It’s not required, but the latest edition from Rand McNally might be needed to follow Lee Brand’s baseball background.

Sunday, August 22, 1999

It’s not required, but the latest edition from Rand McNally might be needed to follow Lee Brand’s baseball background.

The new Riverland Community College baseball coach has done his share of moving. Brand, who will be 32 in less than two weeks, was born in New Ulm and lived in Winona, Blooming Prairie, Tulsa, Okla. and Las Vegas before returning to Minnesota to live in Avon, Oseo and then finally moving in the fourth grade to Detroit Lakes, where he stayed until graduating high school. After a standout prep career, Brand played one year at St. Mary’s University in Winona and then transferred to the University of New Mexico, where he was a three-year starter.

After using up his playing eligibility, he transferred to Gonzaga University, where he earned a bachalor’s of education. While at Gonzaga, he took a youth baseball team from Spokane, Wash., to a tournament in Beijing, China.

Before earning his master’s degree in sports psychology at the University of Utah, he played or coached at the semipro level in Australia and Canada. Brand also coached high school teams in Spokane and Salt Lake City. His latest coaching assignment was an assistant at Salt Lake Community College.

With his varied and well traveled background, Brand is hoping to get more local players in Blue Devil uniforms. But before he can concentrate on recruiting local talent, he must worry about getting anyone to where a Blue Devil uniform.

The Blue Devils will return only five players from last year’s 6-20 squad.

Despite the uncertainty of the coaching situation after Herb Hofer’s resignation in May, Brand said he has had "lots of interest in the program and players inquiring about playing next spring."

Among those that choose Riverland without knowing the coach that would be brought on board , include former Austin High center fielder Matt Lange and Jason Koopal of Lyle.

"I was surprised," Brand said of the level of interest in the program that was at the Junior College World Series Two seasons ago. "I guess that’s a tribute to the academic level at Riverland."

The first -year coach is taking a wait and see approach before making any evaluations or predictions with the Blue Devils.

"I don’t want to set the expectations too high and I don’t want them too low," he said.

Brand said his coaching strengths are in hitting, defense in the outfield and infield and the mental aspects of preparation and competition. Although his experience with pitching is limited, he said he paid close attention to another coach in Salt Lake City.

Although he wants to concentrate on getting players from southern Minnesota to play at Riverland, Brand said he also plans to recruit from the two Dakotas, Wisconsin, Iowa and northern Minnesota.

Helping Brand with recruiting, at least in name, is his grandfather Leo, who lives in Faribault. The elder Brand is a member of the Minnesota Baseball Association Hall of Fame for his efforts with the amateur baseball teams in Sleepy Eye, Faribault and Albert Lea.

Brand, who will also be teaching a math class at Pacelli and in charge of intramural athletics at Riverland, said he has been enjoying Austin and is looking forward to meeting more people.

"It’s been real nice," said Brand, who met his wife, Kerry, in Australia. "I’m more of a small town community kind of guy. I like the scenery here rather than in Salt Lake."