Back in the Stu: Former pep band director returns to VCU

Bersabeh Kemaw, Contributing Writer 

Ryan Kopacsi, director of VCU’s pep band, has returned as VCU’s director after a career in Richmond’s fire department. 

Kopacsi was previously the director of VCU’s pep band, better known as The Peppas, from 1998 to 2016, according to VCU Athletics

“I don’t think I ever really wanted to go, but sometimes God leads you on a path you need to go on,” Kopacsi said. “The time away was eye opening but coming back seemed like a destiny for me.”

Before the Peppas, the jazz orchestra was the pep band for VCU. When Kopacsi was a member of the Peppas, they had about seven to 11 members initially, according to Kopacsi. 

“There has been a pep band as long as I know, but it has gone through many different alterations,” Kopacsi said. “We wanted to change our name and somebody brought up The Peppas, it was kind of a joke so it just stuck.”

Kopacsi began working in the Richmond Fire Department in 2011, but he became a fire investigator, who determines causes of fire, three years ago, according to Kopacsi.

Kopacsi left VCU in 2016 to fully pursue his career with the Richmond Fire Department, according to Kopacsi.

Kopacsi said transitioning from working as a band director for 18 years to working in the fire department and as a fire investigator had its changes.

“It is different because you look at fires all day and show up on people’s worst day of their life,” Kopacsi said. “Whereas here at VCU, it’s sort of like the WWE. We like to put on a show, entertain people and have a good time.” 

Leaving his position as director of the band was not something Kopacsi wanted to do, but something he felt he needed to do, he said.

Mat Shelton-Eide is a member of VCU’s Ram Nation, which is a news outlet that is dedicated to covering and discussing VCU sports, according to the organization’s website. Shelton-Eide grew up as a VCU fan and was very vocal about the need to bring Kopacsi back because of his star quality and what he brought to the Stu, according to Shelton-Eide.

“I am stoked about his return because there is just a vibe,” Shelton-Eide said. “Obviously we were winning a bit more back then, but there is just a vibe. The atmosphere in the Stu is different.”

Kopacsi has also brought exposure and coverage to the Peppas. He got VCU’s pep band coverage on a national level and had VCU’s name on ESPN on numerous occasions, according to Shelton-Eide. 

Michelle Vo, the equipment manager for The Peppas, was initially hesitant about getting a different director since she was under the previous director, according to Vo.

“Changing over is going to be a weird transition, it always is,” Vo said. “But I kept an open mind and I learned more about him. I got to know him and so far he is doing really well.”

The transition between directors came with some changes, with one of those changes being a more hype atmosphere than the previous years, according to Vo.

Kopacsi has an outgoing and extroverted personality, which adds a fun aspect to the band, Vo said. Kopacsi is also more direct and forward with his way of directing and with his ideals for the band, according to Vo.

“It is a good improvement because coming out of COVID, it was hard to just recover from getting the band back to the size it used to be,” Vo said.

The Rams will face the Vanderbilt Commodores on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m., at the Siegel Center, where you can also watch Kopacsi and The Peppas.