One phenomenon that always seems to reverberate in college athletics, from Hawaii to Florida and all stops in between, is the idea of the coach on the clock. ADVERTISING One phenomenon that always seems to reverberate in college athletics, from
One phenomenon that always seems to reverberate in college athletics, from Hawaii to Florida and all stops in between, is the idea of the coach on the clock.
You can almost count on your fingers the number of coaches around the country who take a job and are still there 10 years later. For the most part, when a coach accepts a job, you can start the departure clock. It could be more money, a more favorable opportunity in a springboard job or a family related concern that causes a shift.
The clock stopped unexpectedly for University of Hawaii at Hilo softball coach Peejay Brun a week ago when she was offered an elevated position — associate head coach — of the Division I program at Texas State University in San Marcos. It seemed to come out of nowhere but it was actually the conjunction of two advantageous events coming together separately.
Brun accepted the UHH post two years ago when her wife Christie was working in a mental health center and had applied for a promotion that seemed unlikely with two more experienced people also interested in the job. Instead, she won the promotion, got the job she always wanted and resultantly, it was clear she needed to stay in San Marcos.
Meanwhile, Brun was offered the associate coaching position, which is the new platform from which assistants become head coaches in the NCAA. In San Marcos, where she coached before taking the UHH job, there’s a chance Brun could one day succeed 16-year Ricci Woodard.
All of that is understandable, but leaving? That’s the hardest part.
Most coaches are accepted and appreciated by their players, which is why it is news when some team organized and speaks out against the coach, it doesn’t often happen. Something else that doesn’t always occur is the sweeping impact a coach has on a team after just two years.
That’s what Brun created with a forward-moving dynamism and atmosphere of team unity in the program that won’t soon be forgotten. In two seasons, the Vulcans went from obscurity to playoff contenders with a lineup of talented young players that carved out a 63-33-1 record.
“I hadn’t heard anything when (Brun) called to tell me,” said first baseman Cristina Menjivar, an all- Pacific West Conference first team selection, “it was devastating, I mean, I was shocked. She started by talking about some other things, then worked into telling me she was leaving and I just started crying.
“I was a walk-on,” Menjivar said, “I didn’t know anybody or anything about (Brun) but she inspired me, she inspired all of us. I remember after just a short time, thinking, ‘Wow, did I ever get lucky coming here.’ She built us together, it was a complete team bonding thing.”
They were fortunate to have her. Menjivar led the team in home runs (8) and hits (59)and was a first team all conference selection.
“I think I’ver talked to all my teammates,” she said, “and we are all kind of taken up you might say. We had a such a great understanding, a great feeling as a team and we’re all probably wondering about the future now, but everyone I talked to said what I was thinking, we’ll just take what she taught us and carry it over.”
Whoever replaces Brun will come to a softball program fairly well stacked with talent, including Menjivar and all-America second team selection Bailey Gaspar who led the conference in batting average (.506), and slugging percentage (.807).
“When she called I could tell there was something wrong in her voice,” Gaspar said. “I thought I was in trouble or something and then when she told me, it was like I went into shock. We cried a little, we both cried.
“She is so positive about the game, she is more like a life coach than a softball coach; she instilled respect and pride in us almost from Day 1, it wasn’t like we were not sure for a while and she won us over — she won us over right from the start.”
Coaches come and go, and they all have their good points, none of them is perfect. But Brun kept coaching before, during and after games. When they decided to have everyone make costumes for a Christmas event, the coach split them into small groups, encouraging working together, instilling competition.
“We were always doing something,” Menjivar said, “it was always everyone working together on something. I felt like any of us would do anything for her, it’s going to take a while to get over it, but we will.”
Until they meet again, director of athletics Pat Guillen has a significant challenge. He needs to find replacement for Brun, the tremendously well-liked coach who happened to lead the most successful program in the athletic department.
Word of advice for Guillen: Now, you’re on the clock. Choose carefully.
