Rodney Terry’s wife, Vielka Rivers, balances a thriving career while supporting his coaching success.
Highlights
- Rodney Terry’s wife, Vielka Rivers, is a multitalented professional who has built her own successful career across multiple fields.
- As a mother to two sons (Prince Elias and Eden Ewing), Rivers has raised a family that shares her partner’s passion for athletics.
- While Terry publicly acknowledged Rivers as his girlfriend in a March 2023 birthday post, Getty Images reportedly referred to Rivers as Terry’s wife.
Rodney Eric Terry, born on March 27, 1968, in Angleton, Texas, has established himself as one of college basketball’s most respected coaches.
Currently serving as the men’s basketball head coach at the University of Texas at Austin, Terry’s journey to the top of collegiate coaching ranks is a testament to his dedication and basketball acumen.
Terry’s basketball journey began at Angleton High School before he attended St. Edward’s University in Austin, where he left an indelible mark as the all-time leading scorer—a record that remarkably still stands as of 2025.
Following his illustrious playing career, Terry graduated in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in physical education.
His coaching career began humbly as an assistant at his alma mater St. Edward’s during the 1990-91 season before moving to James Bowie High School in Austin from 1991 to 1993.
Terry’s first head coaching position came at Somerville High School, where he compiled an impressive 49-21 record over two seasons and led the team to the Class 2A semifinals in 1994.
After a brief stint at his own high school alma mater, Terry began his ascent through college basketball’s coaching ranks.
Beginning as an assistant at Baylor under Harry Miller, Terry later joined Jerry Wainwright’s staff at UNCW, helping guide them to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 2002.
His big break came in 2002 when he joined Rick Barnes’ staff at Texas, where he helped recruit future NBA stars like Kevin Durant, D.J. Augustin, and Tristan Thompson while contributing to Final Four and Elite Eight runs.
After successful head coaching tenures at Fresno State and UTEP, Terry returned to Texas as an assistant in 2021.
After Chris Beard left, Terry became interim head coach in December 2022.
He led the Longhorns to a Big 12 title and their first Elite Eight since 2008, earning the permanent job on March 27, 2023.
The Private Life of Rodney Terry and His Wife, Vielka Rivers
While Rodney Terry has made headlines with his coaching accomplishments, his personal life has largely remained private.
At the center of his personal world is Vielka Rivers, a multifaceted woman whose contributions extend far beyond being the partner of a successful coach.
Born in Nicaragua in 1975, Rivers has built an impressive career spanning multiple industries.
A successful entrepreneur, she owns and operates her own salon while also working as a stylist, designer, model, and teacher.
Her diverse talents showcase a driven woman who has created her own path to success.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Rivers is a devoted mother to two sons, Prince Elias and Eden Ewing.
The latter has followed an athletic path similar to Terry’s, suggesting the couple shares a passion for sports that extends to their family life.
Terry and Rivers have maintained a remarkably private relationship, offering only occasional glimpses into their personal connection.
One such moment came on March 22, 2023, when Terry took to X (formerly Twitter) to publicly wish Rivers a happy birthday, referring to her as his girlfriend—a rare public acknowledgment of their relationship.
Wishing a very happy birthday to my beautiful girlfriend Vielka! pic.twitter.com/uM8bECFJYz
— Rodney Terry (@RodneyTerry) March 22, 2023
Following this, the couple maintained their low-key approach to public life, continuing to reference each other as boyfriend and girlfriend.
However, their relationship status gained more attention when they were spotted together at major Texas Longhorns events, most notably on October 19, 2024, when they appeared together on the sidelines during the high-profile Texas vs. Georgia Bulldogs football game.
It was around this time that getty images reported Rivers as Terry’s wife, suggesting the couple had privately married.
However, in keeping with their private nature, neither Terry nor Rivers has ever publicly confirmed their marriage, leaving fans and media to speculate about the exact nature of their relationship.
What remains clear is that Rivers provides crucial support to Terry as he navigates the high-pressure world of college basketball coaching.
As Terry continues to build his legacy at the University of Texas, Rivers stands as his steadfast partner, balancing her own impressive career while supporting his coaching journey.
In a profession where family time is often sacrificed for late-night game planning and recruiting trips, having a supportive partner like Rivers undoubtedly contributes to Terry’s success on the court.
Additional Information
- Rodney Terry is a devout Christian who has publicly expressed his faith, stating that he lives by the belief that only God can judge him and that Christ’s sacrifice forgives sins.
- Following Texas’s NCAA Tournament run, Terry gained popularity for his striking resemblance to the character Gus Fring (played by Giancarlo Esposito) from the TV shows Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
- During his time at UTEP, Terry experienced a serious health scare when he suffered an attack of anaphylactic shock due to a medication reaction in late December 2019, causing him to be hospitalized and miss a game against Florida International.
