Sometimes, the most difficult coaching situations are when expectations are at their highest.
Especially if you are short of time to prepare.
That is where Coach Anthony Brewer found himself in his first year at the helm of the Wayne Generals.
Promoted to the head coaching position in early October after the resignation of Coach Byron Pickens on Sept. 1 – his first varsity coaching role – Brewer did not have much in the way of time to get comfortable in his new role, especially having not served on the staff prior.
With the majority of the roster returning from a defending SAC champion team fresh off its first regional championship in 42 years, the Generals were in win-now mode this past season. That meant Brewer needed to hit the ground running.
He did just that, leading Wayne to a 23-4 record and repeating as SAC champions while winning a second-straight regional crown for the program, just its third in school history.
For his efforts, Coach Brewer has been named the 2023-24 Outside the Huddle Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.
“As an assistant, I was preparing to step into my role on the staff and fortify Coach Pickens’ vision as much as I could,” Brewer said. “But I became the head coach with four weeks until our first practice, my perspective had to change quickly.”
Brewer’s familiarity with several players on the roster helped tremendously. Instead of someone stepping into the role with no previous experience with the program and its personnel, Brewer was taking over a squad of athletes that he knew personally.
“I had already been in the gym with the fellas for years, so I knew they trusted me and I trusted them,” Brewer said. “That foundation helped us overcome losing such a great coach.
The Generals didn’t miss a beat, going undefeated in the SAC for its second league title in as many years. It also captured sectional and regional titles before falling to Fishers 69-61 in the semistate championship game. Fishers went on to win the Class 4A state title.
“The biggest challenge this season was living up to the expectations that we had in place,” Brewer said. “We knew we had championship talent and experience and I did not want the team to come up short because of my mistakes.”
Wayne actually finished with a better record than the prior campaign, going 23-4 overall. Senior Jevon Lewis led the way with over 19 points per game, but a stocked junior class set to return was pivotal.
And of course, the former coach was never too far away.
“Coach Pick was a tremendous resource for me this season,” said Brewer about Pickens, who now resides in Indianapolis with his family. “He offered perspective on so many different issues. With his familiarity, he knew what I was calling for before he would even answer the phone.
“When I felt like I was treading water, he was always there to throw me a safety line.”
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