Garry Brodhead (born August 27, 1957) is the coach of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team since 2012. Before joining the University of Louisiana at Lafayette team, Brodhead worked as a farmer between 1978 and 1997. For his basketball career, Brodhead was the girls coach at Teurlings Catholic High School from 1997 to 2007. While accumulating 297 wins and 78 losses, his team won the 3A division of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association tournament in 2002. Brodhead also co-founded the Acadiana Stars girls basketball team in 1987 and the Girls World Biddy Basketball League by the mid-1990s.

For his college basketball career, Brodhead held multiple positions for the McNeese State Cowgirls basketball team from 2007 to 2012. With the Cajuns, Brodhead and his team won the Women's Basketball Invitational in 2015 and 2016. The following year, his players were second at the 2017 Sun Belt Conference women's basketball tournament. They also reached the first round of the 2021 Women's National Invitation Tournament during the postseason.

Early life and education edit

Brodhead was born on August 27, 1957, in Lafayette, Louisiana.[1] While at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette between the late 1970s and early 1980s, he attended a business administration program.[2] During his time at the university, Brodhead competed in pole vaulting.[3] As a graduate student in the mid-1990s, he was an assistant coach for their women's basketball team.[4]

Career edit

Farming edit

In 1978, Brodhead went to Youngsville, Louisiana and became a farmer.[5] By the 1980s, Brodhead was a basketball coach while he worked in agriculture.[6] Brodhead focused on cucumbers between the late 1980s and late 1990s.[5] During this time period, Brodhead was the vice president of Doucet Grain in 1987.[7] Brodhead decided to stop working as a farmer during 1997.[8]

Girls basketball edit

During 1987, Brodhead created the Acadiana Stars girls basketball team with his wife.[9][10] With the Stars, his Under-12 team had a fifth place tie during the 2006 AAU National Championship.[11] By the mid-1990s, the Brodheads co-founded the Girls World Biddy Basketball League for Acadiana residents.[12][13] In 1997, Brodhead became the coach for Teurlings Catholic High School's girls basketball team.[1] By 1998, he was working for multiple basketball teams while also teaching at Teurlings.[5]

In 2002, Brodhead and his team won the 3A division of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association tournament.[14][15] At the 2004 edition, Brodhead's team was second at the 3A event.[16][17] While at Teurlings Catholic, Brodhead was considered by UL to coach their women's basketball team in May 2007.[18] After accumulating 297 wins and 78 losses, Brodhead ended his time with Teurlings Catholic the following month.[19]

College basketball edit

From 2007 to 2012, Brodhead worked with the McNeese State Cowgirls basketball team.[20] While with McNesese State as an assistant coach, he also became their associate head coach during the 2010s.[21] In April 2012, Brodhead became the coach of the women's basketball team at UL Lafayette.[2] During the 2020-21 Sun Belt Conference season, Brodhead's players had their "first regular season championship in the team's 50-year history".[22]

As a Women's Basketball Invitational competitor, Brodhead and UL won the event in 2015.[23][24] The team re-won the WBI the following year.[25] His Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team were second at the 2017 Sun Belt Conference women's basketball tournament.[26] At the Women's National Invitation Tournament, Brodhead's team reached the first round of the 2021 postseason event.[27][28]

Honors and personal life edit

While with Teurlings Catholic, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association chose him as the 2002 girls basketball Coach of the Year for 3A schools.[29] In 2016, he was the LSWA's Coach of the Year for women's basketball teams during his time at UL Lafayette.[30] He had three children during his marriage.[13]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Louisiana Women's Basketball 2022-23 Quick Facts" (PDF). Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. University of Louisiana at Lafayette. October 13, 2022. p. 6. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Garry Brodhead Named UL Women's Basketball Coach". Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. University of Louisiana at Lafayette. April 2, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  3. ^ Foote, Kevin (February 28, 2021). "Garry Brodhead's admirable journey to the top of the Sun Belt Conference began with his stubborn dream". The Acadiana Advocate. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Thompson, BJ (April 2, 2012). "UL Names Garry Brodhead Women's Coach". 247 Sports. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c McEntegart, Pete (March 3, 1998). "Dressed for success". The Daily Advertiser. Lafayette, Louisiana. p. 3C.
  6. ^ Faust, George (February 13, 2023). "Crops to the Courts, Garry Brodhead's journey to the sidelines". KLFY.com. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  7. ^ "The Doucets: Appreciating Agriculture". The Daily Advertiser. Lafayette, Louisiana. September 13, 1987. p. sec. Real Estate Guide p. 3.
  8. ^ Taylor, Claire (November 11, 2004). "Cukes provide profits by slice". The Town Talk. p. A4.
  9. ^ "About Us". Acadiana Stars Basketball. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  10. ^ Foote, Kevin (September 13, 2015). "'I don't think we'll see another one like her'". The Daily Advertiser. p. 3A.
  11. ^ "Acadiana Stars fall". The Daily Advertiser. July 8, 2006. p. 4B.
  12. ^ "Girls Biddy League callout scheduled". The Daily Advertiser. October 19, 1995. p. D-5.
  13. ^ a b Johnson, Luke (March 19, 2016). "Fairy-tale love story has tragic ending for Cajuns coach Garry Brodhead, but wife's legacy lives on". The Acadiana Advocate. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  14. ^ Broussard, Steve (March 5, 2002). "Richard proud of Lady Bucs despite loss". Abbeville Meridional. p. 6.
  15. ^ "Teurlings win 3A". Daily World. Associated Press. March 4, 2002. p. 9.
  16. ^ McNeese State Sports Information Department (March 20, 2015). "Cowgirls face Cajuns Saturday in second round of WBI". KPLC News. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  17. ^ "FSHS Lady Hornets win State 3-A Championship". St. Mary and Franklin Banner-Tribune. March 8, 2004. p. 5.
  18. ^ McDonald, Dan (May 2, 2007). "Rogers new UL women's coach". The Advertiser. p. 1D.
  19. ^ Foote, Kevin (June 6, 2007). "District foe won't include Brodhead". Daily World. The Lafayette Daily Advertiser. p. 2B.
  20. ^ "Brodhead takes over at UL". Daily World. April 3, 2012. p. 7A.
  21. ^ Narcisse, Eric (April 3, 2012). "Home at last". The Daily Advertiser. pp. 1B, 3B.
  22. ^ Buckley, Tim (March 3, 2021). "Brodhead honors those that didn't see Sun Belt crown". The Daily Advertiser. p. 1B.
  23. ^ Foote, Kevin (March 30, 2015). "UL women Win WBI". Daily World. p. 7A.
  24. ^ "Lady Cajuns win WBI tourney title". The Eunice News. April 2, 2015. p. 6.
  25. ^ Ardoin, Bobby (March 27, 2016). "Cajuns Outlast Weber State". The Daily Advertiser. p. 1C.
  26. ^ Foote, Kevin (March 13, 2017). "Cajuns Falter in SBC Finals". The Daily Advertiser. Lafayette, Louisiana. p. 1C.
  27. ^ Buckley, Tim (March 17, 2021). "UL basketball learns WNIT opponent". The Daily Advertiser. p. 3B.
  28. ^ "2021 Postseason WNIT" (PDF). WNIT Pre and Post Tournament. March 28, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  29. ^ Foote, Kevin (March 22, 2002). "Teurlings, area rule Class 3A club". The Daily Advertiser. Lafayette, Louisiana. p. 1C.
  30. ^ "Techster's Wingate earns state Player of the Year". The News-Star. Monroe, Louisiana. April 16, 2016. p. 5C.