Episode #23 - Ras Vanderloo, boys varsity head coach at Sioux City East H.S.

The Bare's Den w/ Matt Bare

For this episode Matt is joined by a great guy and someone with a lot of basketball in his blood - Ras Vanderloo, who is the head boys varsity basketball coach for Sioux City East High School in Iowa. Ras comes from a family that lives and breathes basketball. Ras's father coached at Sioux City East and he and his brothers played for him. His brother Jeff then followed his dad as coach at Sioux City East and then Ras took over for him. His brother John was a head coach at Sioux City North as well.
Ras and his program are currently playing games down in Iowa and he shares what it's been like for them so far and how his players are handling it. Ras also shares the story of how he was at the very last sporting event played in the country before things shut down with the pandemic as he was in New York for the first round of the Big East tournament. That game with Creighton, where his brother Jeff is on staff, and St. John's was stopped at halftime. He also dives into a great story on meeting Muhammad Ali at a Final Four a few years ago.
Also discussed is how popular high school basketball is down in Iowa. Ras and his team have participated in the Timberwolves Shootout and played against Minnesota teams in the past. He also works with USA Basketball and their Jr. National Team.. Enjoy this conversation in the Bare's Den with Ras Vanderloo.