Brainerd Boys’ Tennis Under New Management with Homegrown Head Coach

Brainerd boys’ tennis is under management this season.

Following Head Coach and Brainerd Warrior Hall of Famer Ellen Fussy’s retirement at the end of last year, the school opted for the homegrown route, hiring 2019 Brainerd High School graduate Garrett Goeden.

But Coach Goeden’s homecoming still hasn’t fully set in.

“I never thought, you know, coming right out of college, 23 years old, that I’d be able to be in this position,” he admitted. “But when I heard that there was an opportunity, I was all about it. And I really try to do my best to put myself in a position to be here.”

And now that he’s back at Brainerd, he’s drawn inspiration from the many coaches he’s had while still instilling his own culture.

“It’s just kind of a mix-match of everything where I have some things that I learn from some people, but I’m also doing things my way because I also have my own beliefs, my philosophies that I really want to instill under the team and the guys,” explained Goeden.

And it’s easy for kids to listen to a man who’s been in their same shoes.

“It means a lot to us. He’s been, he knows exactly how our minds are working through the game,” said Owen Robertson, part of the no. 1 doubles team. “He knows if we’re, like, down and how we’re feeling. And it’s really good because he just knows what we’re doing, how we’re feeling.”

“It’s a lot easier to connect with him and understand him, too, knowing he was doing the same exact thing five years ago,” added teammate Clark Haglin.

The squad has welcomed the Brainerd native back home with open arms, as they have seamlessly adjusted to the changing of the guard. In fact, they hope more change is coming, as they aspire to bring Brainerd boys’ tennis its second Central Lakes Conference championship in the last five years.

“We have a really deep and competitive squad here, so I know the guys are really just pushing each other every single day at practice and fighting for those top spots,” said no. 3 singles player Brady Johnson. “So we should have a good look into our season.”

And with the season still young, the boys are also letting their matches act as the best form of practice.

“You can’t replicate match play, and also we’ve got to figure out what lineup works best for us,” explained no. 1 singles player Matthew Moraghan. “We have a lot of great people, we have to figure out where everyone goes. So, it’s just really about just getting started. And once we get started, I think we’re gonna have a great season.”

Goeden also spent two years as an assistant coach at Bemidji State University and Bemidji High School.