The Austin Youth Basketball program (AYB) is fortunate to have Brian Elwer, a 2000 graduate of Austin High School as their coach this season.

Monday, March 11, 2002

The Austin Youth Basketball program (AYB) is fortunate to have Brian Elwer, a 2000 graduate of Austin High School as their coach this season.

Elwer definitely looks like a basketball player. He is 6 feet 8 inches tall and he played center position in high school basketball.

Last year he attended school in South Dakota and this year he is going to college at Riverland. He isn’t playing basketball this season as he wanted to take a year off.

He was approached by Tom Gravelle and Rodney Pesch, the directors of the AYB, to be the coach for the eighth grade boys team.

"I decided to do this as I’m not playing basketball this year. I figured I wanted to give back to the people who helped me when I was growing up. I learned the game of basketball through the Austin Youth Basketball program and I wanted to give back knowledge to these kids," said Elwer.

Elwer brings a fresh approach to coaching as he loves the game so much.

He says playing basketball is his most favorite thing to do in the world.

He makes practice as fun as possible for the boys.

When they get upset he calms them down and tells them losing their cool doesn’t solve anything.

"I don’t do anything special with the boys. I just run them hard. All the boys are in good shape. They stay active outside of playing basketball," said Elwer.

Even though Elwer is not playing basketball this year, he stays in shape lifting weights, running, and playing basketball at the Y.

"The kids are great to coach. I am more a friend with them then a coach. We joke around and have a great time," said Elwer.

Elwer is unsure of his future plans and studies. He will be getting a job this summer.

"I don’t get paid anything for coaching the boys. Any boy in eighth grade can be in the Austin Youth Basketball program. Uniforms for the players are funded through donations. The parents are very supportive of their kids. I really love doing this," said Elwer.