Pearland roundballers in good hands under Delrick Brown
April 25, 2023
In this day and time, coaches never stay at one school for 28 years, but Buckelew found a home in Pearland and built a successful program that produced 598 wins, most in PHS history, and also gave him 830 career wins.
It didn't take long for a new coach to be selected which certainly met the approval of Buckelew when it was announced that Dawson varsity assistant Delrick Brown would be the next Oiler head coach.
"I am so excited that Delrick was chosen to be the next Pearland basketball coach," Buckelew said. "They couldn't have found a more deserving young man that will continue the tradition we have built here in Pearland."
Brown played basketball under coach Buckelew in high school, led the Oilers to the 1998 Region III championship and the 1998 state basketball tournament his senior season.
After graduating from Pearland in 1998, Brown played at Centenary College in Shreveport. La., before transferring to St. Edward's University in Austin, where he graduated.
"I then got my first coaching job at Pearland Junior High West with Virgil Mikeska," Brown said. "He was actually my junior high coach in seventh and eighth grade."
After spending five years at the junior high level, Brown transitioned to Dawson, coached three years at the junior varsity level before replacing David Koonsen on the Dawson varsity staff when Koonsen took the Angleton head coaching job.
"Yes, I definitely feel like I've come full circle," Brown said. "I feel like Pearland High School is simply where I am meant to be.
"From playing varsity basketball as a freshman and the team not being very good to playing in the state tournament as a senior to having the opportunity to help re-establish Pearland as a contender definitely feels full circle."
Brown appreciates the impact that coach Buckelew had on his career choice and ultimately his coaching philosophy.
"I think the biggest influence that I took from coach Buck was the importance of committing to defense," Brown said. "When he came into Pearland in 1995, he brought a defensive mentality that was unfamiliar to us and it was one of the things that helped make us one of the best teams at the state. "Committing to defense is definitely something I will be bringing back with me to Pearland basketball."
Brown has also had the influence of Dawson head coach Mark Barre who became the head coach when Dawson opened in 2007. Barre was an assistant under Buckelew at Pearland High School before moving to Dawson where he has set his own bar of success with the Eagles basketball fortunes.
Dawson has won or shared the district title the last 11 out of 12 years so Brown has played a strong role in the success of the Eagles basketball program.
"Coach Barre has been a great friend and mentor to me over the past decade and I have been fortunate to learn many things while working alongside him," Brown said. "I think some of the biggest things that I will take from him is his passion and preparation.
"When at Dawson, we took pride in being more prepared than the other team and that is something that will also continue to do. As for passion, I think it's important to provide positive energy for the team to embrace."
Ultimately, Brown hope to make an impact in the lives of his current and future players that he will coach.
The first player he will influence will be his own son, Devan, who played for Dawson this season as a freshman and was named District 23-6A "Newcomer of the Year."
"I just did his paperwork so he will be a Pearland Oiler," Brown said. "He's struggling with it a little bit since he's grown up at Dawson since he was four or five years old."
"It's a big shift for him, but he's excited for me. The same applies for Mark (Barre). He's super happy for me, and it's a tough change for both of us."
Brown is committed to teaching his players life lessons that they will learn through hard work, commitment, and perseverance that they can take beyond basketball to help them be men of character and excellence.
"The best feeling as a coach is when ex-players come back, and you get to see their growth, maturity, and success," Brown said. "Building relationships and feeling you had the privilege of positively impacting young lives is really the best part of the job!"
There is no doubt that the Pearland basketball program is in good hands.
