Profile: Brian Cosgriff

#2 posting 10.15.2008
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

PROFILE: Brian Cosgriff
Today the profile spotlight falls on Hopkins girls basketball coach Brian Cosgriff. Hopkins won the AAAA titles in 2004 and 2006. Hopkins has won five section titles during the Cosgriff era. Cosgriff coached Miss Basketball 2004 Leslie Knight. The Royals have consistently been a top 10 team during his tenure and that trend will continue this season.

your birthday: March 7th

schooling: Golden Valley High School, Macalester College B.A. Geography and Sociology St. Thomas University, Masters Degree in Physical Education , Mankato State D/APE, St. Scholastica, Masters in Education.

mentor coaches: Kenny Novak Jr, Kenny Novak Sr. Keith Erickson, Larry Weum, Jim Dimmick Jr. Flip Saunders, Jim Harrick Sr.

basketball coaching jobs: 1984 Men's Assistant Macalester College; 1985-1988 Assistant (Sophomore) Boy’s Armstrong High School; 1988-1991 Head Boys Coach Breck High School; 1991-1999 Assistant Boy’s Coach Hopkins High School; 1999-Current Girl’s Head Basketball Coach

Favorite basketball movie: One on One, With Robbie Benson, or Hoosiers, with Jimmy Chitwood

Favorite basketball instructional video/tape: All of the Don Meyer videos...Highly recommend for any coach

Favorite book: They Call Me Coach, by John Wooden

Favorite high school gymnasium: Lindbergh Center at Hopkins

favorite team growing up: 1972-78 Minnesota Gophers Men’s Basketball Teams

Meal before a game: Generally I will go work out, I really don’t want to eat, I get to nervous.

starting five from your high school career:
Abby Greene (2006)
Jillian Schurle (2006)
Leslie Knight (2004)
Annie Isler (2004)
Jordan Barnes (2003)

starting five from your AAU career:
Ellie Queen-Minnetonka
Courtney Boylan-Chaska
Jackie Hiebert-Hopkins
Lauren Young-Edina
Chelsea Lyons -Coon Rapids

favorite opponent: All of the Classic Lake Conference teams. Because our conference is so small everybody knows everybody so well. Each coach has probably scouted every team at least three times before we get to play each other.

coach you would like to avoid playing: Steve Reiter of Blaine, I consider him the best girls coach in the state

trend you like in high school basketball: I like having three officials for every game.

trend that needs fixing in basketball: What is this “Impede and Displace” stuff. Every fall at the rules interpretations meeting I hear how the game has gotten to physical and we are really going to make an effort to clean it up. It starts off being called really close, and by the holidays, its back to the same.

most memorable game you coached. 2004, and 2006 State Championship games.

most painful loss: 2005 Overtime loss in the state Championship to Bloomington Kennedy

If you could go to a college to assist which one: Minnesota Gophers Women’s Under Pam Borton or UCLA Men’s, or Pepperdine Men’s or Women’s

favorite athlete in another sport: Rod Carew or Derek Jeter....These guys were Pro’s –Pro’s On and off the field.

favorite coaches: Kenny Novak Jr., Kenny Novak, Sr. Chuck Burmeister, Jim Harrick, Flip Saunders

biggest change in basketball since you started coaching: In girls basketball the talent level has gotten better every year. I am truly impressed at how far the girl’s game has progressed since I started just 10 years ago.

Favorite value in others: I always admire a persons dedication, passion, and honesty, as well as how willing they are to help out other people.

Thanks coach Cosgriff

The Next profile will run next Monday

Next up: tomorrow or when news breaks