If there was a knock on Oliver Purnell, it was his inability to bring in top ranked recruiting classes. There isn’t a coach out there that can continually win without the right horses. Purnell was a master of finding that diamond in the rough. He could take a kid that no one had heard of and help turn him into an All-Conference player. Still, recruiting is the lifeblood of any program and Brian Gregory is keenly aware of what it takes to get the job done.

“I have an excitement about it. I’m sure there aren’t too many coaches that say they love recruiting. But, I love recruiting for Dayton, for this program and what this program is all about. I love walking a kid through the Arena and showing them the pictures of the first NIT starting five. Those kids will understand that there is a tradition here. You go about it in different ways, but when those kids see that jump ball against UCLA in the 1967 Finals, they understand that there is history here. You cannot hide your enthusiasm from the kids when you are excited about the place you represent.

“In recruiting, you are selling a couple of different things. The thing that is important is that whatever you are selling toward, you need to have some tangible evidence. You can talk about many things that you can fire-up a kid, but they really need some substance behind it. Do we have an unbelievable product to sell here? No doubt about it. Absolutely, positively, no doubt about it. We have to get that out there to high quality, high character kids, guys that can play, guys that can make an impact.”

It can be a tricky business when you have to allow 17-year-old kids determine your ability to be a winner. There is an understanding that you have to have with each individual. He has to understand what you are about as a coach. At the same time, the recruiter must be able to judge the character of both the family and the player. It is certainly not unheard of that an All-State player is dropped from the radar of a school not because of what he does on the court, but how he behaves during an in-home visit.

A certain level of trust must be created between the recruit and the coach. Will he play or won’t he? Will he improve as a player? Will the school be successful? Will he be able to play at the next level after spending time at your university? There is a certain level of salesmanship that must take place with both the player and the parents. But, at the same time, honesty is of the utmost importance.

“I want to bring guys in that are excited about playing for Dayton, about playing for me. It does not always go in that order. I have to sell myself and the assistants do the same very well. I think it is very important to make contact with the parents and make them understand that you have a vision for their son both academically and athletically. They need to know that your program and University have the tools available to make that vision come true. Finally, they need to believe that you and your staff will be there for there son so that they will be successful both in the classroom and on the court. Can we meet all three of those things? Definitely!

“I tell parents that if their son comes to play for Dayton, there will be times when they do not agree with everything that I’m doing, but they will never, ever doubt that the things that I am doing have their son’s best interest in mind. It is important that they trust me on that. If I have not constructed the proper relationship from the very beginning, it will be difficult for them to truly believe that. You have to know the family to be successful.”

To be successful in the college coaching game, you must not only be dedicated, but you must almost be intoxicated with the job. Gregory’s motto is “Be the first one there and the last one to leave.” The only problem is that there is still only 24 hours in a day. You can only give so much to the job without taking time away from something else. This is not lost on the young coach. He understands that coaching is a partnership between the coach, himself, and his family.

“My wife was very excited when she found out that we were coming to Dayton. She had spent a lot of time in Dayton when we were at Northwestern and got to know the people in the area. She was impressed with the University. She met me after I was already coaching. She thinks this (time spent on the job) is normal. She is amazed when she talks to her friends and their husbands are actually at dinner. She’s unbelievable. She is very important in the recruiting process. I want our recruits to understand that my players will spend time at my house. We will have a family atmosphere here. The recruits need to see that right away. The families need to see that. My wife will be a very important part of that. She, too, has a passion for the program.

“The lack of time that I can spend with my family is the hardest part of the job. I am trying to get better at it, but it is what I’ve seen; it is what I am accustomed to. That is why you need to have a wife as good as I have. There is probably a better balance that I have yet to find. I wanted to buy a house that is close enough that I can get home while my daughter is still up and still get back to finish things up. We have a great video system that allows me to download tape to my laptop so I can do a lot of film work at home. You have to be creative.”

If there is one thing that you can say about Brian Gregory, it is that he is a passionate man. He is passionate about his family, his religious beliefs and his profession. He is also a man of his own beliefs. The University of Dayton isn’t just a stepping stone. It is more than that.

“Because this job is now year round and the job changes so much, I think that it is hard for guys to be a head coach for 20+ years. When I do leave, I would like for people to know that this place means a lot to me, that I do not take this opportunity lightly. There have been just four coaches here for the last fifty some years. It is a great honor to be named the head coach here. I am going to do whatever I can possibly do in terms of representing this position to the highest degree. I’m a blue collar type guy. If I can get our guys to play with the emotion and passion that the people that support this program have, then we are going to be fine. We are going to do some great things.

“The University of Dayton has everything that I was looking for. Not just in my first job, but in a head coaching job. It is inevitable that when you come from a school like Michigan State, people think you will take one job and then take another and so forth. That is not what I have ever been about. There are some unique things about this university that are important to me. I like the level of commitment by the administration to take something that is great to something that is even better. The future for this place is exciting for me. I have a strong religious faith and what the University of Dayton is about is important to me. I think you can be very, very successful here. I want to be part of a championship program and I think we can get it done here. I haven’t been here very long, but I would like to be kept here.”

When Oliver Purnell left the University of Dayton after a nine your run, the Flyer Faithful were understanding, yet hurt. It was the first time in the modern era that a coach had left on his own accord. The Dayton fan is a knowledgeable and loyal fan. All he/she wants is a team that plays hard and does it the right way. When a player graduates, he is embraced by the community and will be given every opportunity to succeed.

When a coach leaves, there is concern as to who will follow in his footsteps and how he will guide the young men put in his charge. There should be little concern with Brian Gregory at the helm. He is an honest, hard working, religious man that understands the importance in what he does. He represents Dayton, not just the University, but the city as well. He will perform that task with the greatest of care and make not only his parents proud, but the Flyer Faithful as well.