University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Alumni Profile - Brett Carey
10.29.2010 | Men's Basketball
One of best decisions in Brett Carey's young life was to transfer to UNC Asheville in the fall of 1998. It worked out good for Brett and is still paying dividends to the Bulldog program to this day.
Brett begins his third season as an assistant coach to the Big South's all-time winningest coach in Eddie Biedenbach. He enjoyed an excellent two-year career for the Bulldogs in the 1999-00 and 2000-01 seasons. The Lincolnton native helped lead a young Asheville team to a surprising appearance in the 2000 Big South Conference championship game and followed that up with a solid year the next season where he was voted the team's MVP and named UNC Asheville Male Athlete of the Year.
He began his college career at Western Carolina where he lettered for two years. Things simply didn't work out for Brett there, and he was looking for a place to transfer after the 1997-98 season.
"I wasn't sure what I was going to do after leaving Western Carolina," admitted Carey recently."I knew I wanted to keep playing basketball and get my education. There were some options, including one at Charlotte but UNC Asheville just seemed right."
He's never regretted the decision.
"Coming to Asheville is one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life," declared Carey. "I played for a great coach in Coach Biedenbach, got a great education and proved a lot of doubters wrong by playing here.
"It was a great experience my two years playing at UNC Asheville," added Carey. "I had to work hard but it was a wonderful opportunity that worked out just great."
After graduating in 2001, Brett got a chance to see a different part of the world by playing basketball. He was signed to a professional contract in Langus, Norway. Carey had an enjoyable experience playing in Langus, which is located just 15 minutes from Norway's capital Oslo.
"I really had a neat time playing in Norway," said Carey. "It is a very clean country. Everyone spoke English. There were some differences but not as much as you would think.
"It got a little cold at times," joked Carey about a country not too far from the Arctic Circle. "But the people were real friendly."
It was in Norway where Brett first got involved in coaching.
"As part of my job playing for Langus, I had to coach the Under-17 team," stated Carey. "It was a lot of fun, and I found that I really enjoyed coaching."
When Brett came back to the States, he would decide to become a coach.
"It just seemed kind of natural to me to become a coach," commented Carey. "I loved the game of basketball. I really enjoyed teaching it and it seemed like the logical thing for me to do."
Brett had an interesting first coaching job. He would work as an assistant coach at prep power Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. Oak Hill traditionally gets some of the best high school players in the nation, and they travel the nation taking on the top prep programs. Going back to Oak Hill was a homecoming for Brett who played there his senior season in high school after a stellar career at Lincolnton HS.
"It was a tough decision to transfer to Oak Hill," declared Carey. "I was playing three sports at Lincolnton in basketball, baseball and football. We won the state championship my last year at Lincolnton in baseball and football. But I wanted to play college basketball, and I knew going to Oak Hill would help me accomplish that."
Oak Hill coach Steve Smith quickly hired Brett when he got back from Norway. It was the first of two stints with the Warriors. Brett would also coach with them during the 2007-08 season.
"Coaching at Oak Hill is a different kind of coaching," admitted Carey. "Sometimes the best thing to do is not to coach. You've got guys who are going to play in the NBA and just let them play. But there are times when you have to get them to slow down and give them some guidance."
In between stints at Oak Hill, Brett served as a Volunteer Assistant Coach at South Carolina for Dave Odom. His first year in 2005-06, the Gamecocks won the National Invitational Tournament with a thrilling victory over Michigan in Madison Square Garden.
"South Carolina was an unbelievable experience," said Carey. "I got the opportunity to work for a great coach like Dave Odom who I learned so much from. I got the chance to coach four players who played in the NBA at some point of their career."
The NIT championship still brings a smile to Brett to this day.
"Winning the NIT in Madison Square Garden, the Mecca of college basketball is something I'll never forget," declared Carey. "We stayed at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. That's not something you do every day."
When UNC Asheville had a coaching opportunity open up in 2008, it wasn't hard for Carey to apply.
"I really have so much respect for Coach Biedenbach," said Carey. "He was a great guy to play for and is a wonderful teacher of the game."
Carey has enjoyed working for Biedenbach, as well.
"Coach "B" allows you to coach. He lets you work with the players," commented Carey. "You feel like you can give suggestions and they'll be listened to and considered. That's not the case in a lot of places."
Coach Biedenbach likes having Brett back at UNC Asheville.
"I'm so happy to have Brett Carey back at UNC Asheville," stated Biedenbach. "We were fortunate to get him to transfer here a few years ago and what a great job he did for us while he played for our program.
"He's an excellent assistant coach," added Biedenbach. "Brett worked for two great coaches before coming here in Steve Smith and Dave Odom. Both of them think the world of Brett and rave about his basketball knowledge. We're fortunate to have him back in Asheville."
Note - If you know of a former Bulldog student-athlete who you would like to see profiled, contact Mike Gore at mgore@unca.edu or call 828-251-6923.
