Former Bethel Basketball Great Leaves Baylor

[Loucks]

Eric Brand who served as a graduate assistant at Baylor University has accepted a position at Tyler Junior College as the assistant basketball coach. Brand served on the Baylor coaching staff for the past two seasons while earning his Master’s degree which he completed this May. Brand helped the Bears reach the NCAA “Big Dance” where they suffered a first round loss to Purdue University.

Brand, a graduate of Bethel is the all time leading scorer in Bethel Men’s Basketball history. Before his stint at Baylor he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater. Brand played six seasons of professional basketball in Europe and Australia before pursuing his coaching career.

“This is a great career opportunity for me,” stated Brand. “I have made a lot of contacts in Texas and I feel I have been prepared for my coaching duties by Coach Drew and his staff at Baylor and Coach Lightfoot at Bethel College.”

Some former players:
Purdue's Chris Booker, Purdue's Darmetreis Kilgore (also Elkhart Express player), Indiana's Rob Turner, and Purdue's Jeremme McGuire.

Go here to see a list of former players that went on to D1 schools...
www.apacheathletics.com/f/MBB_At_The_Next_Level/4.php

[rubalamp]

given his experience, this seems like a strange move...I would think he would be able to be a head coach of a school that size...

Did he really want to stay in Texas?

[Kyle Feller]

It's a great move for Eric and makes a lot of sense.

Tyler Junior College is traditionally a very good JUCO program. Their coaching staff has provided stepping stone opportunities for many players to major basketball programs. In other words, this will plug Eric into another network of high school coaches throughout the Southwest and give him a chance to hone his skills as an off campus recruiter as well as gameday coaching (at Baylor he was primarily Big man skills coach).

Not to mention, if you assume they have 3-4 guys a year going to Major D1 programs, that gives Eric an opportunity to network with well known coaches while helping his players find the best opportunity for them. It seems like a slam dunk for Eric. He will also probably receive a paycheck which would be a nice change of pace.

List of D1 Players:

www.apacheathletics.com/f/MBB_At_The_Next_Level/4.php

[Formerbruin]

Anyone have an idea when Brand might be back in Mishawaka? I need to work on my inside game and was hoping to get a coaching session or two with him. (FYI: All "big men" are not tall.) Loucks, you heard anything??

[Kyle Feller]

I hope he's back for the festivities of November 8th, 50 years of Bethel Basketball.

[Formerbruin]

Aug 24, 2008 18:38:43 GMT -5 Kyle Feller said:

I hope he's back for the festivities of November 8th, 50 years of Bethel Basketball.

Feller, can you arrange a private coaching session for me?

[cowboy]

And Brand's proudest achievement was making the all-time noon hoops all-star team

[Kyle Feller]

I'd be more than happy to put you through some Feller Big Man Camp workouts FB.

[Formerbruin]

Aug 26, 2008 11:28:56 GMT -5 Kyle Feller said:

I'd be more than happy to put you through some Feller Big Man Camp workouts FB.

Sounds like a real good deal. Do you want me to send some film for you to analyze? Perhaps you have a video you want me to watch.