Q&A: Ronald Ross reminisces on journey at Texas Tech and more

Bill recently had the opportunity to talk with former Red Raider basketball point guard Ronald Ross. The two of them talked about different topics including Bob Knight, Chris Beard and even Ross' new coaching position on the staff this upcoming season.

Here's the Q&A from their conversation.

Tell us a short intro into your basketball background and your playing career at Hobbs High School.

“I recently retired after finishing my 13th year professionally in Europe. I played four years under Bob Knight at Texas Tech from 2001-2005. Coach Knight is hands down one of the most influential people in my life to this day and the biggest reason for the longevity and success I’ve had over my career. Prior to Texas Tech, I played basketball at Hobbs High School in New Mexico where we won 3 state championships.”

What attracted you to play for Texas Tech and Knight? How did the possibility of playing for Texas Tech come about? What was it like to play for a highly-respectable coach in the game?

“I’ve always been a fan of Texas Tech growing up because we had a pipeline of players from Hobbs that played there during the Gerald Myers era. I didn’t have a lot of high-level D1 offers coming out of high school and thankfully coach Knight gave me an opportunity as a walk on and I took it. It was an easy decision for me because of how much I admired coach Knight’s winning ways and his player’s education.”

Current Texas Tech coach Chris Beard was an assistant while you were at Texas Tech. What was it like being coached by him, what do you remember most about him as an assistant? How much have you stayed in contact with him over the years?

“I loved having coach Beard during my years as a player. You could always feel the hunger he had for the game. Always humble, understanding and working hard as usual. He always had a great way of connecting with the players which he still has today as a head coach. I always came to Lubbock and talked to coach every summer when he got the job at Tech and prior to that it was the same before he left Tech as an assistant.”

Tell us your favorite story or memory of coach Knight. Same thing for Beard.

“Too many memories to just have one with coach Knight. It was an interesting journey but I enjoyed every experience I had under coach Knight – even the hard times. I knew he really cared about me and gave me every opportunity he could to help me succeed on and off the court. I’m truly thankful for him and never met anyone with such a winning attitude like him.

My favorite memory of coach Beard was during an individual practice and I was doing a drill called “beat the pro”. Plus 1 for made field goals and minus 2 for misses. The objective was to make it to 10 before missing too many shots and having a negative 10 outcome. I wasn’t having my best day of shooting and I was going back and forth for about 20 or more minutes. I was extremely exhausted by that point. I could have gave-in and lost the drill but for every second of that drill coach Beard was encouraging me and reminding me of what kind of player I was and was capable of being. It was a big part of my mental break through as a player at Tech and I’ll never forget it.”

You were part of a very successful Texas Tech basketball run over your career, making the NCAA tournament three times (First round in 2002, Second Round in 2004, Sweet 16 in 2005) and taking third place in the NIT in 2003. What was your most memorable moment as a Red Raider?

“My most memorable moment would have to be the Gonzaga game we played my senior year in the NCAA Tournament. I never felt closer to a team making that comeback to win that game. The bond and chemistry of our team that year was incredible.”

What did you think of this past season’s team and its Elite 8 run?

“Although I watched every game, I recently watched a highlight video of the run they had and it gave me chills. It doesn’t get old how special that run was. What coach Beard, his staff and team did was nothing short of amazing. They worked extremely hard and deserve all the success they had.”

After you graduated from Texas Tech, you had quite the professional career, playing for several international professional teams. Tell us about your professional career and your favorite memories.

“Honestly, I never imagined that playing basketball would bless me with the opportunity to see the world. I wish everyone could see it. I loved everything about traveling and my career but it was more meaningful when I started my family midway through my career and shared my journey with them. On the basketball side of things, I learned a lot about the game and hope I can share my knowledge with others moving forward.”

Have you played with many former Big 12 basketball Pplayers and/or former Red Raiders overseas?

“Never played with former Red Raiders but I played with Hollis Price from Oklahoma, Johnnie Gilbert from Oklahoma, and Jason Dourisseau from Nebraska, which was in the Big 12 Conference back then.”

Tell us about your music career - you had a big hit in Croatia, right? Tech fans will also never forget your collaboration with the Patton Brothers in "Make ‘Em Believe."

“Yeah, my Croatia music experience was surreal. I met some good people with common interest in the music industry and we were able to come up with a number one hit. I definitely didn’t expect it to happen or be as big as it was, but I enjoyed it and was grateful to share my passion for music with a small piece of the world. As for the Patton Brothers and the “Make ‘Em Believe” song, I was definitely an amateur at the time but they had an amazing energy and made it worthwhile.”

We heard you are joining coach Beard's coaching staff soon. Tell us more about what your role will be, when you'll start and how the opportunity came about.

“I’ll be starting as a graduate assistant and going back to school to get my masters. I think I have a lot to offer considering my basketball experience, but also have a lot to learn about coaching so I can help continue the process coach Beard already started! I’m really excited to continue learning from him. I’m just ready to work and do whatever it takes to win.”

“So coach Beard and I talked about how I’d be as a coach in the past and he gave me some great advice on what it takes to do it. I was actually close to staying home and coaching at my old high school, but he opened my eyes to what route I needed to take if I wanted to coach at the college level and he blessed me with the opportunity to do so.”

You're on the roster for the Matadors, the Texas Tech Alumni team in "The Basketball Tournament". Tell us about your experience in this tournament and about this current year's squad. Think the Matadors can make some noise?

“I think we’ll be better for sure. It’s been a good experience, but bitter sweet because we lost so when we have a little more success I’d be happy to share that experience a little more thoroughly.”

Finally, what does it mean to you to be a Red Raider?

“Being a Red Raider means everything to me. My experience as a Red Raider made it possible for me to follow my dreams and have great friends I know I’ll have forever.”