Just when longtime Milwaukee-area high school basketball coach Brian Richert thought he was out, the game pulled him back in.
Richert announced on Facebook on July 29 he will return to coaching at the helm of Watertown High School’s boys program. His announcement said he is eager to bring his “Dawg mentality” to a program coming off a 5-20 season and has not won more than five games in any individual season since 2021-22.
“It’s time to stop the excuses and get them to play tougher than they ever played before,” Richert’s post read in part.
Richert added he is excited to bring his son Brennan with him to Watertown, echoing Brian’s own upbringing in coaching with his father Gary.
“So excited to have my son beside me as we attack this challenge together,” Richert’s post continued.
Watertown district athletic director Justin Crandall said that while the hire is pending school board approval in August, he is excited to add a coach of Richert’s pedigree to the fold.
“We need toughness, we need grit, we need a guy that’s gonna come in and teach us how to work, so that’s kind of why he went to the top of the candidate pool real quick,” Crandall said.
“He preaches defense. He’s talking about keeping ballhandlers out of the middle and just working. … His whole mantra is that ‘Dawg mentality,’ and I’ve watched him coach and seen him from afar. He’s going to bring that undoubtedly.”
Richert had previously announced his retirement after 37 years in coaching in May, the last three of which came at Kettle Moraine. His tenure with the Lasers was highlighted by a 25-4 season in 2023-24 that culminated in a WIAA state tournament appearance. The following season, Richert led KM to 26 consecutive wins before a sectional semifinal loss to Sun Prairie East.
His career has also included stops at Ripon College, St. John’s Northwestern, Waukesha County Technical College and New Berlin West High School. In the midst of his tenure at SJNW from 2003 to 2010, Richert led the Lancers to the program’s first and only WIAA state tournament appearance in 2006.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Kettle Moraine coach Richert announces return to coaching
Reporting by Zac Bellman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Zac Bellman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
