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Q&A with Utah Women's Basketball Assistant Coach Ryan Larsen
8/12/2025 1:19 PM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah women's basketball will kick off the next chapter with the 2025-26 season. The Utes have some familiar faces returning to the program including assistant coach Ryan Larsen.
Larsen joined head coach Gavin Petersen's staff in December of the 2024-25 season. He came to the Utes after spending the previous six seasons at the University of Wyoming. He spent three seasons as associate head coach with the Cowgirls. Larsen and the Cowgirls made four postseason trips in his time there. He helped Wyoming to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 after winning the program's first-ever Mountain West Tournament Title.
UtahUtes.com recently talked with Larsen about why he joined the Utes and asked about his coaching style.
1. What drew you to Utah and the women's basketball program here?
A lot of factors drew me to Utah, one of the main reasons were my connections to the coaching staff, mainly Gavin Petersen. I was also drawn here to compete at an elite level and for more opportunities to play in the NCAA Tournament. Lastly, Salt Lake City is a community that my wife, Juli, and I had always talked about as a place we would like to live.
2. Do you have a coaching catch phrase? If so what is it and why?
"Play hard and have fun." A youth coach of mine, who was also a family friend, said that to us before every game when we were kids. It's always stuck with me in part because he was a big influence on me and at the end of the day sports are fun.
3. Why did you become a coach?
Coaching basketball is the only thing I ever wanted to do. Before college I wanted to teach and be a high school basketball coach but the further I got into college I was determined to be a college basketball coach. I've been extremely fortunate to be in the college game and am very thankful for the opportunities presented to me.
4. Who is someone you look up to or admire and describe why?
I have a lot of people whom I look up to and helped shape me into the person I am today. Nobody more than my parents, Judi & Merlin Larsen. My parents taught me right from wrong but let me make mistakes, then held me accountable for those mistakes. They taught me the value of hard work and that everything in life is earned. More than anything, they showed me how to treat every person with kindness and respect.
5. How do you reset and regroup after losses or bad practices?
I've certainly matured a lot in this aspect as I've gotten older. I normally watch film and identify what we need to improve on as well as find the positives. I try and keep the mindset of "It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems."
6. What is something in your coaching career that you're most proud of?
I'm proud of all the great relationships I've made along my coaching journey with former players, coaches, support staff and administrators I've worked with. The friendships I've made are irreplaceable.
7. What's the coolest sports moment you've ever witnessed?
Two memories that I'll talk about until my last days will be: 1) When I was coaching at Wyoming, we got a defensive stop to win the 2021 Mountain West Conference Tournament. 2) Matyson Wilke's half court buzzer beater to beat BYU in overtime last season.
8. If the genie granted you one wish, what would you wish for?
A cabin in the mountains on a few hundred acres near a mountain lake, where Juli and I could have a dog sanctuary.
9. What's the first thing you look for when scouting potential future Utes?
Competitiveness and a high motor. Basketball IQ and then skills.
10.What are three words to describe yourself?
Good listener, competitive, understanding
Bonus! Share one fun fact about yourself that you want the world to know.
My favorite part of the day is walking my dogs in the morning and afternoon.
SEASON TICKETS
Fans can purchase season tickets for Utah women's basketball for $75 at https://utahutes.evenue.net/list/WB
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
Larsen joined head coach Gavin Petersen's staff in December of the 2024-25 season. He came to the Utes after spending the previous six seasons at the University of Wyoming. He spent three seasons as associate head coach with the Cowgirls. Larsen and the Cowgirls made four postseason trips in his time there. He helped Wyoming to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 after winning the program's first-ever Mountain West Tournament Title.
UtahUtes.com recently talked with Larsen about why he joined the Utes and asked about his coaching style.
1. What drew you to Utah and the women's basketball program here?
A lot of factors drew me to Utah, one of the main reasons were my connections to the coaching staff, mainly Gavin Petersen. I was also drawn here to compete at an elite level and for more opportunities to play in the NCAA Tournament. Lastly, Salt Lake City is a community that my wife, Juli, and I had always talked about as a place we would like to live.
2. Do you have a coaching catch phrase? If so what is it and why?
"Play hard and have fun." A youth coach of mine, who was also a family friend, said that to us before every game when we were kids. It's always stuck with me in part because he was a big influence on me and at the end of the day sports are fun.
3. Why did you become a coach?
Coaching basketball is the only thing I ever wanted to do. Before college I wanted to teach and be a high school basketball coach but the further I got into college I was determined to be a college basketball coach. I've been extremely fortunate to be in the college game and am very thankful for the opportunities presented to me.
4. Who is someone you look up to or admire and describe why?
I have a lot of people whom I look up to and helped shape me into the person I am today. Nobody more than my parents, Judi & Merlin Larsen. My parents taught me right from wrong but let me make mistakes, then held me accountable for those mistakes. They taught me the value of hard work and that everything in life is earned. More than anything, they showed me how to treat every person with kindness and respect.
5. How do you reset and regroup after losses or bad practices?
I've certainly matured a lot in this aspect as I've gotten older. I normally watch film and identify what we need to improve on as well as find the positives. I try and keep the mindset of "It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems."
6. What is something in your coaching career that you're most proud of?
I'm proud of all the great relationships I've made along my coaching journey with former players, coaches, support staff and administrators I've worked with. The friendships I've made are irreplaceable.
7. What's the coolest sports moment you've ever witnessed?
Two memories that I'll talk about until my last days will be: 1) When I was coaching at Wyoming, we got a defensive stop to win the 2021 Mountain West Conference Tournament. 2) Matyson Wilke's half court buzzer beater to beat BYU in overtime last season.
8. If the genie granted you one wish, what would you wish for?
A cabin in the mountains on a few hundred acres near a mountain lake, where Juli and I could have a dog sanctuary.
9. What's the first thing you look for when scouting potential future Utes?
Competitiveness and a high motor. Basketball IQ and then skills.
10.What are three words to describe yourself?
Good listener, competitive, understanding
Bonus! Share one fun fact about yourself that you want the world to know.
My favorite part of the day is walking my dogs in the morning and afternoon.
SEASON TICKETS
Fans can purchase season tickets for Utah women's basketball for $75 at https://utahutes.evenue.net/list/WB
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
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