Q & A With Assistant Coach Matt Braeuer
11/9/2015 9:42:00 AM | Men's Basketball
GoBearkats.com's series of up-close and personal question and answer sessions with the Sam Houston men's and women's basketball coaching assistants continues today with men's coach Matt Braeuer.
During Matt's first two season on head coach Jason Hooten's staff the Bearkats have rolled up 50 victories, reached the Southland finals twice and earned NCAA post-season berths in the CollegeInsider.com tournament.
Braeuer came to Sam Houston from the University of Maryland where he served as video coordinator. He also coached at Midland College and Wichita State.
QUESTION: HOW DID YOU GET INTO COACHING?
Coach Braeuer: My Dad was a high school basketball coach so I grew up loving basketball. I knew I was going to be a coach since I was 10 years old. After I finished my playing career at Wichita State, Coach Gregg Marshall provided me a great opportunity to get my Master's degree while being his Graduate Assistant and I have been in this profession ever since.
QUESTION: WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE JOB HERE AT SAM HOUSTON?
Coach Braeuer: When Coach Hooten got the Job back in 2010, I had just finished being a graduate assistant and I was looking for the next step in my coaching career. Coach had seen me play back in AAU and recruited my brother a little bit, so there was already some familiarity with him and the program.
Even though I didn't get the job back in 2010, I was able to get to know Coach Hooten and Sam Houston State through my interview process. The winning tradition, beautiful campus, people in the athletic department and Coach Hooten are what peaked my interest back in 2010, and played a major role in my decision to go after the job again in 2013.
QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A PROSPECT WHEN RECRUITING FOR THE BEARKATS?
Coach Braeuer: There are a ton of factors that go into recruiting. First and foremost is the type of person these kids are – I want to know how they react to authority and how they handle being coached. We also look at what type of student they are.
Here at Sam Houston State, if you are unable to fulfill the student aspect of being a Student-Athlete then it will be tough for you to make it. An important quality to me that some people overlook is their energy level when I come to talk with them or watch them play.
Do they love the game of basketball? Do they put in extra hours when it is not required? If you have a team full of guys that put in extra work in the classroom and on the court because they love it, then the chances of being successful are much higher.
Skill level and talent are obviously important, but that will only take you so far without passion and energy.
QUESTION: WHAT'S THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB AND THE HARDEST?
Coach Braeuer: The best part of the job is seeing each student-athlete come into our program and watching them develop as men and leaders. Watching the student-athletes go through the ups and downs and get to the point where they graduate or get their first real job is extremely rewarding as a coach.
The hardest part of the job is going into the locker room after a season-ending loss when the guys fell just short of their goals. You always want them to experience and achieve their goals, so watching that not happen is tough.
QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO BE AWAY FROM BASKETBALL?
Coach Braeuer: Being a coach is very demanding, so when I am able to get away from it for a little bit I love to spend time with my family and my fiancé. Getting out and golfing is a great stress reliever for me as well!
QUESTION: THE 50 VICTORIES DURING THE PAST TWO SEASONS IS THE MOST IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS AT SAM HOUSTON SINCE THE 1970s. WHY HAS THE PROGRAM HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS?
Coach Braeuer: Coach Hooten has done a great job of creating a wining culture here at Sam. The team is always put before any one individual and there is no doubt in my mind that the guys on the team the last two years believed in that. They completely bought in to being coached and they never let an opportunity to get better go to waste. They brought energy and focus every day to practice and never wavered when adversity hit.
QUESTION: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT SO FAR AS A BEARKAT COACH?
Coach Braeuer: My favorite moment happens every morning. I love getting in my car, going to work, knowing that I am able to make an impact every single day, following in the footsteps of my Dad.
QUESTION: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PRO TEAM (BASKETBALL OR ANY OTHER SPORT)?
Coach Braeuer: I am a big fan of the Astros, Cowboys, Spurs and whichever team LeBron James plays for!
QUESTION: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE?
Coach Braeuer: ”The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” –Mark Twain
Braeuer and the Sam Houston Bearkat men's basketball team open their 2015-16 schedule this Saturday when the squad travels to Dallas to take on the SMU Mustangs.
The first home game for Sam Houston is Tuesday, November 17, when they play host to Saint Thomas at 6:30 p.m. at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
