Eurohoops interviews Ulm head coach Ty Harrelson

The lengthy interview touches on, among other things, his road to Ulm and coaching rising stars Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue

Three years before being hired by BKT EuroCup club ratiopharm Ulm of Germany, Ty Harrelson experienced a state of limbo in his career and life.

In August 2021, Harrelson resigned from his job as head coach of his alma mater Wayland Baptist in Texas. He was seeking greener, more endearing coaching pastures overseas, intrigued by the prospect of working with a professional team at a high level in Europe, where he spent some years during his playing days.

It wasn’t a journey into the complete unknown since Harrelson had some contacts that could help him at least get on the starting track of realizing his goal. But it was risky to leave a steady job and move away from home to another continent without any financial security and no guaranteed stability.

After struggling to get a spot at a pro organization, the jobless Harrelson became the coach of German fourth-division club TV Langen, one of the early teams in his playing career. It wasn’t much, but it was a necessity that would allow him to continue pursuing the dream.

Harrelson’s run with Rasta Vechta was the definition of instant success. The team won the 2023 ProA (German second division) to gain promotion to the top league and then became a pleasant surprise in the BBL, finishing sixth in the regular season and earning a direct ticket to the playoffs.

Harrelson's efforts with Vechta paid dividends when he received the offer from Ulm, which had won the German championship in 2023.

Three years after his risk-taking venture to Europe, Harrelson assumed the helm of one of the most ambitious German clubs at both the domestic and continental levels. He also took on the responsibility of coaching two of Europe’s brightest talents and NBA prospects: Israeli guard Ben Saraf and French forward Noa Essengue, who are both projected as potential lottery picks in the 2025 NBA Draft.

In this interview with Eurohoops, Harrelson opens up on his tough first year in Europe while looking for a coaching job, the faith he retained in himself and the unwavering, positive mindset that drove him toward ultimately becoming the head coach of Ulm.

The American-born 44-year-old also discussed what it's like coaching the youngest team in the EuroCup, his first months in Ulm and the vision of the organization, his approach in guiding players like Saraf and Essengue and the characteristics that make them special.