| Brendan Stern has replaced
each of Gallaudet's head basketball coaches in the past
year-plus. Gallaudet athletics photo |
A familiar face returns to the Gallaudet men's basketball sidelines as athletic director Michael Weinstock named Brendan Stern the new head coach Wednesday. Stern ascends to the top position of the GU men's basketball program after playing four years as an undergraduate, served as an assistant coach for three years and most recently guided the Gallaudet women's basketball program for one season.
He replaces Jeb Barber, who stepped down as perhaps the most successful men's basketball coach in Gallaudet history, winning 40 percent of his games. The school announced it had created a new role for Barber, but Barber no longer works for the institution.
"It is with much excitement to announce that Coach Stern will lead our men's basketball program. His experience wearing the buff and blue and later coaching the men's and women's basketball teams has shown Brendan's dedication to his alma mater and his drive to help Bison student-athletes achieve new success," said Weinstock. "We hope for a seamless transition as Brendan begins this new chapter of Gallaudet men's basketball history. If his new achievements reflect what he has already done at Gallaudet then we are in for something special."
Stern compiled an 8-16 record and 6-12 mark in the North Eastern Athletic Conference during the 2011-12 season for the Bison women's basketball team. He coached one all-conference player in Britny Latham, who was named to the All-NEAC third team.
Stern, who is deaf, played four years for the Bison men's basketball program where he started three seasons and was a three-time captain. Both Kevin Cook, whom Stern replaced as women's head coach, and Barber, whom he replaced as men's coach, were not deaf. Stern graduated from GU in 2006 and since then has earned master degrees from American University and Catholic. He is currently working on his Ph.D. in American Politics at CUA. Stern has been teaching American Politics at Gallaudet for the past four years.
"After developing a deep admiration for my special group of current and incoming players in the women's basketball program, I was looking forward to work with them this coming year and beyond. However, to support the Gallaudet University athletic program, I have accepted the offer to become the head coach of men's basketball. It is a very exciting time to be a part of the Gallaudet men's basketball program," said Stern. "I want to thank athletic director Michael Weinstock for showing the confidence in me. I am grateful for this special opportunity and look forward to getting to work with our returning student-athletes, recruits and coaches so we can become the best we can be for the upcoming 2012-13 season."
Gallaudet won three of its final four games to end the season, which included a three-game winning streak. Stern earned his first victory as a collegiate head coach on Nov. 27, 2011, when the Bison defeated D'Youville, 66-59, in the consolation game of the GU Holiday Tournament.
"I am convinced that the women's basketball program will be in great hands with my future replacement. I wish everyone in the program all the best and will be rooting for them this year," said Stern.
Stern's background as a basketball player is vast and his experience should help him relate to what current Bison student-athletes or potential recruits have experienced. The California native started playing basketball at a hearing Catholic Youth League without an interpreter while attending California School for the Deaf in Fremont before transfering to University High School, a large public high school in California, where he had an interpreter but was the only deaf player on his team. Stern also has playing experience after Gallaudet as he played for Team USA in the Deaflympics and is still playing at the club level. He envisions his experience as a player and a coach will transcend well to coaching men's basketball.