When you’re passionate about something, it’s hard to shake it from your mind. To be successful at coaching, you have to have a passion for the game and players. For example, legendary Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson retired from coaching in 1998 but in 1999, he came out of retirement and began coaching the LA Lakers. Nick Saban left LSU for the NFL, but after only two seasons, he was back coaching college football. Tom Brady…….well, we all know the Tom Brady rollercoaster. The point is the great ones seem to always make their way back to the sport they love. This doesn’t just happen in the big leagues though; it also pops up in small-town USA. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the new Waldron Lady Bulldogs basketball coach, Coach Joshua Bryan.
“I am thrilled to have the chance to coach at Waldron” said Bryan. “Growing up in the area I have seen this program since childhood and know the pride that comes with it. The community of Waldron stands behind their team and I’m excited to be a part of that.“
After the Lady Bulldogs toughed out a couple of rough seasons, Waldron was on the lookout for someone who knows what it’s like to lay a foundation of success. Bryan fits the description of what Waldron was looking for to a T because a foundation is exactly what he laid at Mansfield. Bryan recorded an overall record of 32-45 with the SR Girls and 49-17 coaching the JR Girls teams. The JR Lady Tigers won back-to-back Conference and District titles under Bryans’s leadership in his three-year tenure as their head coach. Although his SR High record is less impressive, Bryan was able to rebuild the program from scratch, and in only his third season with the SR Lady Tigers, Bryan led Mansfield to become the runner-up in conference and districts, finished third at regionals, and advanced to the Elite 8 in the State Tournament. He also helped multiple players rake in All-Conference, All-Districts, All-Regionals, and All-State awards along with a couple of players getting college scholarships to boot that year.
If winning games was all Waldron was looking for, they could probably have drawn up a long list of candidates to sort through. But the Waldron powers that be craved more than just wins for their Lady Bulldogs, they wanted an “IT” factor. Waldron got the same proof of this “IT” factor in the same place they found proof of Bryan’s foundation-building abilities, in Mansfield. Bryan’s “IT” factor is his never-ending strive to better the lives and future of young athletes on and off the court. Remnants of Bryan’s influence still lingers in multiple players in the Mansfield program as well as those who have graduated and moved on. His influence went deeper than just coaching the game of basketball. Players of course learned the game of basketball, but Bryan was also there for mentorship, spiritual wellbeing, and a father-like presence to the youth he found himself around.
When asked about how he felt when he found out he got the job, a humble Coach Bryan said “First I would like to give thanks and praise to God for this opportunity. He has opened many doors and allowed me to meet some great people in getting here. Secondly I would like to thank the Waldron school administrators and board members for choosing me to be the next girls basketball coach. Finally I’d like to thank my wife Desiree who has supported me in my coaching career. I invite any female athlete that wishes to put on the orange and black uniform to come out and join. Together we will work hard to bring glory to God, ourselves, and to every Bulldog fan out there. GO DOGS!“
A new chapter in Waldron Lady Bulldogs basketball has been started and it’s something the Bulldogs faithful can be excited about. If you’ll notice though, there’s another book that the hire of Bryan has ties to. The Waldron versus Mansfield saga. In 2021, Mansfield hired Waldron’s prized basketball coach, Coach Joshua Brown. Now Waldron has hired a Joshua of their own from Mansfield to fight back with. And so, the ever-popular Waldron versus Mansfield saga continues
