For Brad Ranson, basketball has never just been a game – it has been a way of life, a family tradition, and a profound journey rooted in the heart of Pueblo, Colorado.

Set to be inducted into the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame on October 16, Ranson sits comfortably among the elite who have ever graced the hardwood for the university.  It will be his second appearance in the Steel City Hall of Fame, as he was the second of three Ransons inducted into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame in 1998.

He joins Lauren Fairchild (track & field, 2016-2021); Scott Gallas (football, 1976-1980); Mike Guenther (wrestling, 1983-1985); Oni Lattin (volleyball, 2014-2015).; and John Trahan (football, 1981-1984) as student-athletes being inducted this October at the  Occhiato Student Center Ballroom.  HOF BANQUET RESERVATIONS

Donnell Leomiti, a defensive backfield coach on the ThunderWolves to the 2014 NCAA Division II football championship, and contributor and CSU Pueblo Athletics historian Tim Simmons will join six student-athletes at the induction ceremonies to be held during Homecoming Weekend at CSU Pueblo.

In addition, the 2017-2018 Women’s Basketball team will also be inducted into the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame in the Team Category after posting a 25-7 record and capturing both the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular and post-season titles to earn the school’s fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance

Recently, Ranson sat down with sophomore women’s soccer player and athletic communications assistant Kenna Snyder [00:00] to discuss his storied athletic career, deep family ties to the university, and his induction into the CSU Pueblo Hall of Fame.

Video Link: Kenna Snyder interviews Brad Ranson, a 3 year starter at USC in the early 1980s

Reflecting on his legendary collegiate career, his deep-rooted ties to the community, and a lifetime spent in sports, Ranson recently sat down for an interview on campus with Kenna Snyder, where he made his historic mark – Massari Arena [00:10].

Coming Home: Choosing the Pack

Long before cementing his status in the university’s record books, Ranson was a standout local athlete at Pueblo South High School, where he starred in both basketball and baseball for three years [01:31].  He scored 50 points in a game at Widefield on February 17, 1979, during a season that he led the South Central League in scoring.  He finished his Colt career by being the leading scorer in the Class AAA state tournament with 107 points highlighted by a 43-point explosion against Fort Collins on March 9.

Following graduation, he initially took his talents to Mesa College, where he played his freshman year under coach Doug Schakel [01:39] and averaged nearly 10 points per game.  He played in two games against USC and scored 20 points in an 87-80 setback to the Indians on February 1, 1980, at Massari.

However, the pull of home and an opportunity presented by legendary coach Don McIntosh (“Coach Mack”) proved too strong to resist [01:45].

“I knew I could play in the RMAC and I knew I can be successful…it was a no-brainer… my parents can come out and watch me play, my family, my friends, and today it’s probably the best decision I made,” Ranson shared [02:02].

Switching to what was then the University of Southern Colorado (USC) Indians [00:52], Ranson became a three-year starter who never looked back, calling it the “time of my life” while playing for Coach Mac, who was inducted into the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. [01:15].

Record-Breaking Excellence on the Court

During his three stellar seasons (1980-1983), Ranson left an indelible mark on the basketball program. He racked up 1,217 points across 76 career games, placing him 14th on the university’s all-time scoring list. His 41-point scoring effort at New Mexico Highlands on January 28, 1982 ranks the seventh-best in the Pack record book.

In a Pueblo Chieftain article by Dave Socier after the Highlands win, where Ranson set a record with 31 second-half points against the Cowboys, he said, “Is this my kind of game? I love it. To the max. I love to run. That’s me basically.”

In the other Las Vegas game, where the three-point shot was not in play, Ranson made 14 of 25 field goals and all 13 free-throw attempts in the 82-79 USC win. He also had seven steals and scored 12 straight Indian points to open up the second half after Highlands led 41-34 at intermission.

A master orchestrator and sharpshooter, he averaged 5.2 assists per game and etched his name in the record books as the program’s all-time free-throw percentage leader, draining an astonishing 87.4 percent of his charity stripes (347 of 397).

Balancing life as a dual-sport athlete – playing utility baseball for John Barnes alongside his primary focus on basketball [02:52] – meant Ranson’s schedule was relentlessly demanding. Yet, his work ethic carried him through. Crediting fierce summer battles in Massari Arena against fierce competitors like former San Diego Clipper player Randy Johnson and standout teammates like the Trahern brothers (Jimmy and Bobby), Benny Johnson, and Art Griffin, Ranson noted how those intense matchups forged his competitive edge [10:45].

A Basketball Dynasty and Lifelong Roots

Sports have always been the family business for the Ransons. Brad’s father (Jim) coached high school basketball in Pueblo for 30 years – a legacy Brad proudly continued by taking over the reins and coaching for another 31 years [06:29]. The family ties to CSU Pueblo run exceptionally deep: Brad’s father even briefly coached the university’s women’s team (with Brad assisting in 1993) [04:29], and his younger brother (Clay) later played basketball for the Pack [04:15].

That basketball DNA has seamlessly passed to the next generation. Brad and his wife of 33 years, Lynn [05:02], raised two children, Michael and Lauren [05:06]. Son Michael is carrying the torch forward as a collegiate basketball coach, recently joining the staff at LSU under coach Will Wade [05:40].  Michael Ranson was a CSU Pueblo assistant coach during the 2025-2026 season in Zach Ruebesam’s first campaign with the Pack.

Words of Wisdom for the Next Generation

As Ranson returns to Massari Arena to receive the university’s ultimate athletic honor, he looks out at the current generation of Pack players with a simple message built on decades of dedication:

“You got to give it 110% every single day from practice to game day… don’t take for granted that something’s going to be given to you; you got to go out and earn it.” [12:30]

For Ranson, the Hall of Fame induction puts a lifetime of early-morning gym hours and fierce competition into perspective [13:20]. Looking back on his time wearing the USC colors, it is clear that the university gave him a foundation for life – and in return, he gave the Pack a legacy that will endure forever.