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View from Clemson: Impressive debut for Brownell
So, the people of Clemson might not have jumped for immediate joy when Brad Brownell was hired as basketball coach on Tuesday, April 13:
Brad Brownell isn’t the flashiest or best-known name in college basketball. In fact, I’d be surprised if more than 10 Clemson fans had ever heard of him before Oliver Purnell left for DePaul last week.
That said, they know him now. Brownell, 41, was energetic and impressive in his introductory press conference as the Tigers’ new head coach today.
When Brownell met with reporters in Clemson, S.C., on Tuesday after leaving Wright State after four seasons, we had reporters and radio talk show hosts ringing our phones at the office looking for information and interviews. That said two things: They didn’t know much about Brownell already, and there was intense interest in the hire.
That’s the one question mark with Brownell: How he’ll handle a larger media contingent and different expectations. But from the media reports, he certainly started well in his first get-together.
This from Greg Wallace of the Anderson (S.C.) Independent Mail (linked above):
In some ways, he’s a hardwood version of (football coach) Dabo Swinney — a very energetic, enthusiastic, young leader.
“He and Dabo in the same room,” (athletic director) Terry Don Phillips joked, “there might not be enough oxygen for the rest of us to survive.”
Ron Morris of The (Columbia, S.C.) State, wrote that Butler coach Brad Stevens was one of Brownell’s best references:
While the recruiting question might hang over Brownell’s head for a while, there is little doubt about his coaching skills. Phillips believed he had the right fit for Clemson after he hung up the telephone last week following a conversation with Butler coach Brad Stevens.
“When we start working in October, we’re going to work on things Wright State does because they are so well-coached,” Phillips recalls Stevens telling him.
Travis Sawchik of The (Charleston) Post and Courier talked to several Clemson players, who showed support:
Clemson guard Andre Young said the Tigers must reach out to Brownell after he reached out to the team Tuesday. Young does not think any players will transfer.
“I’m definitely pleased with the hire,” Young said. “I think I can speak for the team when I say I’m excited.”
Scott Keepfer of The Greenville News talked with several other college coaches and got plenty of positive reaction:
“This is a good hire for Clemson,” said Texas coach Rick Barnes, himself a former Clemson coach. “He really wanted the job, and that is important. His teams play a similar style to what we did at Clemson and I feel that style can be successful at Clemson. One of my current assistants (Rodney Terry) was an assistant with Brad at UNC Wilmington. He said Brad will have his teams prepared (for the opposition) very well.”
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By Registry Cleaner Reviews
May 3, 2010 9:29 AM | Link to this
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By tiffany jewellery
May 4, 2010 3:23 AM | Link to this
Wonderful journey and experience!