When Travis Conlan and John Beilein ran into one another in Germany three years ago, neither figured the chance meeting would have long-term ramifications.

Conlan was in the midst of a 12-year European professional basketball career while Beilein was just beginning to rebuild Michigan's program. Although the player and the coach were well-acquainted with the background of the other, the conversation never went beyond pleasantries and basketball.

Conlan sensed immediately he could relate the Beilein, who he found to be "just a normal guy". He never fathomed that within a few short years, he would join his alma mater's coaching staff, affording him the return ticket to Ann Arbor he never thought was possible.

Conlan's 6,000-mile journey culminated Monday when Beilein announced he had hired the former Wolverines' guard as his new administrative assistant. Conlan, who played at Michigan from 1995-98, replaces Jeff Meyer, who was promoted following the departure of assistant coach Jerry Dunn.

Beilein said Monday that Conlan will work in several capacities including alumni relations, community service, future scheduling and facility management. He will also work as the director of Michigan's basketball camps.

It's a job that Conlan considers a once-in-a-lifetime chance after more than a decade of traveling the world playing professionally. While overseas, Conlan always tracked what Michigan was doing on the court - a message he conveyed during his brief face-to-face with his future boss in Germany.

"I told him I believe in what you're doing and I just want you to know I'm supporting you from overseas watching the games and keeping track of what's going on back home," Conlan said in a phone interview Monday night.

"But I always liked (Beilein) played his basketball and his style. I really loved what he was doing with the program, the kind of people he was bringing in and I loved what he was trying to accomplish and how he was trying to accomplish it."

In a statement Monday, Beilein said he took a great deal from his first meeting with Conlan, who grew up in Michigan before becoming the schools fifth-ranked leader in career steals (167) and assists (480). Conlan currently has a post-season award sportsmanship award named for him 12 years after he graduated with a degree in communications.

"From my first meeting with Travis two years ago, I sensed he had a bright future after his playing days had ended," Beilein said Monday. "We love the passion he has for this university and this state and know he will bring that same drive with his day-to-day activities."

Conlan, 34, spent 12 years playing professionally, spending time with 11 teams playing throughout England, Greece, Germany, Belgium and Poland. He said he wasn't aware there was a chance Beilein would have an opening until three months ago when his agent told him about the string of departures on Beilein's staff.

Since the end of the season, former assistants Dunn, John Mahoney, Mike Jackson and graduate assistant Patrick Beilein have all left for other opportunities.

Once he heard from his Detroit-area agent the administrative assistant position may be open, Conlan knew he had to make a run at the job.

"I probably could have played a couple more years, but I wondered realistically, would this opportunity still be there in a couple years?," Conlan said."To work under one of the best coaches in college basketball and back at my alma mater where I have all of my fondest memories as a player and as a person in college? No - that opportunity wouldn't be there.

"So there was no second-guessing at all. This is what I want to do now. I've wanted to be a coach for a long time now, I've been preparing for it in a lot of different ways and I knew this was the road I wanted to go down."

Conlan spent time walking around Michigan's campus Monday, taking note of all the changes that have taken place since he left. Although he never expected to back, he's looking forward to his new responsibilities with Beilein's staff - and to returning to a place he still considers home.

"It's a new chapter in my life," Conlan said. "I've been through the school/basketball chapter, the professional player chapter and this is a new chapter and I'm look forward to writing a new part in the Travis Conlan book."

Jeff Arnold covers sports for AnnArbor.com and can be reached at (734) 623-2554 or by email at jeffarnold@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffreyparnold.