Last season, following a narrow victory over UNCW, Bobby Knight, head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders had something to say to coach Brad Brownell of the Seahawks.

In fact, Knight even went so far as to enter the UNCW locker room to find Brownell before he and his team could leave the arena that night.

“I can’t remember the last time a team set up for us as well as you did,” Knight said. “You guys did a hell of a job?”

There are not too many greater complements a coach in college basketball can receive than the one that Knight had for Brownell. Especially since Brownell, an Indiana native, considers Knight to be one of his coaching inspirations.

Brownell, who describes his coaching style as, “honest, demanding, and caring,” is well respected by his players for the knowledge of basketball he possesses.

“He knows so much about the game, that you really have to respect him,” senior guard Joel Justus said.

His players are not the only ones noticing Brownell’s knowledge for the game.

“Brad’s an excellent X and O guy and a bright, bright young head coach,” said ESPN Basketball Analyst Brad Daugherty. “One of the brightest in college basketball.”

Upon succeeding former coach Jerry Wainwright on April 24, 2002, Brownell led his program to a 24-7 record in his first season, including a CAA Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. The 2002-03 CAA Coach-of-the-Year entered into his second season proud of his program and proud of being a Seahawk.

“We’re proud of the fact that we are maintaining a high level of success in our league, and continuing to build excitement in the community and in our students,” Brownell said. “We’re really proud of the fact that the students care enough about our guys to want to come and see us play.”

Although Brownell has been heralded as a talented young coach, he is quick to give credit for those who have taught him along the way.

“My father is probably the guy I respect the most because I think he’s a guy that is extremely honest and caring,” Brownell said.

He also gives a lot of credit to Wainwright.

“What I learned from coach Wainwright was how to run a first class program,” Brownell said.

Because of the tremendous demands coaching requires, it can be difficult for coaches to balance family time and program time. Brownell knows the difficulties and is thankful for having his wife, Paula, who understands of those demands.

“It’s difficult, and it takes a great wife. Because the demands on your time are so much, especially with young children, your wife is put into a position where they have to do a lot more, by themselves,” Brownell said. However, Brownell makes a concerted effort to spend quality time with his two daughters, Abby, 5, and Kaitlyn, 3, on a daily basis.

“I make it a point to make sure that I eat breakfast or eat dinner with my children everyday,” Brownell said. “It’s important to me. Obviously, they’re the most precious things in my life, and I think I really try to do a good job making time for them.”