Ryan Randle, a reserve big man for the 2001-02 Maryland men’s basketball national championship team, has always held a special place in his heart for College Park, Md. Yet, Randle had not been back in nearly 20 years until recently.
After his basketball career ended, Randle returned home to Texas. He has been in Texas for years but never got around to returning to College Park.
The 40-year-old has kept busy, as he is now married with three kids and has started to work in his family’s trucking business. Randle also holds immense pride in his work as a special education teacher at Curtistene S. McCowan Middle School in Glenn Heights, Texas.
But Randle finally returned to College Park in late February when Maryland honored the 2002 national championship team as part of the Terps’ game against Ohio State at Xfinity Center.
Randle could not contain his excitement during the week leading up to the 20th anniversary reunion. He went out to dinner with his former teammates the night before the Ohio State game, and as soon as Randle saw everyone, an enormous smile formed across his face.
“It was like missing your long-lost brother that you ain’t seen in forever,” Randle said.
Randle’s teammates and coaches were also excited to see him. Andre Collins, a former reserve guard, was roommates with Randle during their time together at Maryland.
“Ryan probably was who I wanted to see the most,” Collins said. “I love all the guys but had a chance to run into some of them or even speak with a few of them throughout the years. Ryan I hadn’t seen probably since he had graduated and left Maryland [in 2003].”
Former head coach Gary Williams was also thrilled to see Randle, too.
“He was the one guy I hadn’t seen for the past 20 years,” Williams said. “And he looked great. He looks the same as when he played 20 years ago.”
Numerous memories instantly came surging back for Randle. The team recalled how everyone came together to accomplish something extraordinary. As Randle’s former teammates shared their favorite memories, he remembered the family atmosphere that made that year special.
“It was like a brotherhood,” Randle said. “Everybody was on one accord. Everybody had a certain part. It was like a machine. Everybody had a part, working a great machine to get where we needed to go.”
Randle became more emotional when Maryland honored the team Feb. 27. The team was recognized during a “Legends Chat” before the Ohio State game and toward the end of the first half.
Tears filled Randle’s eyes. He saw Maryland fans on their feet cheering during both. Randle recalled the moments leading up to the championship and when he realized that his team would win it all. He applauded the play of Chris Wilcox and Lonny Baxter against Kansas in the Final Four.
“Chris Wilcox and Lonny Baxter showed what they can do,” Randle said. “That’s when I knew we would win the national championship, ’cause nobody could stop us after this.”
Memories continued flooding back as Randle stood before a crowd of people cheering for him and those he considers family. He recalled how fortunate he was to play for a coach like Williams, whom he said provided the team with endless support and motivation.
Randle and his teammates accomplished something no one can ever take away from them.
“It was great that everybody still remembers what we did and how we did it. We did it for them and for ourselves too,” Randle said.
Randle averaged 3.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per game as a junior during the championship season. Randle averaged 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a senior. He also received third-team All-ACC honors during his final season with the Terps.
Williams viewed Randle as a confident player.
“He played a very important role, especially in practice because Ryan was really a good player and he could compete at a level that could push the other players,” Williams said. “And that was really important.”
Prior to playing at Maryland, Randle played for two years at Allegany Community College (now Allegany College of Maryland). He helped lead the Trojans to the NJCAA championship game as a sophomore. Randle also played professionally overseas for a couple of years following his time at Maryland. He enjoyed it and still keeps in touch with several former teammates.
Randle formed several close relationships during his time with the Terps. Byron Mouton said Randle was one of his closest friends on the team. He described his former teammate as a great player and person who always sought improvement. Mouton considers Randle a brother.
“To have a bond outside the game of basketball is huge. It means that as a person, you care about each other,” Mouton said. “That’s the power of playing sports — a connection outside of basketball, football, whatever it may be. Me and Ryan Randle’s relationship is bigger than basketball.”
Randle now works as a special education teacher in Texas. He has been teaching for almost 10 years.
Collins praised Randle’s work.
“It fits Ryan’s personality,” Collins said. “He’s someone who loves people. He’s an outgoing person, you know, and to be able to work in that field, you have to be a special person.”
Randle’s former high school coach, Phil McNeely, admires his former pupil. McNeely described Randle as an incredibly hard worker. He considers Randle family.
“He just has a way of drawing you in,” McNeely said. “To give back and have that patience just fits him so perfectly with his personality.”
Randle spoke proudly of his teaching career. He was inspired by a friend he had in high school, and he wanted to make a difference in kids’ lives. Randle has enjoyed his teaching journey thus far and compared it to a roller coaster.
Randle knows he is making a difference in the lives of so many children.
“It means a lot because most of them are our future, [but] most of them with a special education, they don’t get looked at as like that,” Randle said. “… Just because you got a disability doesn’t mean you can’t do the things that other people can do. It might take longer, it might take shorter, but you can do it.”
Randle wants to open up an adult daycare center for young adults with a disability. He hopes the program will help prepare young adults for the workforce. Randle said such a facility would “mean the world” to him, knowing he could impact numerous people. He wants to serve as a mentor for everyone and push people to be the best version of themselves.
Regardless of where he works, Randle always relays lessons learned during his basketball journey to others. Communication is crucial.
“I’m probably teaching like it’s a game,” Randle said. “I’m saying, ‘We’ve got to do this, we’ve got to do that. When the fourth quarter hits, let’s play, let’s do this.'”
See Also: Twenty Years After Winning Title With Terps, Andre Collins Giving Back To Eastern Shore Hoopsters
Photo Credits: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics