Tim Brewster wants to eventually be remembered as a national championship and hall of fame coach. The Gopher coach talked to Sports Headliners earlier this week about his goals and determination. Although his first head coaching job has started with a 1-4 record, including 0-2 in the Big Ten Conference, and despite critics who think he’s too positive and enthusiastic in his speech, Brewster said he won’t be modifying his public or private approach.
“I am always going to be me, that is a (glass) half full guy,” Brewster said. “A guy who is unbelievably excited about the opportunity he has. And irregardless of what anybody thinks, I am going to believe every second of every day, that we’re going to make the Gophers special again.”
Brewster, 46, waited a long time to become a head coach on the collegiate or pro levels. Following years of serving the Mack Browns, Marty Schottenheimers and Mike Shanahans, his intensity is in overload mode to prove himself. “I am not interested in going to a bowl game,” Brewster said. “I am interested in winning a national championship. I am not interested in being a football coach. I want to go down as one of the great coaches of all time. That’s my mindset and it always will be.”
The interview focused on why and how Brewster became and remains so optimistic about life. He said his outlook has always been upbeat and he talked about his divorced mother who raised two sons while creating a positive home environment. Despite the divorce, Brewster’s father was part of his life, too, and a role model. Al Brewster, who was on the sidelines last Saturday night watching his son coach against Ohio State, is now 70 years old but works six days a week in a shipping warehouse. “Every time I feel sorry for myself I think about my dad who works 12 hours a day, six days a week,” Brewster said. “And he’s 70 years old and he’s had cancer.”
Brewster was asked about negative thoughts that may go through his mind. “I am always thinking of not the problem but the solution,” he answered. “We all have problems that are presented to us but a lot of people dwell on the problem itself and I don’t. I am immediately thinking about the solution and how to fix it. …When in the face of the storm, in the face of adversity, I think about leadership. I think about (how) everybody is watching me to see how I am going to respond, to see how I am going to act. And they’re going to feed off me and so I always want to handle things the right way. Particularly now in the position I am in.”
For Brewster, happiness is going to work every day. “I love football,” he said. “I loved playing (the) game and then the opportunity to get into coaching. To me, my dream in life was to be a head football coach. Everything I’ve ever done has been wrapped up with my goal and intention of being a head football coach. And then to be the head football coach at a place like the University of Minnesota, such a storied football program, such tremendous tradition and history (six national titles, 18 Big Ten championships). I feel such a responsibility to the state of Minnesota and to all Minnesotans to make this place, make this program, special again. I mean each and every day I am going to drive myself and drive our football team and those around me to make this a special program again. …”