By Neal Johnson

September 9, 2014

Capturing one regular season championship, noted for recruiting three AAC Freshman of the Year, two First Team All-AAC players, and two AAC Defensive Players of the Year—these are only a few accolades that are associated with assistant men’s basketball Coach, Rob Brendle’s recruiting and coaching at Milligan College.

 

Everything Coach Brendle did was above and beyond the status quo. So, when his players were informed of his resignation, they were immediately sorrowful. That sadness was understandable though, due to Coach Brendle’s persistent laboring to assist with the basketball program the last five years.

 

 If you walk around Milligan’s campus today and ask about Coach Brendle, you would hear nothing but good things about him, according to Milligan freshman basketball player, Christian Beasley.

 

“I really appreciated Coach Brendle coming to my signing, especially since its 2 hours away!” said Beasley.  “It meant a lot to me to have my family, former teammates, high school coach and future coach at the signing.”

 

Coach Brendle has a special quality about him that commands respect. No matter how long he’s known you, you can guarantee he would never call you outside your name. Former Milligan basketball player Zac Cantadore always thought highly of his college coach.

 

“Coach Brendle was like a second father to me. Whenever I needed anything or just needed to get something off my chest, he was there for me,” said Cantadore. “If I was wrong at any point of the game, he was very good at calmly talking to me instead of yelling.”

This season, Coach Brendle will be coaching at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie. He told the guys at his farewell meeting that he had to make the best decision to help his family.

 

In Coach Brendle’s final statement to his team, he talked about the enormous impact they had had on him and the gratefulness he felt for the opportunity to coach at Milligan College.

 

“I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to coach here, from the leadership of President Greer to the awesome faculty and staff, to my fellow coaches,” Brendle bragged. “On top of that, being able to work for Bill Robinson, who has been a huge influence on me and allowed me a chance to work at a top notch institution makes me a lucky man. It’s easy to sell a place as a recruiter when you believe in it so much.”

 

The players and coaches fully understood his viewpoint, including tead coach and Brendle’s mentor, Coach Bill Robinson.

 

“I learned from him that you can never stop improving, you can always better yourself, said Robinson.  “Coach was always positive and cared about the players. The guys knew how he loved them.”