This feature is part of an ongoing series produced by Midwest Elite Basketball. Each feature will spotlight a college coach who works with MEB directing camps in the summer. This is a special way to showcase our talented staff and recognize their hard work.
- Name: Tyler Bredehoeft
- Position: Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
- Team: University of St. Mary Spires
- Hometown: Alma, MO
- Colleges Attended & Degrees: Concordia University – Nebraska / Central Methodist University ~ Bachelors of Science, History (Central Methodist) / Master of Arts, Sports Administration & Adult Education (University of Saint Mary)
Why did you become a coach?
I became a coach because I love the game of basketball. I wanted to stay around the game and wanted to share my love and passion with other people that love the game as well. Why do I coach? This answer is much different than what it would have been back in 2012-2013 when I first started coaching high school. Before it was the competition of the game, the excitement of the wins and the eagerness to improve from losses. Now its all about the relationships with my players, creating a bond to try and help them grow as a person. Using a game to teach an individual life skills is a great reward. You try to instill in them discipline, leadership, humility, communication skills, competitiveness and work ethic. In doing that you hope to improve that individual and prepare them for life after basketball. The competitiveness in me still keeps me selfish, as a coach, for wins.
Who influenced you the most as a coach?
It’s hard for me to find one person in particular. From a coaching influence standpoint, it started with my dad when I was younger. He always pushed work ethic! Growing up on a farm a poor work ethic wasn’t an option, if he had a poor work ethic we would be homeless and broke. My strategy of the game began to grow in high school, my high school coach is a great X’s and O’s guy. Playing in college at Central Methodist I learned to be coached and accept responsibility. Coming to Saint Mary in my first year I really learned how to be demanding of players and focusing on all the details, instilling discipline and accountability into players. Not one person has been the most influential but they all have helped me along the way.
Biggest obstacle you have faced as a coach?
On October 1st, 2016 Marcus Mondaine, a player, on our 2015-16 team was murdered. This obstacle didn’t have much to do with on court coaching but has been the biggest obstacle to date. Losing someone close to you is always tough, but losing someone that is close to all 20 members of a team makes it extremely tough for a group. It was tough to focus on a game, when so much was going on personally with all of our guys on the team and the school as a whole. Like any obstacle, it is just that. It is a road block in life that God has put there to remind you and test you. We miss Marcus but his absence has brought us all closer and makes you appreciate those and the relationships you do have. I tell our players not to take anything for granted, its there one day and its not guaranteed the next.
What does NAIA basketball mean to you?
Opportunity! Many recruits are unaware of the NAIA level or have little knowledge about it. The NAIA level is a very talented level that is over looked by athletes because it doesn’t have the NCAA logo attached to it. There are great NAIA schools that can offer a competitive athletic platform as well as offer scholarships and provide a quality education to their student-athletes.
Best advice you can give to student-athletes?
Enjoy the process! Enjoy every workout, conditioning test, 6am weight lifting session, practice, 7 hour bus ride and butt chewing from coach. Your athletic career will fly by and you will wonder where the time went. My fondest memories as a student-athlete aren’t the championships but the moments spent with teammates.
Best advice you can give to aspiring basketball coaches?
Listen, watch and learn from your head coach. You always think you know what you are doing or that you have it all figured out and you just need the chance to be a head coach. More than likely you aren’t 100% ready, I thought that early in my career as well. It is important to sit back listen and watch what your boss teaches. Even if you disagree with certain aspects you can still learn something. As you have different bosses that you work for take a little from each of them to mold your philosophies, take the good and the bad. Take the things they did really well and add your own personality to it.
If you could spend one day with a person (past or present) who would it be and why?
John Wooden. He is arguably the best coach to ever do it. He lived through some extremely interesting times in United States history. He would have a great life story to tell and could provide great insight into being a successful coach and mentor.