25th season at Texas Dr. Randa Ryan begins her fourth full season as the student services supervisor for the men's basketball program and her 25th year of association with The University of Texas. She was promoted in January 2005 to oversee the academic support staff and student services of all sports at UT with the exception of football. Since Ryan assumed supervision of the men's basketball team, the Longhorns' team GPA during each semester has been at or near a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). In fact, UT posted a team grade point average of 3.29 during both the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 semesters. Twelve of Texas' 14 roster players last year achieved at least a 3.0 GPA in the Fall 2007 semester, and 12 players also recorded at least a 3.0 GPA in the Spring 2008 semester. Individually, a league-high six Longhorns earned a spot on the 2008 Academic All-Big 12 Conference men's basketball team. Connor Atchley, D.J. Augustin, Damion James and Dexter Pittman were each named to the First Team, while Justin Mason and senior Ian Mooney were selected to the Second Team. Augustin, who posted a perfect 4.0 GPA in both the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 semesters, became just the second men's basketball player at Texas to earn Academic All-America honors. He also was the 15th player in NCAA history to earn both consensus first-team All-America honors and first-team Academic All-America accolades in the same season. A nationally-recognized author and lecturer on student-athlete health, exercise, nutrition and performance issues, Dr. Ryan was promoted to Assistant AD in 1992 and Associate AD in July 1998, before assuming her title of Senior Associate AD in March 2005. Prior to that, she served as women's athletics Performance Team Director (1988-92) and women's assistant swim coach (1985-88). Under her guidance and direction, The University of Texas was awarded the nation's highest honor for its Life Skills Program in December 1997, when The University received a "Citation of Excellence" from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Ryan also has served on numerous national committee assignments, including the NCAA Life Skills Committee, the Division I-A Athletics Directors Life Skills Committee and the American College of Sports Medicine Women's Issues Committee. Ryan earned her master's and doctorate from The University of Texas. Her master's degree is in exercise physiology and her doctorate is a multidisciplinary degree in psychology, nutrition and exercise physiology. She also has done extensive research and programming regarding the mental health needs of elite athletes. Ryan and her husband, Steve Klepfer, have four sons, Seth, Rhett, Kasey and Shea. |
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