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CLEMSON - Brad Brownell left a favorable impression in his first meeting with the Clemson men's basketball team, and at least two players think there will not be any defections before next season.
Among the issues facing Brownell are securing the current members of the team and re-recruiting those who committed or signed.
Eight returning players attended the news conference Tuesday, and guard Andre Young said he would be "very surprised" if any left the program.
Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney, left, welcomes Brad Brownell to Clemson, right, after Brownell was introduced as Clemson's new head men's basketball coach at a press conference in Clemson, S.C. on Tuesday, April 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Anderson Independent-Mail, Mark Crammer)
- Mark Crammer /AP
AGE: 41
BIRTHPLACE: Evansville, Ind.
EDUCATION: Bachelor's, DePauw, 1991; master's, Indianapolis, 1994
FAMILY: Wife Paula, daughters Abby and Kaitlyn
EXPERIENCE: Graduate assistant, Evansville, 1991-92; assistant coach, Indianapolis, 1992-94; assistant coach, UNC Wilmington, 1994-2002; head coach, UNC Wilmington, 2002-06; head coach, Wright State, 2006-10.
| SEASON | SCHOOL | OVERALL | CONF. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03 | UNC Wilmington | 24-7 | 18-3 |
| 2003-04 | UNC Wilmington | 15-15 | 11-10 |
| 2004-05 | UNC Wilmington | 19-10 | 14-6 |
| 2005-06 | UNC Wilmington | 25-8 | 18-3 |
| 2006-07 | Wright State | 23-10 | 13-3 |
| 2007-08 | Wright State | 21-10 | 12-6 |
| 2008-09 | Wright State | 20-13 | 12-6 |
| 2009-10 | Wright State | 20-12 | 12-6 |
| Totals | 167-85 | 101-41 |
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A week ago, Young and two teammates said they were dismayed by Oliver Purnell's decision without warning to accept an offer from DePaul. After a meeting with Brownell shortly before his introduction as Clemson coach, they were reinvigorated.
"They say first impressions are lasting impressions," Young said. "He came in and showed us how much he's already bought into the team, and we don't even know him. That just opened my eyes and showed me how much we can really accomplish before the season."
Tanner Smith said he was taken by Brownell's bearing.
"He did a really good job of commanding the floor and gaining the respect of the team immediately," he said. "I thought it was a good meeting. I thought it was memorable, and it's going to stick with us."
One player who raised the specter of a transfer was Devin Booker, who did not speak to reporters Tuesday. His mother, Tracey Booker, said that she was relieved a coach had been selected.
"The waiting period was kind of stressful," she said. "Devin couldn't make up his mind what he was going to do, so it's a relief for all of us."
Two factors that bode well for Clemson are its proximity to Booker's home of Whitmire and that he would be required to sit out a year if he transferred.
"Unless something's going on that's really bad, that's the only way he'll transfer," she said. "He's leaning more towards staying."
Young said that was the impression he gathered after meeting Brownell.
"With the atmosphere in the locker room right now I don't see anyone trying to leave," Young said. "I'm pretty confident in the fact that this team is pretty excited about having a new coach here, and we're just looking forward to the future."
The players also liked hearing that Brownell could be flexible in his approach.
"He said if we give him the energy he needs on the defensive end, he'll give us freedom on the offensive end," Smith said. "He seems like the kind of guy that's ready to come in, maybe change the way he coaches a little bit," he said. "He seems open to discussions about the way he coaches."
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