Ryan Horn on NIL, the Transfer Portal, and the Evolution of a Coach

2025-05-23

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Whether you’re a die hard college sports fanatic or a more casual fan, chances are you’ve heard about NIL – or name, image and likeness deals – and how they’re impacting the sport. And beyond NIL, there’s also the simple fact that it’s now easier than ever before to enter the transfer portal and go to a different school, with some athletes doing this virtually every year! But here are a few things you might not have considered… If you’re a college strength coach, how does all this impact your ability to develop your a...

Whether you’re a die hard college sports fanatic or a more casual fan, chances are you’ve heard about NIL – or name, image and likeness deals – and how they’re impacting the sport.

And beyond NIL, there’s also the simple fact that it’s now easier than ever before to enter the transfer portal and go to a different school, with some athletes doing this virtually every year!

But here are a few things you might not have considered…

If you’re a college strength coach, how does all this impact your ability to develop your athletes?
What did your training programs look like 10 years ago, versus how they look today?
And most importantly, how does the job not only impact you as a coach, but potentially your family as well?

Well luckily for you I’ve got my guy Ryan Horn back on the podcast to discuss these very topics!

Ryan is now the director for Men’s Basketball at Indiana University. Prior to this, he’s had stops across the country, most recently at Wake Forest, Wichita State, Drake and West Virginia.

And in today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how NIL and the transfer portal have impacted him as a coach!

Quotable Quotes from Ryan:

When you get to the middle 10 – and this is probably the most dangerous part of my career – when I started to get a little bit of skin in the game, you start to get that itch and feeling that, you know, I got some stuff figured out.

Make sure you’re doing enough so you’re not paralyzed and you can’t do the thing that really makes you special – and we all have something that makes us special as a coach.

When you get fired, your family gets fired. They get fired from their friends, from their school, from their activities, from their friend groups, and from their comfort and safety of their current life.

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

How to navigate and start in new roles, as well as building team cultures from the ground up.
Ryan’s thoughts on major changes in college sports like NIL and the transfer portal.
How his coaching philosophy has evolved – and why communication between coaches is so critical.
Real-world examples of how his programs have changed today from what they might’ve looked like 5-10 years ago.
The role of curiosity and adaptability in long-term coaching success.
Balancing the personal side of coaching, including family, transitions, and career longevity.
Advice for young coaches on growth, resilience, and building a long-lasting impact.

Connect with Ryan: