John Brady, John Treloar, Charlie Rugg, Belhaven College, and Lsu's
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John Brady, John Treloar, Belhaven’s Charlie Rugg, Belhaven College, Road to the and LSu’s journey Final Four to the big dance Louisiana State University Men’s Basketball enjoyed arguably the program’s best season this past year. Led by Coach John Brady, the Tigers clawed their way through a grueling schedule, won the Southeastern Conference Regular Season and West Division crowns, earned a #4 seed in the NCAA National Tournament, defeated top-seeded and #1-ranked Duke University in the Tournament, pulled out a thrilling overtime victory against the University of Texas to advance to the NCAA Final Four, and completed the season as the third-ranked team in the nation. All in a year’s work, right? For Coach Brady, the work began more than three decades ago and he will be the first to say, “There is more work to be done.” s a freshman at Belhaven in 1973, John Brady “I was talking to my coaches out by the pool at the likely never imagined what kind of basketball hotel and said, in a loud enough voice for the team Acareer he was going to have. The three-year to hear, how much I needed some guards,” Rugg starter for Belhaven went on to have a stellar career, remembered. “All of a sudden a voice pipes up, amassing more than 1,000 points scored and 330 assists ‘You have at least one guard, coach.’ I was not too under legendary and hall of fame coach Charles Rugg. surprised to hear those words come from John.” Brady was a two-time member of the All-Southern States While his comment did not garner him Conference Team as a guard, and currently sits in the top playing time, it was clear how confident John five of numerous statistical categories at Belhaven. As was in his ability to get the job done. Over the successful as he was as a player, there was no doubt John course of the next three seasons, Brady hit Brady would be successful in his career of choice. He most every clutch shot for Belhaven. was determined, focused, driven, and talented, not only “He wanted the ball at the end of on the court, but in the classroom as well. a game,” said Mark Windham, former “John was as fierce and scrappy a competitor assistant coach and Belhaven hall of fame as I have ever seen,” said Coach Rugg. “He soaked member. “You could see it in his eyes everything in, both in class and on the court. There was that he knew he would make the shot if no doubt he had some physical talent, but what separated given the chance. He is arguably one him was the way he used his mind to achieve success of the best clutch shooters the school academically and in athletics.” has ever had.” It took very little time for Coach Rugg and his teammates at Belhaven to know exactly how strong a will Brady possessed. Following a one-point loss at the beginning of Brady’s freshman season, Coach Rugg, who had a policy of not playing freshmen, was extremely frustrated with his guard play. 16 / TARTAN WINTER 2006 • Belhaven College Belhaven College • TARTAN WINTER 2006 / 17 FeatureRoad to the Final Four Road to the Final FourFeature From Clutch to Coach giving LSU the tools they needed to early games in hand,” said Brady. “What a tall order to beat such look after any needs and were treated Building Upon Using his God-given skills and excel in one of the toughest leagues in “But, Ohio State and UConn are a storied program like Duke,” like Tiger royalty the entire time. the Foundation the nation. extremely tough to beat on the road. acknowledged Rugg. “That was as “You would have thought we abilities, Brady found his course for Brady has adopted a lot of the Although his first few years at Even in losing with a young squad, a good a defensive effort a team can were the King and Queen of LSU life mapped out in coaching the game coaching philosophies he first LSU were tough, having to rebuild a our team gained some confidence out give against a stellar team like that. I Basketball,” suggested Janie Rugg. “It of basketball. came across while under Coach program hit with NCAA violations, of that. I remember thinking in the almost had six heart attacks during the was such a wonderful time for both After graduating from Belhaven Rugg. Coach Rugg, who preached a it did not take long for the wins to locker room after the Connecticut game, but I was very proud.” of us, but I am especially thankful for in 1976, he went on to Mississippi philosophy riddled with discipline on come. In the 1999-2000 season, two game, we were a Top 25 team… Of course, the only way to John honoring Charlie like he did.” State, where he was a Graduate and off the court, always demanded years after inheriting a program that people just didn’t know it yet. follow such an incredible win would Assistant Coach for the 1976-‘77 the most out of his players. His was at its lowest point in be to defeat the University of Texas The Belhaven season. After serving as an assistant players were expected to give all they years, Brady led the Tigers Longhorns in overtime in order Connection coach for the Bulldogs from 1982- had, whether it was hitting the books, to a 28-6 record, 12-4 in “You knew to bring to punch that coveted ticket to Surprisingly enough, John Brady is 1990, Brady received his first NCAA or executing to perfection on the the SEC West. The Tigers Indianapolis and a spot in the NCAA not the only LSU Basketball staffer to Head Coaching position at Samford basketball court. were the top-ranked team your very best every Final Four. be connected with Belhaven College. University in 1991. In the six years he “Anyone who went through in the conference, and not One of his assistant coaches, John spent at Samford, Brady became the Coach Rugg learned solid, only went to the NCAA A Gesture of Gratitude Treloar, who just completed his most successful coach in the school’s time out or you fundamental basketball,” commented National Tournament, As the team prepared to do battle second season with the Tigers is also history, and led the program to Coach Treloar. “You knew to bring but won two games with UCLA for a shot at the national a Belhaven graduate. Treloar was a back-to-back Trans Atlantic Athletic your very best every time out or you before dropping a Sweet just simply would title, Coach Rugg was celebrating in standout baseball player, but spent Conference (TAAC) West Division just simply would not make it with Sixteen match-up with the his own unique way…fishing near the one year on the basketball team under championships in 1996 and 1997. Charlie Rugg. That’s something we University of Wisconsin. not make it with Gulf of Mexico. Coach Rugg and alongside Brady. With the successes at Samford, are intent to carry on here at LSU.” That same year, Brady was “My friend and I were out on the “He was a couple of years behind it came as no surprise when, on Rugg asked as much out of his named the SEC’s Coach boat enjoying the fishing when we me, but I remember going against him March 25, 1997, Brady was named Charlie Rugg. That’s players as possible, and when they of the Year and was the noticed neither one of us had brought in practice,” said Brady. “You talk the eighteenth Head Men’s Basketball ran out of gas, they were expected to runner-up for National our cell phones, which is probably about bothering somebody. I mean, Coach at LSU. Soon enough, continue on heart. There is no doubt Coach of the Year. The something we are why it was so peaceful,” joked Coach he would just wear me out. John has Brady’s teams were not just putting how Brady learned to pour himself Tigers would march back Rugg. “When we got back to the cabin always been extremely competitive.” a scare into opponents, they were out as a player, as well as a coach. It to post-season action three intent to carry on there was a note taped on the window Both went their separate ways beginning to win the big games. is obvious when observing his team’s of the next five years. for me to call my wife at home after leaving Belhaven, and Treloar Brady’s coaching philosophies of play, especially in wins over Duke The 2005-2006 immediately. Needless to say, I rushed embarked on his own coaching discipline and responsibility began here at LSU.” and Texas in this year’s tournament, edition of LSU basketball to the phone.” journey that would lead him into the Brady’s Bunch emulates the same began a few years earlier, Once he was assured there was international basketball scene and heart and passion as their coach. before the team had even been LSU finished the 2005-‘06 regular nothing wrong, Coach Rugg’s wife, Canadian Basketball Association “I would sit and preach to my assembled. Coach Brady knew that season with a 22-7 record, 14-2 in Janie, informed him that John called (CBA) as both a head coach and teams on several occasions,” offered in order to be the best, you must play conference play.