WF Sheyenne: Tim Brandt Interview
In this article:
West Fargo, ND – The Mustangs from Sheyenne have named their new head boys basketball coach. Tim Brandt will take over the reins for the Mustang boys basketball program. If you follow WF Sheyenne basketball, then you already know that Brandt…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWest Fargo, ND – The Mustangs from Sheyenne have named their new head boys basketball coach. Tim Brandt will take over the reins for the Mustang boys basketball program. If you follow WF Sheyenne basketball, then you already know that Brandt is a familiar name. Brandt has been coaching hoops at Sheyenne for the last 9 years and it should be a seamless transition after Tom Kirchoffner’s resignation. Coach Kirchoffner was the first boy’s basketball head coach in program history. He was the head coach for 8 years and he coached the freshmen and JV teams as they led up to having a varsity team in the EDC.
Former Sheyenne head coach Tom K has this to say about new WF Sheyenne head coach Tim Brandt:
“Coach Tim Brandt is an outstanding coach and builds great rapport with the players. He will sprinkle in his concepts and I’m excited to see him take over this program. Sheyenne basketball families are in great hands as he will continue the level of success.“
Q & A with Head Coach Tim Brandt
PHD: What does it mean for you to be the next head boys basketball coach at Sheyenne?
Coach Brandt: “It’s honestly difficult for me to put into words. I have been with the Sheyenne basketball program since before we had a varsity team. I’m so proud of what this program has become, and to get the opportunity to be the next head coach is incredibly special for me.“
PHD: Can you talk about your basketball playing career?
Coach Brandt: “I graduated from Minot High School in 2003 and played for Gene Manson. I was a decent player in High School. I averaged somewhere around 11 points and 6 rebounds a game my senior year. I played for Mike Hultz at Minot State University from 2003-2007. I got on the floor here and there but nothing crazy. Being able to play for two coaches I respect so much and was able to learn a great deal from is part of the reason I got into coaching. I still have great relationships with Coach Manson and Coach Hultz to this day.“
PHD: Can you take us through your coaching career?
Coach Brandt: “My first coaching stop was as a student assistant at Minot State during the 2007-08 and 2009-10 seasons. I was the JV coach at Surrey High School in the 2010-11 season. My wife and I moved to the Fargo area in the summer of 2011. I was able to become the C squad boys coach at Fargo North for the 2011-12 season. I then accepted a teaching position at Central Valley School in Buxton, ND for the 2012-23 school year. I coached elementary and middle school basketball at Central Valley during the 2012-13 season. I was hired as a Physical Education teacher at Liberty Middle School in West Fargo during the summer of 2013. I began coaching basketball at Sheyenne High School that year. I began as the freshman B coach and moved to the JV level for the 2014-15 season.“
PHD: How would you define your coaching style?
Coach Brandt: “Calm but very active. I try not to get too high or too low. Basketball is an emotional game and kids can feed off that so I try and stay even. I’m always communicating with the guys on the floor or on the bench. The thing I want the players in our program to do better than anyone else is to communicate while they’re on the floor, so I try and lead by example. I talk a lot on the sidelines.“
PHD: What type of offense do you envision your teams will run?
Coach Brandt: “I want to get out and run and play fast. I’m going to teach certain offensive concepts and different reads I want my players to use. I think we’re going to be tough to guard when they’re taught how to play the game rather than teaching them just where to be at all times. I think that will work well with the guards we have coming back.“
PHD: What style of defense do you plan to run?
Coach Brandt: “I want to get up and pressure teams. I want to make teams uncomfortable and make sure nothing comes easy. As far as the scheme goes, I have a few things I’d like to use.“
PHD: What are the offseason plans for the Mustang basketball program?
Coach Brandt: “I just had a meeting with some of the guys this morning to discuss this. My big push is to get more basketball players signed up for our Mustang Power program and get them in the weight room. Outside of that, we start our skills camp on Monday, June 6th. We go for 3 weeks Monday-Thursday. We’re also signed up for the NDSU and the South/Davies team camps at the moment, and we will possibly get in a couple more in June.”
PHD: In your opinion, who will be some of the top players in the EDC next year?
“There are a lot of really good returners next year. The two that come to mind right away are Mason Klabo Mason Klabo 6'2" | PG Fargo Davies | 2025 State #240 Nation ND and Jeremiah Sem Jeremiah Sem 6'3" | SG Fargo North | 2024 State #303 Nation ND . I don’t know how many other guys in the league we’ll need to center a defensive game plan around, but they’re definitely two of them. Outside of that, James Hamilton James Hamilton 6'4" | SF Fargo South | 2024 State ND from South, Connor Kraft from Shanley, Zach Kraft Zach Kraft 6'2" | PG Grand Forks Red River | 2023 State ND and Reis Rowekamp Reis Rowekamp 6'4" | SG Grand Forks Red River | 2023 State ND from Red River, and Carter Zeller Carter Zeller 6'6" | PF Fargo North | 2024 State ND from North are all guys we’ll have to pay close attention to.“
PHD: Who are some of your underclassmen to look out for?
Coach Brandt: “ Caleb Duerr Caleb Duerr 6'4" | SG West Fargo Sheyenne | 2024 ND is a junior and our one returner who received significant minutes. Our C team won the C league and is a very talented group. There could be a few players from that team that emerge and get some solid minutes this year. There are also a couple of guys from last year’s freshman team as well that I’m keeping a close eye on as to maybe elevate them to higher levels this season.“
PHD: What do you do for fun outside of basketball?
Coach Brandt: “I have two little boys so they keep me extremely busy outside of basketball, which is a lot of fun. I love golf. During the summer months, I golf in a league in Moorhead with my brother and a couple of buddies. Other than that, I’m a huge fantasy football nerd. I play in a league with a bunch of guys from high school and college, most of which I’ve been friends for 20+ years. It is a great excuse to be competitive and stay in touch with those guys that I grew up with.“