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Athletics announced April 3 the department hired Brandon Chambers, former North Carolina State University assistant coach, to lead the UTRGV Men’s Basketball Team, following Kahil Fennell’s departure, as reported by The Rider March 30.
In the news conference, UTRGV welcomed Chambers to the Rio Grande Valley, headed by Guy Bailey, the university president, and Chasse Conque, senior vice president and director of Athletics. Chris Grant, the Southland Conference commissioner, was also present.
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Conque said Chambers’ experience and his mentality were impressive.
“Early on, I was impressed with his profile … the places he’s been, the coaches he’s coached for,” he said. “… What stood out was just his intentionality with everything. … It’s genuine. It’s authentic. And he can articulate a plan.”
Chambers was an assistant coach for McNeese State University before NC State.
Grant said the coach’s return to the Southland Conference can show the SLC as a destination for coaches and players.
“Not only … your opposing [athletic directors] recognize the talent in the league,” he said. “… When they leave and go to a powerful school and see the Southland Conference as a destination, I’m thrilled. It lets me know that we’re doing the right thing administratively at the office. Our schools are doing great things about raising the bar from where we are.”
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Chambers said he wants to make sure his players have a tough, “blue collar” mentality and is willing to do anything for them.
“I met with Eddie [Galvan, chief of staff/associate athletic director for Development],” he said. “I asked him, ‘What do you think the RGV community needs and what’s the next step from, what kind of leader?’ He talked about this being such a special place, and it’s very blue collar. It’s the community and, you know, we’re just tired of being treated less than. … Let’s rally the Valley; let’s get everyone involved. You know, let’s take that blue-collar mentality, and let’s put a team on the floor that the people of the 956 can be proud of. And so for me, if you’re a player in our program and you’re putting forth that sort of effort that I’m going to demand, I’ll go to the edge of the world for you. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Chambers “has made nine-straight NCAA tournaments as an assistant coach at NC State, McNeese, [Texas Southern University, Louisiana State University and Virginia Commonwealth University,” according to the April 3 Athletics news release.
The new head coach said he hopes to stay and win more home games at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
“We’re going to take great pride in protecting our home,” Chambers said. “… We want this to be a special, special place, and we’re gonna put a team on the floor. … The Valley is going to be proud of the type of player that is out here. … We’re going to make sure that we protect our house.”
