East to playing professional ball in Qatar. The young coach brings his wisdom back to the team from which he graduated only 5 years ago.

Ryan Brock began his basketball career in New Orleans East at Marian Central Catholic School, and as is tradition in New Orleans, had a variety of top-notch high schools to choose from.

“Most of us chose to go down the street to Brother Martin, where we won two state championships and brought a national recognition to our school,” said Brock.

Brock started off at the University of New Orleans, allowing him to stay close to home. He said that while part of it was for secruity, the most important part was that he was able to play football.

Hurricane Katrina had hit New Orleans during Brock’s freshman year at UNO. He and the team were relocated to Tyler, Texas until they were allowed to come back to the city. He said the administration and athletic department at UNO did not know what to do with all their players.

“There was a lot of uncertainty in the program. They didn’t know if they were going to go over to Division 2 or become an independent school,” Brock said.

Brock sustained a few injuries that kept him off the front lines, and ended up only playing a handful of games during his time at UNO. Brock said that the team never really regained balance after Katrina, going through two head coaches in three years. It was then that Brock made the decision to transfer to Loyola.

“I didn’t want to go to another big division school and sit another semester out. I knew talking to my friend Josh and Torrey that this was a no-brainer. They told me about Loyola’s program and I knew that I wanted to be here,” Brock said.

Brock said that while basketball was his passion, he wanted a school with a strong academic prescence, and said that after meeting then-coach Michael Giorlando, knew that Loyola was the right school.

Brock’s first season was one for the books. The team won 19 games that season, marking the most wins at Loyola since the reinstatement of the basketball program.

During the pre-season, the team was projected to finish no better than eighth place. The basketball team ended up third in conference play, with Brock averaging over 19.9 points a game. He lead the team in steals and was third in rebounds during that first season with the Pack.

That same year he was voted as Louisiana’s Small College Player of the Year. In his three year career, he led Southern States Athletic Conference in scoring with 22.2 pts per game, 56 steal, 79 assists and was second on Loyola’s All-Time Scoring List with 1706 points. Brock was also the first player in Loyola’s history to be named an All-American in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. 

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They faced adversity throughout his senior season with a six game losing streak, but still won enough games to get into the playoffs. During the playoffs the Wolf Pack knocked off Lee University, who was one of the best teams in the nation.

The semifinal game was Brock’s last game as a member of the basketball team. “I never cried so much after losing a basketball game. I felt like I was losing my family. I knew that this was the last time I was going to play for Loyola,” said Brock.

However, he knew that he wasn’t done with basketball. Brock had been one of the best players in the history of Loyola Athletics. He still felt like he had a lot left in him to play. He says he never needed to venture far for advice or help. “Coach Stacy Hollwell has always looked out for me since my senior year. He has always been a mentor to me in different aspects of life and basketball, “ said Brock. Coach Hollowell helped Ryan find the right agent to sign with and then helped him find a basketball team. Ryan ended up signing with Al-Ahli Sports Club, a professional basketball team in Qatar.

While at Al-Ahli, he picked up where he left off in college. Brock averaged over 19.6 points a game during is career in the Middle East. He was again, one of the bright spots on the team. He adjusted into the lifestyle of a professional.

His mind and heart were back home in New Orleans though. “I had a daughter in March, before I left to go to Qatar. I was homesick and not able to see her in the early stages of her life. It took a toll on me and I needed to come back for my family,” said Brock.

Orleans Hornets basketball and other clinics around the New Orleans area.