What makes a coach’s impact last beyond the final buzzer? On this episode of The Daily Impact, host and ISU Dean of Students Matt Daily talks with Ryan Looney, head coach of Idaho State University men’s basketball, about developing people, not just players.
Looney reflects on his journey from playing at Eastern Oregon University to coaching at the Division I level, sharing how mentors, family priorities, and unexpected opportunities shaped his approach to leadership. He also explains the story behind his “saw wood” philosophy: showing up each day with consistency, reliability, and a willingness to do the hard work.
Together, Daily and Looney discuss building team culture amid the changing landscape of college athletics, balancing high expectations with individual support, and helping student-athletes develop habits that serve them beyond basketball. For Looney, some of coaching’s most meaningful rewards come years later, when former players return with stories of the families, careers, and lives they have built.