1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: It's okay for the kids to struggle, it's okay for 2 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: it not to be easy. I think it's even good. 3 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: I think it's better for him. I think that is 4 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: the opportunity to chief. If you're passionate about something, truly 5 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: passionate about it, then when there are challenges or questions, 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: or money is not great, or injury or whatever it is, 7 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 1: you're gonna find a way to person here if it 8 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: means stuffing to you, and if it doesn't, you'll go 9 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: down a different path. This is the Reformed Sports Project, 10 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:31,639 Speaker 1: a podcast about restoring healthy balance and perspective in all 11 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: areas of sports through education and advocacy. Hi, this is 12 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: Nick Bonacor from the Reformed Sports Project podcast. With me 13 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: today is Brad Brunel, head coach of the Clemson men's 14 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: basketball program since two thousand and ten and his eleventh 15 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: seasons with the Tigers. His winning record places him first 16 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: all time in the university's coaching history with two and 17 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: one victories. Coach Brunel and I discuss running your own race, 18 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: finding the right fit for college, and the importance of 19 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: playing hard for the right people. Man, I am fired up. 20 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: I got another awesome guests We're kind of from the 21 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: same neighborhood, cut from the same kind of cloth. He's 22 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: got ties to Wilmington, North Carolina. That's where I live. Um, 23 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: So I mean we're kind of we're I'm gonna say 24 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: we're kind of kinfolk. I'm from New England, but I've 25 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,479 Speaker 1: lived down there long enough I can say the words kinfolks. So, man, 26 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: I'm pumped to have him head basketball coach men's basketball 27 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: coach at Clemson University the Tigers coach Brad Bryan now coach. 28 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for hopping on man. Yeah, happy to 29 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: be on Nick. Looking forward to spending some time with you. Well, 30 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: I appreciate you very much. Coaching. You know, we're talking 31 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: youth sports, we're talking athletic development and kind of where 32 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 1: I want to start with you here is especially being 33 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: in basketball. Um, there's been a lot of talk here 34 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: the last couple of years, and I'm not that familiar, 35 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: but we're having you know, hear folks talk about loading 36 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: right and overuse. You know, there's been some injuries type thing. 37 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: I know on the baseball side, there's Tommy John There's 38 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 1: all these different things. But the reason I'm time this 39 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: and I kind of want to get your feedback, because 40 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: there's a big push nowadays for year round early sports specialization. 41 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: I mean, let's get the kids in there. If they're 42 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: a good basketball, are baseball, soccer, whatever it is. Forget 43 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: about diversifying and forget about versatility. We gotta lock in. 44 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: We gotta get ten thousand hours as quick as possible. 45 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: But then you hear about load management right here about 46 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: other things. So I'm wondering, you know, what are your 47 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: thoughts on the whole early sports specialization piece versus kids. 48 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 1: You know, maybe at the younger age it's sampling a 49 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: variety of sports before kind of locking in. Yeah, I'm 50 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: not for sports specialization at a young age, you know, 51 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: middle school, elementary school, any of that. I think you 52 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: need to play as many sports as you you enjoy 53 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: and uh, I just think you know, burnout, I think 54 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: wear and tear. I just think at that age that 55 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: you're trying to play sports for fun. What what makes 56 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: you enjoy? Uh? Life at that age? And you know, 57 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: because if you're not enjoying it, if it if it's 58 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,239 Speaker 1: starting to feel like work at twelve years old, you're 59 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 1: you're not gonna make it. Uh, it's gonna be hard 60 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 1: to make it and be successful. As you get a 61 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: little bit older and you start to move your way 62 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: through high school, now you can begin to start thinking 63 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,959 Speaker 1: about some of that. I would still encourage kids, if possible, 64 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: to play multiple sports in high school when you can. 65 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: Um instead of playing three, you might not you might 66 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 1: have to play two when you get to that point. 67 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: But I think when you're younger, no, I I want 68 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:15,839 Speaker 1: kids playing, you know, as many sports as they want 69 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: to play. Three four sports, you know, whatever season it is, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, whatever, golf. 70 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:23,799 Speaker 1: I mean, get involved in as many things as you can. 71 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: Just enjoy yourself. I think that's really important. Do you 72 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: see yourself Like if you're on the recruiting trail, you 73 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: see a kid you really like and you find out 74 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: he's the quarterback or you find out he's a wide 75 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: receiver or whatever position, does that pique your interest a 76 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: little bit more? And not only kind of talk about 77 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: that absolutely In high school, John Goldsberry and Beckham Wyrick 78 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: were two kids that played for US at UNC Wilmington 79 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 1: that we're both uh football players in high school, and 80 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: in fact, I remember going to a couple of their 81 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: football games when I recruit him, uh, to get him 82 00:03:57,640 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: to come to UNC Wilmington and sitting out in the 83 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: cold in rain and snow and in Ohio and November, 84 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: right before basketball season and you know, started for their 85 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: senior years or what not. Maybe it's October, huddling up 86 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: with their families in the in the weather. And you 87 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: know what, I think football is great because I think 88 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: it builds toughness. I think that you know, some characters, 89 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: some physical toughness that that certainly translates to basketball. And so, 90 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: you know, I absolutely love kids that were good players, 91 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,559 Speaker 1: high level athletes, successful in multiple sports. I think guys 92 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: that do that are winners, and uh, you know, and 93 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: then obviously when you get to be a little bit 94 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: older and then hey, then you start to specialize in college, 95 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 1: you know, then you still have room for growth because 96 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 1: you maybe haven't played uh the same sport for the 97 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: last four or five years. And uh, I think that 98 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: happened with with both of those guys. It's a great point. 99 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: And then this culture, though it's tough coach because you know, 100 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: I'm a parent six times over. I have kids that 101 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 1: have gone you know, that are still going up. And 102 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: I think my youngest is three and a half. And 103 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: you know, my oldest is a junior in high school, 104 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:00,359 Speaker 1: and you know, I'm forty to forty three, So I 105 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: mean it's totally different from when I was coming up. 106 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: But it's even evolved the culture here. It's almost like 107 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: everyone's racing to the head start. It's like we gotta 108 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: get everything's like a chase for a scholarship. And parents 109 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: are feeling it because quite frankly, it's coming from clubs. 110 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: It's coming from Hey, your kid's gonna miss out and listen, 111 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: I'm not trying. There's a lot of great clubs and organizations, 112 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: but I think it's important for parents understand. You know, 113 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,239 Speaker 1: you don't have to be year round, You're not gonna 114 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 1: miss out. But also it adds this type of intensity. 115 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: It adds this type of intensity where I'm paying big bucks. 116 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: My kids better not be sitting on the bench one uh. 117 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:35,359 Speaker 1: And if they are, well, i gotta take them to 118 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 1: another club because if they're not playing, they're not gonna 119 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: get seen. Right. So you've got that element in there, 120 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: and that causes this stress, this pressure. I kind of 121 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 1: want you to go to different ways here talk about 122 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: how that pressure could be impact and apparent and then 123 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, you know, they're bouncing around from 124 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: team to team. And also I'll kind of get into 125 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: this a little bit later. We'll see where you go. 126 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: How it adds that pressure for a win at all 127 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: cost right, and then all of a sudden parents are 128 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 1: yelling at officials. It kind of can get things a 129 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: little bit ugly. I think parents have great ten, but 130 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: it's like this hyper competitive thing at ten eleven years old. 131 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: Can you kind of dig in there a little? Yeah, 132 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: I think you have to be really careful that we're 133 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 1: trying to win it all costs at ten eleven years old. 134 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: I mean that I don't know that that's You're not 135 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 1: earning your scholarship at ten or eleven years old, twelve 136 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 1: years old. You're earning your scholarship much later sixteen seventeen 137 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: years old. And there is a certain amount of athletic ability, skill, 138 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: whatever you want to call a combination of the factors 139 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: that is that your son or daughter has to have 140 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 1: to even you know, there are some people that don't 141 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: have to work as hard and don't have to do 142 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 1: as much because there is a level of success that 143 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,919 Speaker 1: they're naturally gifted. Son or daughter has that that helps 144 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,359 Speaker 1: them right. And there's also no matter how much you 145 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: work with certain kids, there's gonna be a ceiling that 146 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: is that you're not going to get to. Um, you know, 147 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: speaking of just being nine and ten years old. I 148 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: mean again, I'm just it should be about fun. It 149 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 1: should you know, if you're putting that kind of pressure 150 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,159 Speaker 1: on your child, I just don't know that they're going 151 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: to make it. Um, I don't, you know, getting them 152 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 1: exposed to a bunch of different things, trying to find 153 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 1: a good a AU coach or you know, club person 154 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: to be involved in coaching your son. I think that's 155 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: what's really important, being taught the finer skills, the right 156 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: way to play, you know, the baseline techniques of how 157 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: to be successful in the sport. I think coaching at 158 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: that that eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve year old level 159 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: is critical to put your child on a really good path, 160 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: and so looking for that I think is a great thing. 161 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: But having to play, you know, sixty summer leagues baseball 162 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: games that ten years old, I don't know if you 163 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: have to do that to make sure that you're going 164 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: to hurt a scholarship. And I think after a while 165 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: there it does feel like work. It feels like pressure, 166 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: and I don't know if if they're going to perform 167 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: as well the longer that goes. If you're trying to 168 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: win the long race at sixteen, seventeen and eighteen, I 169 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: think it's the underdog thing, right and all of us. 170 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: But I mean I developed physically later. I graduated high 171 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: school seventeen years old. I walked on campus on college 172 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: seventeen years old, and I didn't turn eighteen until shortly 173 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: in the fall of my my freshman year, I was undersized, 174 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: you know, I definitely had a big um. I think 175 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: a jump in physicality between my freshman year and junior 176 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: which I don't think is uncommon. That's why junior college 177 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: is a great fit for some kids. But with that said, 178 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: there's a there's a sweet spot I got for a 179 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: late bloomer coaches. I really do, and I think everyone does. 180 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: But you're afraid, right, everyone develops at at a different level. 181 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: And you just brought up you know, I think you 182 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: said sixteen eighteen or you're talking about ages. Well, who 183 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 1: you are at ten years old or who a kid 184 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: is at twelve doesn't mean they're gonna be that way 185 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: at fourteen or sixteen or whatever the case is, how 186 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: important is it for kids or parents? Say, hey, Tim 187 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: Corbin said this great When I interviewed coach Corpse, he 188 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 1: talked about running your own race and it's hard and 189 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 1: it's hard not to compare though, coach, but how do 190 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: you do that? How do you stay present with your 191 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: kid or if you are the kid not comparing yourself 192 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: to you know, especially with the rankings that are out there, Well, 193 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 1: it's funny. I think that's you know, that's that's getting 194 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: all worked up about rankings, Like we talked about it 195 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: in basketball. Now that there's a lot of things that 196 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: have been really good about a U basketball. AU basketball 197 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: has exposed more kids to more better competition, you know, 198 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: at earlier ages and for consecutive years, to show kids, hey, 199 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 1: while you might be the best player in Wilmington's there's 200 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: a lot of guys better than you throughout the state 201 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: of North Carolina and then all along the East Coast. 202 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: And you know, you start learning that at fourteen or fifteen. 203 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: That's good for you to see because it hopefully motivates 204 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,719 Speaker 1: you to continue to work. And you know, we talk 205 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: a lot at Clemson about grit passion and perseverance toward 206 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 1: a long term goal. And that's really what it is, 207 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: and that's what Coach Corbyn said is and we talked 208 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: to our players even now about it. You know, a 209 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:38,599 Speaker 1: freshman at at Clemson right now on our team is 210 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,719 Speaker 1: in a different position than a junior senior, and he's 211 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 1: gonna have to be a little more patient. He's running 212 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: his own race. He still has to work hard, but 213 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: his goals and dreams are gonna be a little bit 214 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 1: more difficult to attain. Well, the same is true for 215 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: fourteen years old compared to sixteen years old or somebody 216 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: who's a fourteen year old. You know, sixth man may 217 00:09:57,559 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: end up being the best player in the high school 218 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,079 Speaker 1: team by the time he's eight teen, because he's got 219 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: a four or five inch grossbert he's gonna gain thirty pounds, 220 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 1: and some other guys are already more physically mature. So 221 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 1: understanding that, understanding your son, encouraging your son or daughter 222 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: to run their own race, to be patient. That's why 223 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: I keep coming back to learning the right way to play, 224 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: learning the fundamentals, learning the finer points of how to 225 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 1: play the game the right way. The mental part of 226 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: the game that that I think that is so important 227 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 1: when kids are learning skills and developing good habits. Uh, 228 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: I think that gives you a chance to eventually develop 229 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: into the kind of player that you want to be 230 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 1: when you physically mature. You're getting me excited. And what 231 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: I mean by that is I could tell obviously you're passionate. 232 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: And one of the main subjects that I love to 233 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: dive in with this is you know, you hear the 234 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: old saying prepare the kid for the path, don't prepare 235 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 1: the path for the kid. And it's not easy as 236 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 1: a parent to watch your kids struggle, to watch them, 237 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: you know. And I look back on my and my 238 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: wife as well. You know, we look back on our 239 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: sports experience as athletes ourselves and we can remember, hey, 240 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: you know, it's sucked going through this, right, whatever circumstances is. 241 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:06,080 Speaker 1: We look at our kids. Wow, I remember when I 242 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: had to go through that. It was not easy, But 243 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: on the other side of that was so much learning 244 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: and growth. So we try to use our own experience 245 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 1: to help write the kids the same thing. When I'm coaching, well, 246 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: it's failure, right, It's it's learning to wait, it's learning 247 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: to struggle. And allowing the kids to struggle. All you 248 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: gotta do is look at the transfer portal. I look 249 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 1: at the transfer portal, and you know, to me, that's like, 250 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: you know, I use this example a lot coach, and 251 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 1: then I'll let you go with it. I see it 252 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: all the time. For some reason, if your kids not 253 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: starting shortstop, everyone takes it personally, I don't understand it. 254 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: And then they go start their own team. Right, let's 255 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: go start our own team this way. It happens all 256 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: the time. But are we and I'm not trying to 257 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 1: start the sentence for you, but are we kind of 258 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: doing our kids a disservice by not allowing them to struggle? Hey, 259 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 1: I know you can play short stop, but hey, this 260 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 1: kid's better than you. Why don't you work hard and 261 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,959 Speaker 1: get better at it? Why is failure sore important for growth? 262 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:55,839 Speaker 1: But I think it's critical. And I think that's what's 263 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 1: That's what's challenging right now for coaching at the higher 264 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 1: levels is very few of the kids that that we coach. Now, 265 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,199 Speaker 1: you know, everybody that comes to Clemson was all state 266 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: and most of the kids that I coach were the 267 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 1: best player on their team since they were fourteen years old. Um, 268 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 1: and so this is the first time in their lives 269 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 1: that they have struggle, because if they ever did struggle 270 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:18,439 Speaker 1: at a younger age, they probably did move. A lot 271 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 1: of my kids go to different high schools, a lot 272 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 1: of kids play on multiple AU teams. It's just like 273 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: you talked about. And I think as a parent, it's okay. 274 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 1: You know, it's okay for the kids to struggle. It's 275 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 1: okay for it not to be easy. I think it's 276 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: even good. I think it's better for him. I think 277 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: that is the opportunity to teach. That is the opportunity 278 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: to build some resiliency, some grit. That's when you're gonna 279 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 1: find out if your son or daughter really does care, 280 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,719 Speaker 1: if they're passionate about it, If they are struggling and 281 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: they're still passionate about it, they're still working really hard, 282 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 1: then you know it's something they want to do. They 283 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 1: really want to do it. When we constantly put them 284 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: on a different team or take them away from any 285 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: of their struggles, life's not like that. And I think 286 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: we're doing them a little bit of a disservice. Um. Now, Hey, 287 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: if a coach isn't coaching them the way you want 288 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 1: them to coach. There's a little bit of that. Okay, 289 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: not being treated right, that's certainly understandable, but maybe not 290 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 1: just because you're not getting the amount of shots you 291 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: want or those kinds of things, especially uh, at a 292 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 1: younger age. I think you've got to let those kids 293 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:19,439 Speaker 1: have some success, but you've got to also let them 294 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: struggle and fight and learn and grow and find out 295 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 1: how much they really want to be good and how 296 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 1: much they're willing to work to improve their lot in life. 297 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: And that's you know, we're talking about the lessons, and 298 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 1: this is what I think is so important. Listen. I 299 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: was fortunate to be on a national championship team in college, 300 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: right at the Vision three level. But you know, we 301 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 1: won that national championship and we got national championship rings, 302 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 1: and it was like holy cow. I mean I remember 303 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 1: back this you only got a ring if you want 304 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: a national title, you know type thing. Or by the way, 305 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: I lost in the Division three national championship game by 306 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 1: a point, so yeah, no, rate, I'm so you want 307 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: a national championship, I'm a runner up? I got no rate. 308 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: What year and what school were you? At? Nine at 309 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: DePaul University? We lost the Rochester, New York in the 310 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,720 Speaker 1: finals of Division three National Championship. Oh my god, I 311 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: gotta I'm gonna get into that. I knew you played 312 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: at that. That is freaking fans. I'm I'm part of me. 313 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:15,680 Speaker 1: It's not fantastic you took that out. I still remember 314 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: it vividly. We know what I want to get into 315 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 1: that real quick here in a second, is that you 316 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: know and I'll circle back to my point before where 317 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: I was going with the rings. But at the same time, 318 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: the Division three, right, coach, you're at Clemson, you know 319 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: you played at the D three level. You're coaching in 320 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: a Power five in the A c C. There's a 321 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: D one or bust mentality that's really challenging, man, And 322 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: real quick, I want you to touch on that because 323 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 1: I think it's important. And then you coached at u 324 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 1: n c W, which is a you know, really strong 325 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 1: I guess you would call it a mid major um 326 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: but for God's sakes, we've seen teams go, you know, 327 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: be in the final four that we're quote unquote you 328 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: know mid majors. Why is it? Can you talk about 329 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: the fit? Right? Not everyone can play at Clemson? Not 330 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 1: everyone can play though, can you talk about Division I was, 331 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: you know, six two and a hundred and sixty three 332 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: pounds of a high school senior, six too, and you 333 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: know I grew a couple of inches in college and 334 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 1: game thirty pounds or whatnot. Um, and you know what, 335 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: I had a couple of Division two offers a little 336 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: further away. Ended up deciding to go to a school 337 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 1: that it was a great school and just a good 338 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: fit and kind of wonderful experience. Played for a great 339 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 1: coach and Royce Waltman who was an assistant in Indiana. 340 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: So it me being in that environment, I think, you know, 341 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: really helped me get where I am today. I played 342 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: for a great high school coach, a great college coach. 343 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: My father was a coach. So I got taught the 344 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: game the right way, the right way to play. I 345 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: love the game. I was around the game. I played 346 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: all these kinds of different sports growing up. Uh. I 347 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: didn't become some great player. I was a really good 348 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: high school player that played small college basketball. But I 349 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: had this passion for basketball, and partly because I was 350 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 1: taught the right way to do things, we had some success. 351 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,359 Speaker 1: So I all of a sudden became a college assistant 352 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, I never thought at that time, Hey, 353 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: I'm gonna try to be the head coach at Clemson 354 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: or the head coach at Indiana or one of those things. 355 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: I just wanted to be a good assistant coach. And 356 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: I worked for a great guy and Jerry Wayne Wright 357 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: at UNC Wilmington's I was fortunately the coach Waynewright got 358 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: the job and and hired me and gave me a 359 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: lot of responsibilities. And I was assistant for eight years 360 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: and just kind of did my put my head down 361 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: and work for him and learned a lot from him, 362 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: and um, you know, and then my path just kind 363 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: of grew from there. And uh, you know, if you 364 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: just kind of put your head down and work and 365 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: do a good job and work for good people, uh 366 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: and learn from those people, you're gonna have a chance 367 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 1: to be successful. And I think it's the same way 368 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 1: as a youth player, like work work for play for 369 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: good coaches that are gonna be demanding of you, that 370 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: are gonna challenge you, that are gonna hold you accountable, 371 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: but are also gonna teach you the right way to play, 372 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: the right way to go about doing things. They're gonna 373 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: teach you about team and how to be a part 374 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: of a team and what a real team looks like. 375 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: And so I was a part of all those kinds 376 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 1: of things, and I think that helped me be a 377 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: better coach. UH and then working for really good coaches, 378 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: playing for good coaches, certainly that put me on a path. 379 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 1: When I finally got my opportunity there at UNC Wilmington's 380 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 1: UH in two thousand and three, when we come back, 381 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: Coach brann Now and I dive into resilience and grit 382 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 1: where we left off, Coach bron Now was about to 383 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 1: tell us how we learned to be gritty and resilient 384 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: as a young athlete. I love it you're just hitting 385 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: the nail on the head because I like to talk 386 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 1: about how, you know, sports is such a bigger thing 387 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:29,439 Speaker 1: than just those trophy are those rings you get when 388 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:31,959 Speaker 1: you're freaking nine years old? Every weekend in a baseball tournament, 389 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: I'm like, come on, like, you know, and I get 390 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: it the times change. I don't want to be one 391 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: of those, you know, old men yelling at the clouds 392 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 1: and YadA YadA YadA. Our time and we were tougher 393 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: than you. That's not what I'm saying. But what I'm 394 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: saying is, I think a lot of these kids are 395 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: going through circumstances that us parents, us adults have created. Right, 396 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: We've kind of taken away obstacles to prepare amid times, 397 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 1: and I feel like we're doing them a disservice. You know. 398 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:54,399 Speaker 1: You bring up the word grit, you know, and I 399 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: think grit is such an important word for people. Do 400 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 1: unerstand and also resilience. You talked about both of those. 401 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 1: I think resilience is one of those life skills that 402 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: you learned going through sport. I know you're kind of 403 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: touching on it. Can you talk about any of your 404 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 1: own personal experiences where you had to, you know, get 405 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:13,119 Speaker 1: gritty and bird resilience through your own personal sport experience 406 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: which kind of helped propel you where you are today. Yeah, 407 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 1: a little bit. You know. It's funny my when I 408 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:19,879 Speaker 1: was coming out of high school again, I was a 409 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: really good high school player, but in southern Indiana, and 410 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,199 Speaker 1: I got a couple of Division two offers, you know, 411 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: a bunch of Division three schools, no Division one offers, 412 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: and so I decided to go to Purdue University and 413 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 1: maybe be a walk on my freshman year Hey, maybe 414 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: I can be a walk on it perdue. I'll just 415 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 1: kind of go see how it goes and go to school. 416 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: And you know, I kind of got up there and 417 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 1: try it out and didn't make it, and all of 418 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: a sudden, I'm not playing basketball, and I kind of 419 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: never just kind of hit me in the face, like 420 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: what just happened. I thought I would at least, you know, 421 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 1: I might make the team or whatnot, and I just 422 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: I didn't. And then I had a real life decision, Hey, 423 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:50,920 Speaker 1: what are you gonna do? Are you gonna just stay 424 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 1: here and go to school and and think about being 425 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 1: you know, maybe being a coach in a different way 426 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 1: there high school coach, or are you gonna play? And 427 00:18:57,520 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: I found my true passion. I couldn't believe that I 428 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: as a playing For the first time in my life, 429 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:03,680 Speaker 1: I didn't belong to a team. And that's that's what 430 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 1: I decided to know. I'm gonna go to DePaul and 431 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 1: h you know, when you do that, hey man, Division three, 432 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: you're paying your own way and those those Division three 433 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 1: schools are a little more expensive. And so I was 434 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 1: taking out loans and you know, made a commitment because 435 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: I knew that, hey, this is something I want to 436 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: be a part of, and this is a place where 437 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: I can grow and I want to play and I 438 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: want to be I want to play for this coach, 439 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: and I want to get a degree from this school 440 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 1: and have a good experience. And it ended up being 441 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:28,680 Speaker 1: really good. But the crazy thing is once you get done, Okay, 442 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:30,920 Speaker 1: I get a grad assistant job, and I'm a grad 443 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:34,199 Speaker 1: assistant for a couple of years and I don't have 444 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,919 Speaker 1: a job after that. There's no guarantees in this world, 445 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: like you just sided. So I grad assistant the third 446 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: year and I'm trying to figure out what I'm gonna 447 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: do with mae a high school coach, a Division three coach, 448 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:45,640 Speaker 1: at junior college coach, any kind of coach. And that's 449 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: where I got a great break. And that that Jerry 450 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:51,160 Speaker 1: Waynewright knew somebody that knew me, and I got an interview, 451 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 1: and you know, kind of out of happenstance, I got 452 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: the restricted earnings job at you would See Wilmington, you know, 453 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: which I know it doesn't sound real glamorous, but at 454 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: the time, it felt like I was making great money 455 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: at sixteen dollars. Yeah, you figure, like, hey, do you 456 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 1: want to coach, Like, if you really want to coach, 457 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:09,159 Speaker 1: you're gonna do it. I just got married, you know, 458 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:10,919 Speaker 1: but I just wanted to be a coach. And I 459 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: guess that's where you just you just put your head 460 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 1: down and work, and it's because you love it your passion. 461 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:19,679 Speaker 1: That's why we talk about passion and perseverance toward a 462 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 1: long term goal. If you're passionate about something, truly passionate 463 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: about it, then when there are challenges or questions, or 464 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:28,600 Speaker 1: money is not great, or injury or whatever it is, 465 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 1: you're gonna find a way to persevere if it means 466 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 1: something to you, and if it doesn't, you'll go down 467 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: a different path. But that's when I knew that I 468 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 1: really wanted to coach, and things worked out. They don't 469 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 1: always work out. There's always a certain amount of luck involved, um, 470 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:44,400 Speaker 1: and I've been very fortunate and lucky in my life 471 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:46,920 Speaker 1: with all this. But I also think that I I've 472 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: worked really hard for a long time to put myself 473 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,920 Speaker 1: in a position to take advantage of an opportunity when 474 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: it presented itself. And it's through all those years of 475 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: kind of some sacrifice and long hours and seventy hour 476 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: weeks and doing you know, doing the laundry and chasing 477 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 1: guys to class and listening to guys give speeches to 478 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: make sure they had their five minutes on their five 479 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: minute communications one on one speech, and just all the 480 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: things you do as a as a young assistant coach 481 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,199 Speaker 1: to try to help kids and put yourself in a 482 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,920 Speaker 1: position to have a great career. And uh, grit is 483 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 1: a big part of it. That's why I think kids 484 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: having to struggle, kids having to decide to make sacrifices, 485 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,640 Speaker 1: especially as you get older. When you get to high school, 486 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 1: you know, then you might have to make a sacrifice. 487 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: We talked about it earlier. Hey, you may have to 488 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 1: go from three sports to two. You may be able 489 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 1: to play three sports in high school. Now you're gonna 490 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: have to pick down to two. Uh. But when you're younger, 491 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,119 Speaker 1: I think, man, just play to have fun. But I 492 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: think developing that that grit, making some sacrifice, making some 493 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:46,360 Speaker 1: adult decisions as you kind of get ahold of your 494 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 1: life and what you want, that's what's critical. And I 495 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 1: think as a parent, you know, you have to let 496 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: your child decide that. Um, you know, with our our 497 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,199 Speaker 1: one of our our youngest daughters was a pretty good 498 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 1: volleyball player that probably could have played some in college 499 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: in a small college too. And I remember she came 500 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:03,199 Speaker 1: to us and we did the whole thing, and we 501 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 1: were going to all the volleyball weekends and doing all that. 502 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 1: My wife's doing most of it, you know, And then 503 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:10,640 Speaker 1: she probably came to us before her senior year and said, 504 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 1: you know, I don't want to be a college volleyball player. 505 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: I've enjoyed my high school volleyball experience, but I don't 506 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: want to do anymore of that. So or before senior year, 507 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: she she quit all the au stuff and just played 508 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,199 Speaker 1: high school her senior year, had a great experience, and 509 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:27,479 Speaker 1: now she's a student at Clemson doing great. But that 510 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:30,639 Speaker 1: wasn't her path to be a college volleyball player, you know, 511 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,399 Speaker 1: we thought it was, and she eventually told us, no, 512 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: it's not. So that's what she wants and she's happy, 513 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 1: and you know, you gotta make those decisions as a parent. 514 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:42,399 Speaker 1: That's super cool. Coach two minutes, what do you gotta 515 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:45,679 Speaker 1: do to get seen by Brad Brun Now you're not 516 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: just talking to the kids that can play at Clemson. 517 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: We got ninth graders tenth graders level grades. They want 518 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: to know what they gotta do to get seen to 519 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,200 Speaker 1: be college athletes. What's your best piece of advice? Two minutes? 520 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 1: Got wow. I think that there's a lot there. Um. 521 00:22:58,280 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: I think you need to use your high school code 522 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,200 Speaker 1: or your AU coach needs to you know, if there 523 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: are schools that you have an interest in, they need 524 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,440 Speaker 1: to help reach out for you. Um. You know, you've 525 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 1: got to be visible. Certainly, you've gotta in basketball, you've 526 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: got to play on the AU circuit, you gotta, you 527 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:18,400 Speaker 1: gotta get yourself some exposure. UM. I would tell everybody 528 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:21,679 Speaker 1: though there are not nearly as many sleepers anymore as 529 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: there used to be, Like there are so many people 530 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 1: putting out publications with names and rankings and all those things, 531 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 1: that you have to be realistic. And I think that's 532 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:35,159 Speaker 1: something that is really really important, is to be realistic 533 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,119 Speaker 1: and what it is. What's your level, what's your ability level? 534 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: What gives you a chance? Um? I think too many 535 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,880 Speaker 1: people want bigger than is real, and so they miss 536 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: out on opportunities or they don't go look for opportunities. 537 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 1: At the Division three, at the Division two, everybody's got 538 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 1: their hearts set on this Division one or bus dada 539 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 1: da da da, And there's a lot of great experiences 540 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:57,399 Speaker 1: out there, and uh so you have to be realistic, 541 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:00,679 Speaker 1: but exposure helps certainly, blue more you're planning and do 542 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 1: the best you are where you are, and uh I 543 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 1: think that's that's always the most important thing. Coach Brunel 544 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: freaking awesome, Clemson Tigers a CEC. Go get him. I 545 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 1: cannot thank you enough for your time, Thanks for coming 546 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,440 Speaker 1: on and share, and I really appreciate your coaching, Happy 547 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: to be a part of it, appreciate your enthusiasm. That's 548 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:22,640 Speaker 1: Brad Brunnell, head coach of the Clemson men's basketball team. 549 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to the Reform Sports Project podcast. I'm 550 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: Nick Boncourt and our goal is to restore a healthy 551 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:31,440 Speaker 1: balance and perspective in all areas of sports through education 552 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 1: and advocacy. For updates, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, 553 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 1: and Instagram, or check out our website by searching for 554 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: the Reform Sports Project.