Missouri State football coach Ryan Beard knew the "Ransdell" last name and was familiar with his new boss before Patrick Ransdell was tabbed as the university's next athletic director.
When Beard was a seventh-grade shortstop playing baseball in Bowling Green, Kentucky, he was a shortstop behind Ransdell's brother, a senior playing the same position. He had heard of Patrick Ransdell but their paths never crossed until years later.
Ransdell and Beard will now work hand-in-hand attempting to build Missouri State football into a program that can compete at the FBS level in 2025 when it joins Conference USA.
Much work is needed to be done but Beard reverted to his shortstop days in calling Missouri State's hire a "home run."
More: What Missouri State AD Patrick Ransdell said about Plaster Stadium — the $100M question
"I think he is extremely intelligent," Beard said. "I think he's got charisma. He's the right man at the right time. And what do I mean by that? I think his vigor for success and his ability to crate long-lasting relationships is going to be a big deal for us here at Missouri State.
"The other thing is that he's a competitor, he's a college athlete and his father was one of the best in the business."
Ransdell's father, Dr. Gary A. Ransdell, was the president at Western Kentucky, Beard's alma mater, from 1997 to 2017. Gary Ransdell was the president at WKU when the university transitioned from being an FCS athletics program to the FBS ranks in 2008. He was in charge when WKU left the Sun Belt to join Conference USA in 2014.
Beard played for the Hilltoppers as a standout defensive back from 2007-11 during the football program's transitional seasons. He was a defensive backs coach at WKU in 2016.
More: New Missouri State AD Patrick Ransdell celebrated at introduction. 'This is a new day'
"There would be no high-level Group of 5 Western Kentucky without Gary Ransdell," Beard said. "His pedigree is huge."
Beard said he has enjoyed his early conversations with his new boss. The coach hasn't been shy to voice his opinion on how far behind the infrastructure of the football program is, whether it be the condition of Plaster Stadium, his locker room and even nutrition.
Beard believes Patrick Ransdell has a plan for the items that need immediate attention. New Missouri State President Richard "Biff" Williams said nine figures will likely need to go into the football program in the coming years to get it where it needs to be.
"You've been around our facilities and you kind of understand what the guys are dealing with," Beard said. "If you want to be in FBS and not be changing head coaches every few years, that's one thing that has to be addressed."
More: Watch: Missouri State AD Patrick Ransdell addresses media after introduction
Beard continued to praise Ransdell, noting how he, the new athletic director and the new president all see eye to eye. There's a similar vision among the three for what Missouri State needs to look like in the years ahead. Beard texted Ransdell shortly after his hiring and told him to take a deep breath because he believes he's the man for the job and there's no better place to be than Missouri State.
"He's gonna hold people accountable," Beard said. "I think this department desperately needs that, myself included. I think people operate better with the vision and the plan and understand you have a job to do. Obviously, football is a little different because we're still trying to make up for some lost time in regard to everything outside of football. But once that gets coming along, I think it will be a great thing."
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Why Missouri State football coach Ryan Beard believes new AD Patrick Ransdell is a home run hire
Most Popular
Comments / 0