Cheers to Notre Dame head basketball coach Mike Brey, who was hired by Notre Dame 20 years ago today.
It may seem like a strange time of year for a college basketball coach to be changing jobs but if you recall, Brey replaced Matt Doherty who left South Bend after just one year, as Doherty replaced Bill Guthridge who retired from is post at North Carolina.
20 years ago today, @NDMikeBrey was named head coach.
In his time, he has developed six NBA Draft selections, six All-Americans, more than 20 All-Conference selections and is the all-time winningest coach in program history 🙌 pic.twitter.com/LEpugKyl4H
— Notre Dame MBB (@NDmbb) July 14, 2020
Despite being a relative unknown, Brey has taken Notre Dame basketball to a level of sustained success that it simply has not ever had.
In Brey’s 19 completed seasons at Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish have earned a post season berth in the NCAA Tournament 12 times and twice helped guide the Irish to Elite Eight appearances.
Brey’s 417 wins at Notre Dame are more than any other men’s basketball coach in history, including Digger Phelps who finished his career in 1991 with 393.
The former Duke assistant coach came to Notre Dame 20 years ago today from Delaware where he guided the Blue Hens to a 99-52 record in five seasons, twice earning NCAA Tournament bids.
It doesn’t matter what your profession is, 20 years at one job is beyond impressive.
A tip of the cap, or a floor-slap if you’d prefer it, to Mike Brey on two fantastic decades at Notre Dame.