Q&A with WSU coach Brad Brownell
Nov 13, 2008 7:01:14 GMT -5
Post by Raider Rowdies on Nov 13, 2008 7:01:14 GMT -5
Q&A with WSU coach Brad Brownell
By Marc Katz
Staff Writer
Thursday, November 13, 2008
FAIRBORN — He was the head coach at North Carolina-Wilmington for four years, steering the Seahawks to two NCAA tournaments and an overall record of 83-40.
Two years ago he moved, taking a job with Wright State when he felt the new Wilmington athletic director didn't want him.
So far, Brad Brownell has liked being here, and Wright State — 44-20 with him calling the shots — has been more than pleased, with high expectations that don't boarder on fanaticism.
The season begins Saturday, Nov. 15, when Illinois State visits the Nutter Center, and Brownell answered a few questions, not all of them dealing with his sport.
Q How do you deal with high expectations?
A I don't really look at it that way. Every year's a new team. All you've got to do is look at the magazines most years and a lot of what they say is wrong. They're just predictions. I think you get satisfaction when your team is achieving as close to its ability level as it can. Where that is, we don't always know, but as a coach, we might coach our tail off and win 16 games and do a better job than winning 20 games in a different year. It's not what other people think, it's what you think you're getting out of your team.
Q How much time do you spend on basketball during the season?
A I try not to let it consume me. I eat dinner with my kids or help my kids with homework and read them stories. There's time to do other stuff, but so many times you're thinking of your team, your kids and program. On two different days last week, I was coming in early and one day (assistant athletic director) Mo Cooper was in the car next to me and the next day (her husband and baseball coach) Rob Cooper was next to me. They were in the car right next to me trying to get my attention, and I didn't even notice. They called me later in the day to let me know.
Q What's the toughest thing to teach a basketball player?
A Some kids certainly need more skill development. They have to learn how to play together, to play as a team to understand each other's strengths and weaknesses. And, shooting, of course.
Q What's your favorite dessert?
A Oh, probably some sort of brownie, with hot fudge and ice cream. I want it all.
Q Do you shovel snow?
A I have shoveled snow. Sometimes my wife shovels. I mowed my lawn until I moved to Wright State. I actually liked mowing my lawn. I've never had a riding lawn mower. But one time I was recruiting and my wife like hired some guy and he started doing it. I never thought about it, and then it was winter. I'm kind of embarrassed to say, my lawn is just big enough you need a riding lawn mower, or you're going to spend a lot of time doing it the right way with a push mower. I do have the weed eater. I still do a little of that.
Q Where would be your ultimate place to live?
A I guess when I'm older, certainly I'd want to be in a warmer climate where I could play golf. The ideal setting for me would be in an environment where I could play golf and where I could go have some relationship with a basketball coach. Maybe it's Division I. It doesn't have to be. It has to be a place where I could stop by practice and talk basketball, just be around and watch kids and meet a few and watch them grow. That would be an ideal situation, and to be somewhere near by family.
Q If you could change one thing in college basketball, what would it be?
A I wish we would be able to have a little more access with our players during the summer to have them work out. I'd also like to have a little more balance in scheduling to have us have a little more opportunity to play BCS teams, not only at neutral sites, but at home.
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2008/11/13/ddn111308spwsubrownell.html
By Marc Katz
Staff Writer
Thursday, November 13, 2008
FAIRBORN — He was the head coach at North Carolina-Wilmington for four years, steering the Seahawks to two NCAA tournaments and an overall record of 83-40.
Two years ago he moved, taking a job with Wright State when he felt the new Wilmington athletic director didn't want him.
So far, Brad Brownell has liked being here, and Wright State — 44-20 with him calling the shots — has been more than pleased, with high expectations that don't boarder on fanaticism.
The season begins Saturday, Nov. 15, when Illinois State visits the Nutter Center, and Brownell answered a few questions, not all of them dealing with his sport.
Q How do you deal with high expectations?
A I don't really look at it that way. Every year's a new team. All you've got to do is look at the magazines most years and a lot of what they say is wrong. They're just predictions. I think you get satisfaction when your team is achieving as close to its ability level as it can. Where that is, we don't always know, but as a coach, we might coach our tail off and win 16 games and do a better job than winning 20 games in a different year. It's not what other people think, it's what you think you're getting out of your team.
Q How much time do you spend on basketball during the season?
A I try not to let it consume me. I eat dinner with my kids or help my kids with homework and read them stories. There's time to do other stuff, but so many times you're thinking of your team, your kids and program. On two different days last week, I was coming in early and one day (assistant athletic director) Mo Cooper was in the car next to me and the next day (her husband and baseball coach) Rob Cooper was next to me. They were in the car right next to me trying to get my attention, and I didn't even notice. They called me later in the day to let me know.
Q What's the toughest thing to teach a basketball player?
A Some kids certainly need more skill development. They have to learn how to play together, to play as a team to understand each other's strengths and weaknesses. And, shooting, of course.
Q What's your favorite dessert?
A Oh, probably some sort of brownie, with hot fudge and ice cream. I want it all.
Q Do you shovel snow?
A I have shoveled snow. Sometimes my wife shovels. I mowed my lawn until I moved to Wright State. I actually liked mowing my lawn. I've never had a riding lawn mower. But one time I was recruiting and my wife like hired some guy and he started doing it. I never thought about it, and then it was winter. I'm kind of embarrassed to say, my lawn is just big enough you need a riding lawn mower, or you're going to spend a lot of time doing it the right way with a push mower. I do have the weed eater. I still do a little of that.
Q Where would be your ultimate place to live?
A I guess when I'm older, certainly I'd want to be in a warmer climate where I could play golf. The ideal setting for me would be in an environment where I could play golf and where I could go have some relationship with a basketball coach. Maybe it's Division I. It doesn't have to be. It has to be a place where I could stop by practice and talk basketball, just be around and watch kids and meet a few and watch them grow. That would be an ideal situation, and to be somewhere near by family.
Q If you could change one thing in college basketball, what would it be?
A I wish we would be able to have a little more access with our players during the summer to have them work out. I'd also like to have a little more balance in scheduling to have us have a little more opportunity to play BCS teams, not only at neutral sites, but at home.
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2008/11/13/ddn111308spwsubrownell.html
