Travis Mays Announces Coaching Staff
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 10:31 pmFrom SMUMustangs.com:
Travis Mays Announces Coaching Staff
Brandt named Associate Head Coach; Brown and Smith Bradley assistant coaches
April 26, 2016
DALLAS (SMU) – Head coach Travis Mays is showing his ability to recruit top talent to SMU early in his tenure. The first-year head coach has pieced together a staff of assistant coaches who have enjoyed great success and bring a variety of experience to the Hilltop. Mike Brandt will serve as associate head coach, while Edwina Brown and Amie Smith Bradley will be assistant coaches. Brown will also serve as the recruiting coordinator.
“I feel like we have put together a staff that brings a multitude of talents and strengths that will work together to create a culture of commitment, hard work, competitiveness, family and a will to win at SMU,” Mays said.
Brandt has more than 25 years of coaching experience and has spent the last 14 seasons as head coach at USC Aiken, posting a 254-166 record and leading the Pacers to the NCAA tournament five times, including three straight appearances from 2011-2013. Brandt guided the Pacers to a program-record 27 wins in 2010-11 and again in 2011-12, winning the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship in 2012. USC Aiken was ranked as high as No. 3 in the NCAA Division II during his tenure.
“Mike [Brandt] is, first and foremost, an incredible man of high character, integrity and loyalty. He is extremely passionate about the game of basketball, which has been proven by his success as a head coach,” Mays explained. “He has many strengths, one being his ability to evaluate players and strategically put them in position to be successful according to their strengths, but what attracted me the most about wanting him to be a part of my staff is the way he cares for the development of his players on and off the court.”
Brown and Bradley both left Big 12 programs to join Mays at SMU. Brown spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at TCU, helping lead the Horned Frogs to their first postseason win since 2008. A Margaret Wade Trophy winner as National Player of the Year at Texas in 2000, Brown played professionally for 10 years, including five seasons in the WNBA. She began her collegiate coaching career at Texas in 2011, helping guide the Longhorns to the NCAA Tournament. She then spent two seasons at New Mexico before returning to the Lone Star State at TCU.
“Edwina [Brown] is the ultimate competitor. She was that way as a player and shows the same characteristics as a coach and recruiter. She has a passion about teaching the game the way she approached the game as a player, with high intensity and a belief that she can make every player great,” Mays stated. “Edwina will be vital in being able to bring the best talent in the country to SMU because many young prospects want to be coached by great players that can prepare them for the highest level.”
Bradley, who also played at Texas, worked with Mays as a member of current Texas head coach Karen Aston’s staff before taking a job as Assistant Athletics Director for Stewardship and Specialty Events at Texas. Her coaching career began as an assistant at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, spending six seasons at the school from which she graduated in 1993. She also spent seven seasons as head coach at Trinity University in San Antonio before joining the Texas staff. She posted a 117-70 record (.626) which still stands as the second-best mark in school history.
“Amie [Smith Bradley] brings an ability to build relationships and create an atmosphere of trust and integrity. She is a great teacher of the game and prepares her players for life beyond basketball,” Mays continued. “She understands the importance of community involvement and player development. She also brings head coaching experience, great knowledge of the game and an attention to detail that creates success on and off the court.”
Mays begins his first season as head coach Nov. 11 as the Mustangs start the 2016-17 campaign in Moody Coliseum.
Travis Mays Announces Coaching Staff
Brandt named Associate Head Coach; Brown and Smith Bradley assistant coaches
April 26, 2016
DALLAS (SMU) – Head coach Travis Mays is showing his ability to recruit top talent to SMU early in his tenure. The first-year head coach has pieced together a staff of assistant coaches who have enjoyed great success and bring a variety of experience to the Hilltop. Mike Brandt will serve as associate head coach, while Edwina Brown and Amie Smith Bradley will be assistant coaches. Brown will also serve as the recruiting coordinator.
“I feel like we have put together a staff that brings a multitude of talents and strengths that will work together to create a culture of commitment, hard work, competitiveness, family and a will to win at SMU,” Mays said.
Brandt has more than 25 years of coaching experience and has spent the last 14 seasons as head coach at USC Aiken, posting a 254-166 record and leading the Pacers to the NCAA tournament five times, including three straight appearances from 2011-2013. Brandt guided the Pacers to a program-record 27 wins in 2010-11 and again in 2011-12, winning the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship in 2012. USC Aiken was ranked as high as No. 3 in the NCAA Division II during his tenure.
“Mike [Brandt] is, first and foremost, an incredible man of high character, integrity and loyalty. He is extremely passionate about the game of basketball, which has been proven by his success as a head coach,” Mays explained. “He has many strengths, one being his ability to evaluate players and strategically put them in position to be successful according to their strengths, but what attracted me the most about wanting him to be a part of my staff is the way he cares for the development of his players on and off the court.”
Brown and Bradley both left Big 12 programs to join Mays at SMU. Brown spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at TCU, helping lead the Horned Frogs to their first postseason win since 2008. A Margaret Wade Trophy winner as National Player of the Year at Texas in 2000, Brown played professionally for 10 years, including five seasons in the WNBA. She began her collegiate coaching career at Texas in 2011, helping guide the Longhorns to the NCAA Tournament. She then spent two seasons at New Mexico before returning to the Lone Star State at TCU.
“Edwina [Brown] is the ultimate competitor. She was that way as a player and shows the same characteristics as a coach and recruiter. She has a passion about teaching the game the way she approached the game as a player, with high intensity and a belief that she can make every player great,” Mays stated. “Edwina will be vital in being able to bring the best talent in the country to SMU because many young prospects want to be coached by great players that can prepare them for the highest level.”
Bradley, who also played at Texas, worked with Mays as a member of current Texas head coach Karen Aston’s staff before taking a job as Assistant Athletics Director for Stewardship and Specialty Events at Texas. Her coaching career began as an assistant at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, spending six seasons at the school from which she graduated in 1993. She also spent seven seasons as head coach at Trinity University in San Antonio before joining the Texas staff. She posted a 117-70 record (.626) which still stands as the second-best mark in school history.
“Amie [Smith Bradley] brings an ability to build relationships and create an atmosphere of trust and integrity. She is a great teacher of the game and prepares her players for life beyond basketball,” Mays continued. “She understands the importance of community involvement and player development. She also brings head coaching experience, great knowledge of the game and an attention to detail that creates success on and off the court.”
Mays begins his first season as head coach Nov. 11 as the Mustangs start the 2016-17 campaign in Moody Coliseum.
