Brigitte Rioux
special to Northern Life
The whistle blows as the ball is tossed in the air. 
Brad Hann sits chewing his gum. The intensity of the game
gets the best of him.  He soon rises to his feet and
shouts, "Get in the game. Let's go."
As he begins to pace he crosses his arms, watching the game
playing out in front of him.
For Cambrian's basketball head coach, emotion is just one
aspect of the game.
"I definitely wear my emotions on my sleeve during the game
- whether it's before or after the game, whether it's good or
bad," Hann says.
Back in the game, he reads the clock. There's 18:39 left in
the first half.
A time-out is called. A huddle forms.  Hann crouches in
the middle with his clipboard, dispensing game plays and
encouragement to the boys.
A native of Sudbury, Hann has had lots of experience with
the game.
"I've taken all the best things from either the coaches that
I've played for or the coaches that I assisted with. 
I've had a lot of experience both playing and coaching."
Playing in elementary school, he went on to play in high
school and then at Laurentian University for four years. 
After graduating, Hann became an assistant coach at Queen's
University for the men's team for three years.  He moved
to B.C. to become an assistant coach at the University of
Northern British Columbia for a year.
Moving back to Sudbury, Hann was hired as assistant coach
for the Laurentian team for four years before coaching at
Cambrian.
Going back to the game, Hann punches the air as a basket is
made for his team.  The score is 30-18 in the first.
A rebuilding year with only four veterans and nine newcomers,
this year's team has much to build on, says Hann, as he
acknowledges distinct differences from last year's to this
year's team.
"It's always a building process to get guys to be better.
They know what they're supposed to do (in games and in
practices). Our skill level is higher this year (enabling us to
be) a much more competitive team," he says.
As the second half begins, he continues to pace from the
sidelines while he to chew his gum.
Clapping his hands down with a loud smack, Hann is not
pleased with the play executed by his guys. He continues to
pace.
The score is 59-44 and time is running out.
"It's always a challenge to keep the guys on edge so they're
always trying to improve (their game). We need to improve. We
need momentum," says Hann.
He looks to the scoreboard.  The bench begins chanting
"defence," as the game is tied at 60 points.
"We're not at a level where we're gonna blow teams out by 20
points," says Hann.
"They (the team) have to realize if they don't play as hard
as they can, we'll lose.  But they know that.  We
just gotta keep pushing ... if they do that, then we'll let it
take care of itself ... I just want our guys to play as hard as
possible."
As the game goes on, his eyes continue to dart the playing area
while tying his shoelace. He continues to pace.
With spurts of clapping, Hann lets the team know that he is
pleased with their efforts on the court.
Although there is nothing he would ask of his players that
he could not deliver, he does however want his players to
respect some guidelines.
"The key components I look for in a player is, do they
listen and do they work hard ... with kids like that, you can
teach them and you can make them better players."
Regardless of the All-Canadian basketball player recognition
and winning the TSN best student athlete in Canada award back
in 1995, Hann speaks humbly of his past recognitions.
"I'd rather nobody know of those things...it doesn't really
affect me anymore," he says.
"Sometimes people give those things (awards) too much
respect as opposed to (how) I am as a coach now. I want them
(players) to respect me for what I bring to the practices and
to the games...that is what's more important to me."
As time trickles away on the clock, a time-out is called.
Regardless of awards, playing time or title, Hann wants his
players to know that all of them have the opportunity to be a
leader.
"All of them (players) can be leaders in their own way; it
doesn't just have to be the guys with the 'C' on their chest."
The buzzer sounds and the game is over.  Content with the
day's efforts, Hann heads to the locker room, thinking of the
games to come.
Brigitte Rioux is a journalism student at Cambrian College.
