Bobby Braswell
Encyclopedia
Bobby Braswell, an American
college basketball
coach
; currently the head coach for Cal State Northridge
. Braswell was named the fourth head coach in Northridge history on April 30, 1996, succeeding the retired Pete Cassidy.
in English
), Braswell became a teacher and head basketball coach at Cleveland High School
in Reseda
. During his four years there, Cleveland won two league titles, and reached the Los Angeles City Section title game in 1986 and 1987. Former NBA player Lucious Harris
was a member of Braswell's teams at Cleveland.
Braswell's success on the high school level elevated him to a position as assistant coach at Long Beach State
. He served there for three years, first under Joe Harrington
and then Seth Greenberg
. In this period, Long Beach reached the National Invitation Tournament
twice. The 49ers would reach the NCAA Tournament
the season after Braswell's departure, led by Harris and Bryon Russell
, players he had recruited.
Braswell's work at Long Beach State led to him being hired as the top assistant to Jerry Green
at the University of Oregon
. He would also handle the duties of the Ducks' recruiting coordinator during his four seasons in Eugene
. With Braswell on the staff, Oregon would reach the NCAA Tournament
for the first time in 34 years in 1995. His final recruiting class at Oregon was ranked 35th in the nation.
In 1996, Braswell made his return to his alma mater, Cal State Northridge, as their new head coach. He had immediate success in the 1996-97 season. The Matadors' 14-15 record was their best record since moving to Division I in 1990. Despite a sixth-place finish, Braswell's team made a run to the finals of the Big Sky Conference
tournament. They would narrowly miss out on an NCAA berth, suffering an 82-79 defeat to Montana in the championship game.
The following season, CSUN again finished near the bottom of the Big Sky conference, but performed well in the tournament, upsetting Eastern Washington
in the quarterfinals before losing to host and eventual champion Northern Arizona
the next day.
Braswell continued to build the Northridge program over the next several years. In 1998-99, the team went 17-12. The next year, the record improved to 20-10, and Braswell's team again made a run to the Big Sky championship game, losing in overtime to Northern Arizona.
Braswell would finally break through in the 2000-01 season. Led by six seniors, Northridge would upset UCLA
at Pauley Pavilion
, finish atop the Big Sky standings, and win the Big Sky Tournament at home to reach the NCAA Tournament
. They would lose to Kansas in the first round to finish 22-10, Braswell's best season to date. He became a sought-after coaching commodity following the season, but instead signed a six-year extension to stay in Northridge. UCLA did not play Northridge again until the 2008-09 season after the Matadors' win at Pauley.
After 2001, Northridge moved to the Big West Conference
. In the 2004 Big West Tournament, his team made an improbable run to finals, winning three games in three nights. They narrowly lost to Pacific, after coming back from a 19-point deficit to tie the game. Braswell has had three winning seasons since joining the Big West, finishing 18-13 in 2004-05, 20-10 in 2007-08 and a tie for first place in the conference and 17-13 in 2008-09 and winning the conference and automatic berth to the NCAA Division I tournament. On March 14, 2009 the Matadors beat University of Pacific in the Big West Tournament Championship game to make their second appearance in the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|NCAA Division I Tournament].
The Matador men's basketball team, faced with adversity both on-and-off the court in 2008-09, played like champions. In one of the most dramatic, high-energized games in school history, Cal State Northridge recorded a 71-66 overtime victory over Pacific in the title game of the Big West Conference Tournament on at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Matadors defeated a Tiger team that has given them persistent headaches. In 21 previous meetings, Pacific had won 17 games, including two games earlier in the year. Despite the fact the Matadors raced to what seemed to be an insurmountable 21-3 lead in the first half, the Tigers gradually sliced the Matador lead and tied the game at 42-42 with 11:01 left in the game. Pacific fought back to within one point, 54-53, with 3:04 to play. However, Cal State Northridge refused to let Pacific take the lead. Cal State Northridge took a 61-56 lead with 1:19 remaining. It seemed like victory was just seconds away. Again, three straight points by Pacific cut the Matador lead to two points, 61-59, with 60 seconds to play in regulation. Then with five seconds to play, UOP's Michael Kirby was fouled and hit two free throws to send the game into overtime at 61-61. In the overtime, the Matadors took charge with a three-pointer by Rodrigue Mels to give the Matadors a 64-61 lead with 4:44 remaining. A lay up and a free throw by UOP's Bryan LeDuc tied the game. But a jumper by Rob Haynes, another three-pointer by Mels and two free throws by Mark Hill down the stretch gave the Matadors the win, the Big West Conference Championship, and the school's second berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Following the highly dramatic, nerve-wracking game that will go down in history as of the best games in school history, several hundred Matador fans stormed the court to congratulate the team. The post-game celebration also included a rich history in college basketball, the cutting down of the nets by each team member. Then the entire team and coaching staff marched in unison to the press conference. Coach Braswells overall record at CSUN is 205-180.
In March 2007, Braswell signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him in Northridge until through the 2008-09 season.
In 2004, Braswell was reprimanded by the university for a failure to provide oversight to an assistant coach who had violated NCAA
rules. As a result, the Northridge program was placed on a three-year probation period by the NCAA, ending after the 2005-06 season.
Braswell also has a reputation as being a tough coach. This has led to a high level of attrition amongst his players. During the 2002-03 season and the immediate aftermath, three underclassmen transferred out of the program to continue their careers elsewhere. In 2003-04, two players were suspended and another kicked off the team for undisclosed violations. At the end of that season, four more players would transfer out. In 2006-07, one player quit the team in the middle of the season, and several more left the team afterward. The 2007 senior class marked the first time since 2001 that the Braswell has had three players who were with the program for a full four seasons.
guard Deon Tresvant, and freshman Matadors guard Dallas Rutherford, was charged on January 7, 2009 with commercial burglary and grand theft. The four allegedly stole more than $6,600 in merchandise from a Best Buy
store on January 1. The younger Braswell worked at a suburban Los Angeles
Best Buy in Porter Ranch
, and allegedly accessed the cash register using a stolen password from an absent employee. The thefts were discovered when store officials discovered a discrepancy at the register. Jeffery Braswell was charged with one felony count of second degree commercial burglary and three felony counts of grand theft over $400, and he released on his own recognizance and will be arrigned on January 26.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
; currently the head coach for Cal State Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
. Braswell was named the fourth head coach in Northridge history on April 30, 1996, succeeding the retired Pete Cassidy.
Coaching career
After graduating from CSUN in 1985 (with a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
), Braswell became a teacher and head basketball coach at Cleveland High School
Cleveland High School (Los Angeles, California)
Grover Cleveland High School is a public school serving grades 9-12. Cleveland Humanities Magnet is part of Cleveland High School. The school is located in Reseda, in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California....
in Reseda
Reseda, Los Angeles, California
Reseda is a San Fernando Valley district in the city of Los Angeles, California.-History:The area now known as Reseda was originally inhabited by Native Americans of the Tongva tribe that lived close to the Los Angeles River....
. During his four years there, Cleveland won two league titles, and reached the Los Angeles City Section title game in 1986 and 1987. Former NBA player Lucious Harris
Lucious Harris
Lucious H. Harris is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2nd round of the 1993 NBA Draft. Harris has played for the Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers in 12 NBA seasons...
was a member of Braswell's teams at Cleveland.
Braswell's success on the high school level elevated him to a position as assistant coach at Long Beach State
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
. He served there for three years, first under Joe Harrington
Joe Harrington
Joe Harrington is an American basketball coach. He last served as the Director of Men's Basketball Student Services at the Maryland. Harrington served as the head coach at Hofstra University, George Mason University, California State University, Long Beach, and the University of Colorado...
and then Seth Greenberg
Seth Greenberg
Seth Greenberg is an American college basketball coach, and the current head coach for the Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team. Greenberg just finished his seventh season as head coach of the Hokies...
. In this period, Long Beach reached the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
twice. The 49ers would reach the NCAA Tournament
1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
the season after Braswell's departure, led by Harris and Bryon Russell
Bryon Russell
Bryon Demetrise Russell is an American basketball player. During an NBA career that spanned from 1993 to 2006, he played for the Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers and was a key member of the Utah Jazz, helping them reach back-to-back NBA finals appearances in 1997 and 1998...
, players he had recruited.
Braswell's work at Long Beach State led to him being hired as the top assistant to Jerry Green
Jerry Green (coach)
Jerry Green was a college basketball coach from the 1980s through 2001. He coached at UNC Asheville, Oregon and Tennessee. He also was an assistant at Kansas under Roy Williams....
at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. He would also handle the duties of the Ducks' recruiting coordinator during his four seasons in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. With Braswell on the staff, Oregon would reach the NCAA Tournament
1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1995, and ended with the championship game on April 3 at the Kingdome in Seattle,...
for the first time in 34 years in 1995. His final recruiting class at Oregon was ranked 35th in the nation.
In 1996, Braswell made his return to his alma mater, Cal State Northridge, as their new head coach. He had immediate success in the 1996-97 season. The Matadors' 14-15 record was their best record since moving to Division I in 1990. Despite a sixth-place finish, Braswell's team made a run to the finals of the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
tournament. They would narrowly miss out on an NCAA berth, suffering an 82-79 defeat to Montana in the championship game.
The following season, CSUN again finished near the bottom of the Big Sky conference, but performed well in the tournament, upsetting Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University is an American public, coeducational university located in Cheney, Washington.Founded in 1882, the university is academically divided into four colleges: Arts and Letters; Business and Public Administration; Science, Health and Engineering; and Social & Behavioral...
in the quarterfinals before losing to host and eventual champion Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
the next day.
Braswell continued to build the Northridge program over the next several years. In 1998-99, the team went 17-12. The next year, the record improved to 20-10, and Braswell's team again made a run to the Big Sky championship game, losing in overtime to Northern Arizona.
Braswell would finally break through in the 2000-01 season. Led by six seniors, Northridge would upset UCLA
UCLA Bruins men's basketball
The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,...
at Pauley Pavilion
Pauley Pavilion
Edwin W. Pauley Pavilion, commonly known as Pauley Pavilion, is an indoor arena located in the Westwood Village district of Los Angeles, California, on the campus of UCLA. It is home to the UCLA Bruins men's and women's basketball teams...
, finish atop the Big Sky standings, and win the Big Sky Tournament at home to reach the NCAA Tournament
2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 2001 with the play-in game, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in...
. They would lose to Kansas in the first round to finish 22-10, Braswell's best season to date. He became a sought-after coaching commodity following the season, but instead signed a six-year extension to stay in Northridge. UCLA did not play Northridge again until the 2008-09 season after the Matadors' win at Pauley.
After 2001, Northridge moved to the Big West Conference
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
. In the 2004 Big West Tournament, his team made an improbable run to finals, winning three games in three nights. They narrowly lost to Pacific, after coming back from a 19-point deficit to tie the game. Braswell has had three winning seasons since joining the Big West, finishing 18-13 in 2004-05, 20-10 in 2007-08 and a tie for first place in the conference and 17-13 in 2008-09 and winning the conference and automatic berth to the NCAA Division I tournament. On March 14, 2009 the Matadors beat University of Pacific in the Big West Tournament Championship game to make their second appearance in the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|NCAA Division I Tournament].
The Matador men's basketball team, faced with adversity both on-and-off the court in 2008-09, played like champions. In one of the most dramatic, high-energized games in school history, Cal State Northridge recorded a 71-66 overtime victory over Pacific in the title game of the Big West Conference Tournament on at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Matadors defeated a Tiger team that has given them persistent headaches. In 21 previous meetings, Pacific had won 17 games, including two games earlier in the year. Despite the fact the Matadors raced to what seemed to be an insurmountable 21-3 lead in the first half, the Tigers gradually sliced the Matador lead and tied the game at 42-42 with 11:01 left in the game. Pacific fought back to within one point, 54-53, with 3:04 to play. However, Cal State Northridge refused to let Pacific take the lead. Cal State Northridge took a 61-56 lead with 1:19 remaining. It seemed like victory was just seconds away. Again, three straight points by Pacific cut the Matador lead to two points, 61-59, with 60 seconds to play in regulation. Then with five seconds to play, UOP's Michael Kirby was fouled and hit two free throws to send the game into overtime at 61-61. In the overtime, the Matadors took charge with a three-pointer by Rodrigue Mels to give the Matadors a 64-61 lead with 4:44 remaining. A lay up and a free throw by UOP's Bryan LeDuc tied the game. But a jumper by Rob Haynes, another three-pointer by Mels and two free throws by Mark Hill down the stretch gave the Matadors the win, the Big West Conference Championship, and the school's second berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Following the highly dramatic, nerve-wracking game that will go down in history as of the best games in school history, several hundred Matador fans stormed the court to congratulate the team. The post-game celebration also included a rich history in college basketball, the cutting down of the nets by each team member. Then the entire team and coaching staff marched in unison to the press conference. Coach Braswells overall record at CSUN is 205-180.
In March 2007, Braswell signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him in Northridge until through the 2008-09 season.
In 2004, Braswell was reprimanded by the university for a failure to provide oversight to an assistant coach who had violated NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
rules. As a result, the Northridge program was placed on a three-year probation period by the NCAA, ending after the 2005-06 season.
Braswell also has a reputation as being a tough coach. This has led to a high level of attrition amongst his players. During the 2002-03 season and the immediate aftermath, three underclassmen transferred out of the program to continue their careers elsewhere. In 2003-04, two players were suspended and another kicked off the team for undisclosed violations. At the end of that season, four more players would transfer out. In 2006-07, one player quit the team in the middle of the season, and several more left the team afterward. The 2007 senior class marked the first time since 2001 that the Braswell has had three players who were with the program for a full four seasons.
Personal
Braswell's son, 22-year-old Jeffery Robert Braswell, along with Phannuel Gbewonyo, senior MatadorsCal State Northridge Matadors men's basketball
The Cal State Northridge Matadors basketball team is college basketball program representing California State University, Northridge. The team currently competes in the Big West Conference of the NCAA's Division I. The Matadors' current head coach is Bobby Braswell.-History:Until 1972, the school...
guard Deon Tresvant, and freshman Matadors guard Dallas Rutherford, was charged on January 7, 2009 with commercial burglary and grand theft. The four allegedly stole more than $6,600 in merchandise from a Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
store on January 1. The younger Braswell worked at a suburban Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
Best Buy in Porter Ranch
Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, California
Porter Ranch is an affluent neighborhood in the northwest region of the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California.It is bounded by Chatsworth on the south and west, Northridge on the south, and Granada Hills on the north and east. The Santa Susana Mountains, which separate...
, and allegedly accessed the cash register using a stolen password from an absent employee. The thefts were discovered when store officials discovered a discrepancy at the register. Jeffery Braswell was charged with one felony count of second degree commercial burglary and three felony counts of grand theft over $400, and he released on his own recognizance and will be arrigned on January 26.
Head coaching record
External links
- BobbyBraswell.com - official site
- Cal State Northridge Athletics - official site
- Bobby Braswell photo #1
- Bobby Braswell photo #2
