At his father’s funeral, Brent Brennan asked the room two questions.
Who in here did Steve Brennan ever buy an ice cream? Every kid’s hand went up.
Who in here did Steve Brennan ever buy a beer? Eight hundred hands went up.
That’s not just a powerful eulogy. That’s a blueprint.
I sat across from Coach Brennan in Tucson this spring, and it hit me fast. This isn’t a coach who learned relationships from a leadership seminar. He learned it at the dinner table. And now, three years into rebuilding Arizona football, that same instinct is the whole operating system.
Year one was hard. Year two was a breakthrough. Year three carries a different kind of weight. Brent told me the team still feels unfinished. Not disappointed but rather, hungry.
I love asking head coaches what they feel the ‘role of a head coach is’ and with Coach Brennan, when asked that he never starts with schemes.
He starts with trust and how the core of trust is real relationships, and how real relationships don’t exist without time. Time with him, time with his family, time with his staff.
Today’s conversation is fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, which feels about right for a coach whose recruiting calendar, staff meetings, and family dinners never really stop overlapping.
As Big 12 media days kick off, I also hope that Arizona’s QB gets the love he has earned as Noah Fifita’s story is rare.
Coach Brennan said he’s never coached a player as high profile as Noah Fifita who still shakes every hand, signs every autograph, and shows up to coach youth football on Sundays like it’s the most important appointment of his week.
In an era defined by the transfer portal, Noah stayed. He grew. He bet on Tucson. Add in elite accuracy, real ability to “see the defense,” and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win Fifita has Arizona in position to win the Big 12 this fall.
Take a listen to my earlier conversation with Noah to learn about the QB that I think the nation will be rooting for.
Coach Brennan and I also dove into expectations and he shared the dangers of looking too far down the road, of chasing a title before you’ve won today’s meeting, today’s rep, today’s practice. And after being there this past off-season it’s clear that his team is stacking the small things, and the big things should take care of themselves this fall. (hello week 2 vs BYU!)
And on a personal note, his wife Courtney changed my life, literally.
Most importantly, she has been by Coach Brennan’s side since he was a high school coach and as a graduate assistant washing cars and babysitting for extra cash. The players love her too as she defines showing up.
But years ago, I was visiting the San Jose State program and her and Coach Brennan convinced me to stick around an extra night. It wasn’t that hard if you’ve ever met the Brennan’s. So instead of catching my flight home, I stuck around and as the universe would have it, that next day I walked onto a plane and sat next to my future wife! So yea, football gives us a lot of things but for me, it gave me the introduction to my absolute heartmate.
Three years in, Brent Brennan isn’t chasing hype. He’s chasing alignment and he’s done it one relationship at a time and that’s the legacy this Arizona program is chasing. Not a trophy first, but rather a room full of raised hands.
And this week as Big 12 Media Days continue today, the nation gets to see it on full display.
Much love and stay steady,
Yogi
