See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: EXCLUSIVE CONVO with Arkansas Head Coach Ryan Silverfield

Date: February 19, 2026
Guest: Ryan Silverfield, Head Coach, University of Arkansas
Host: David Pollack

Episode Overview

In this exclusive conversation, David Pollack sits down with Ryan Silverfield, the newly appointed head coach at Arkansas, for a candid and wide-ranging exploration of Silverfield’s remarkable coaching journey. They discuss Silverfield's unconventional career path, his commitment to developing young men, philosophies on culture and accountability, adapting to the new college football landscape, and his vision for elevating Arkansas football. The episode is rich in storytelling, earnest advice, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments that pull back the curtain on life as a major-college head coach.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Ryan Silverfield’s Coaching Journey

• Starting Young & Early Adversity

  • Began coaching at 18 after a neck injury ended his playing hopes.
  • Chose to coach rather than play at Hampton Sydney College (D3), becoming a defensive line coach at 20 while still a student.
  • “It was that rare deal, hey, you're a full time coach. You're supposed to be a full time college student. What do you really want to do? ... I said, I'm going to be a coach for the rest of my career, the rest of my life.” — Silverfield (01:47)

• Climbing Through the Ranks

  • Served as a head high school coach at 23 in Savannah, Georgia, then moved through every college level.
  • Worked seven years in the NFL (Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions) before a 10-year stint at Memphis and now Arkansas.

Philosophy & Approach to Coaching

• On Connecting with Players in Modern College Football

  • “I really got in to make a difference in young men's lives... When you can do that with 18 to 23 year olds, there's nothing better.” — Silverfield (03:30)
  • Despite NIL, the transfer portal, and rapid changes, Silverfield believes “you can still pour into these guys, you can still make a difference.”

• All-In Culture in an Age of Turnover

  • Focus on relationships and transparency with players.
  • “That buy in is part of what we are, right? It's not some stupid catchphrase. It's our culture. It's what our guys are about. It's the standards we're setting every single day." — Silverfield (05:04)

• Adapting to Change: COVID, Portals, NIL

  • Unprecedented adversity: Taking over at Memphis with just 15 days to prep for a bowl, then locked in the position as head coach just as COVID struck.
  • “During COVID, it’s not like I call up Coach Saban and say, ‘Hey, what did you guys do when COVID hit eight years ago?’ … Every year has been a different NCAA calendar.” — Silverfield (06:19)

Practical Challenges & College Football’s Need for Stability

• On Calendar Chaos and Structural Reforms:
  • Advocates for a consistent annual calendar to help coaches and athletes plan.
  • “If this year at least has the exact same calendar as last year, maybe I can structure things. At least maybe I can plan.” — Silverfield (09:14)
  • Supports one transfer portal window and the prioritization of players’ well-being.

Staff Building & Program Turnaround at Arkansas

• First Steps at Arkansas

  • Took over in a 48-hour whirlwind to sign a high school class, meet current players, and establish expectations.
  • “I said, I want you to love football and understand we're gonna have to be a little bit different here at Arkansas. We've got to get this place back to where it needs to be.” — Silverfield (12:53)
  • Not afraid to lose potential players who aren’t ready to embrace hard work and accountability.

• Defining “Different at Arkansas”

  • “If we do things the exact same way we did at Memphis, it's not going to be good enough... What's going to separate us?” — Silverfield (14:43)
  • Focus on setting new standards and cultivating a winner’s approach to overcome recent struggles.

Personal Insights & Lighter Moments

• Family & Staying Grounded

  • First call after accepting the job was to his wife, who swiftly reminded him his role at home (change diapers for their twin girls!)—a humbling moment.
  • “She goes, I don't give a darn. Go change some diapers and then come back and tell me all about it.” — Silverfield (16:09)

• Team Motto: Standards Over Feelings

  • Shared with pride, even if his wife warns him never to use it at home!
  • Host David reveals he’s used the same mantra throughout his life and coaching.

• Staff Choices: Loyalty & Trust

  • Brought his OC, Tim Ramsey, from Memphis due to a long-standing relationship and proven success.
  • Hired Ron Roberts as DC, after years of trying to land him and recognizing his defensive pedigree and SEC experience.

• Life Outside Football

  • Admits to being “pretty boring”—dedicates most of his time to family, is an occasional golfer, voracious reader, and former lover of pro wrestling.
  • “When your parents said, you want to go to college, you want to be a professional wrestler, you want to be a football coach? … I don't know if wrestling is for me. I appreciate it. Listen, I love the 80s wrestling…” — Silverfield (25:14)

• On Diet and Self-Discipline

  • Jokes about being on the “tomorrow diet” and weight fluctuations across the season.

• Embracing Arkansas Traditions

  • Confirms he can now properly call the Hogs: “Woo, Pig Sue. And we call the Hogs with the best of them.” — Silverfield (28:18)
  • Praises fans and the culture of buy-in and success across Arkansas sports.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On purpose in coaching:
  • “I mean this whole Harley and this is not coach speak, it's not a recruiting spiel, like really got in to make a difference in young men's lives.” (03:30)
• On challenges of modern college football:
  • “There's not been, especially the last seven years, a single year. We've had the same NCAA calendar, the same year. We've had the same rules and regulations. So it's constantly changing.” (06:19)
• On building toughness and culture:
  • “I believe hard work still takes care of things, but we're going to take care of our players… But I still believe, you know, how do you create a physical ball club? Time on feet in the offseason...” (11:25)
• On his family’s priorities:
  • “Congrats on the job, but you're still dad. Go change some diapers.” (16:09)
• On standards and personal mottos:
  • “I was like, guys, I don't care how you feel. Like, there's a standard. Your feelings are changing. My standard isn't.” — Pollack (17:31)
• On staff loyalty:
  • “He just said, listen, I'm going to be kind of loyal to you, Ryan, and we'll see… if it means the next steps at Arkansas, I'd love to join you.” (21:51)
• On the Arkansas turnaround:
  • “What's going to be different about us? ... I just want our guys to have that, that mindset going in and get rid of this losing mindset. Hey, let's have a winner's approach.” (14:43)
• On learning Razorback traditions:
  • “It's been fun. ... My job is to get this football program elevated back. But yeah, we know how to call the Hogs now.” (28:18)

Segment Timestamps

• 01:15 — Silverfield’s start in coaching, early adversity
• 03:09 — Range of coaching experience and philosophy on player impact
• 05:04 — “All in” culture, overcoming turnover with relationships and transparency
• 06:19 — The hardship of COVID, transfer portal, and continuous NCAA changes
• 09:14 — The need for a consistent college football calendar
• 12:53 — First steps as Arkansas head coach, setting expectations
• 14:43 — What must be “different” at Arkansas to succeed
• 16:09 — Family reaction, humility at home, “standards over feelings”
• 21:51 — Decisions on coordinators and assembling his staff
• 24:04 — Life outside of football, reading, golf, and “the wrestling thing”
• 26:11 — Eating habits and season routine
• 28:18 — Arkansas culture, calling the Hogs, goals for the program

Final Thoughts

This episode paints Ryan Silverfield as a coach deeply committed to growth, honesty, and player development, willing to grind and adapt in a fast-changing college football landscape. Listeners come away with new appreciation for the human side of program rebuilds and the steadfast values—even humorous humility—that undergird effective leadership, both on and off the gridiron.

“Let's have a winner's approach and, and hopefully equates to doing better week in and week out.” – Silverfield (14:43)