Beaumont native, and former Lamar University standout, Brandon Chappell joined the LU coaching staff on Oct. 7, 2017 and is entering his fourth season with the program.
Chappell helped LU reach the 20-win plateau during his second season, despite the fact Big Red started the year with eight new players. It marked the first 20-win campaign since the 2011-12 season, and it was the third-straight year Big Red had won at least 19 games. In addition to the team’s overall success, guard Nick Garth garnered first-team all-conference honors. It marked the third consecutive season the Cards had a first-team All-Southland selection.
Despite the fact the Cardinals finished three wins shy of the 20-win mark last season, the job turned in by the entire staff may have been one of the most impressive in recent memory. The Cardinals entered 2019-20 with only four returning letterwinners, but despite the youth Big Red made a late run after a slow start to conference play to advance to their four consecutive Southland Conference tournament. The Cardinals recorded an impressive lopsided win over rival McNeese in the opening round of the tournament before it was canceled due to concerns or the COVID pandemic. Even though the remainder of the tournament was canceled, it marked the program’s fourth-straight trip to the postseason which is the longest run of success for the Red and White since the 1996-97 through 1999-2000 seasons (a run that includes Sun Belt and Southland Conference tournaments).
The 2019-20 season began with numerous questions marks and ended with a ton of positive answers. The Cardinals finished the season with five players averaging in double figures, two of the league’s top rebounders, one of the top scoring freshmen in the Southland, one of the of the school’s all-time top three-point shooters and the league’s No. 2 player in terms of assists and steals.
Chappell played a huge role during his first season in helping Tic Price turn the program around. The Cardinals won 19 games in 2017-18 which was the second consecutive season the Red and White hit the 19-win plateau. The Cardinals also returned to the postseason (CollegeInsider.com Tournament) and had three players earn All-Southland Conference honors. Among the All-SLC honorees, Colton Weisbrod earned first-team recognition for a second consecutive year.
Chappell comes to Beaumont from Arkansas-Fort Smith where he spent the year helping build one of the strongest teams in program history. The Lions won the 2017 Heartland Conference regular-season and tournament title to advance to the NCAA Division II tournament. Arkansas-Fort Smith lived up to the preseason hype after entering the year ranked fourth nationally.
The players also reaped the benefits of Chappell’s guidance. He helped produce three Heartland Conference all-tournament selections – including the tournament MVP, two all-conference picks, a first-team All-South Region selection and a 2017 NABC First-Team All-American.
Prior to his time in Fort Smith, Chappell spent two seasons in Flagstaff, Ariz., serving as a graduate assistant and recruiting coordinator at Northern Arizona University. During his time there, the Lumberjacks set a school record for wins and finished second in the 2015 CollegeInsider.com tournament. Chappell helped produce three All-Big Sky players, including the 2015 BSC Defensive Player of the Year.
Chappell made his first stop on the LU campus as a player for head coach Billy Tubbs. A two-time team captain for the Cardinals, Chappell still ranks among the school’s all-time leaders in three-point field goals, three-point field-goal percentage and was among the school’s all-time top 10 in assists when he graduated. A three-year letterwinner for the Cardinals, Chappell averaged 7.0 points, 1.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for the Cardinals, while knocking down 140 three-point field goals in his career.
Chappell graduated from LU with his bachelor’s degree in May 2006. He received his master’s degree in Educational Leadership in May 2016. Chappell came to LU following a standout career at Ozen High School where he guided the Panthers to the 4A state title game.
