Hoop Heads

Ras Vanderloo recently retired after his 14th season as the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Sioux City East High School in Sioux City, IA. He spent 32 years coaching basketball, 14 as a Head Coach and 18 as an Assistant Coach. Ras is a 5-time district coach of the year and the 2017 State 4A Coach of the Year. He won 314 games as a head coach at East High with 4 State Tournament appearances and a State Runner Up in 2012.

In addition to his run as the Head Coach at East, Ras also runs a large youth league basketball program with over 650 kids annually participating. The league is currently 33 years old and was started by his father.

Ras comes from a large coaching family, his father Rich and brother Jeff (now a Creighton Assistant) are both former Head Coaches at East High in Sioux City. His brothers John and Jim are coaches as well

Ras has worked with USA Basketball in varying capacities, most recently as an assistant coach for the Men’s 3 x 3 Nation’s League that competed this summer in Chile.

On this episode Mike & Ras discuss his retirement from teaching and coaching along with the new opportunities in front of him, including his involvement with USA Basketball. Vanderloo reflects on the significance of learning from experienced mentors and emphasizes the value of dedication and hard work in achieving success in coaching. He shares insights about the differences between coaching in traditional formats versus the increasingly popular 3x3 basketball format, highlighting the unique challenges and strategies involved in this fast-paced version of the game. Additionally, Vanderloo provides practical advice for young coaches, advocating for the importance of seeking out successful programs and experienced coaches to learn from. As he navigates his post-retirement journey, he remains committed to contributing to the basketball community and mentoring future generations of coaches.

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Get ready to take some notes as you listen to this episode with Ras Vanderloo from Sioux City East High School in the state of Iowa.

Website – https://www.usab.com/staff-members/ras-vanderloo

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