BATAVIA — The Daily News received an exclusive report on Wednesday night revealing that Brennan Briggs has stepped down as Batavia High School varsity football coach. The DN sports staff has since confirmed that report while obtaining additional information as to why Briggs decided to walk away from a program that he helped resurrect from an afterthought within Class B to now, a two-time defending sectional championship program. And one that has finished as a champion six times under Briggs’ leadership, which is more than half of his seasons at the helm.
In an exclusive conversation with TDN sports staff, Briggs explained his reasoning for stepping down, which included familial and health concerns, and expressed his gratefulness for the immense support he’s received from many individuals and groups over the years.
“It’s been an unbelievable journey, but it’s time for me to focus on the things I lost sight of over the years — being a good husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend,” said Briggs. “I’ve been caught up in the ‘process’ for so long, and it is affecting the people who I love the most. In this position, as a varsity coach, if you’re doing it right, the hours are endless, late nights are a regular, and stress is the norm. Everyone talks about balance — balance has never been a strength of mine. I’m all in, or I’m out. Balance is great, but when you want to be on top, there’s no such thing as balance, and that’s part of why I need to step down.”
Briggs also cited concern for his long-term health as another factor that weighed into his decision.
“My family needs me to be all in with them for the long haul,” he said. “Unfortunately, with my family health history, I believe if I continue down this path, I won’t be around for the ones who need me the most when they need me the most.”
Briggs did not elaborate on his family’s health history.
“He would expect us to put in a lot of work, and with most coaches, they would talk the talk but not walk the walk,” said Butch Ray, a 2017 alumnus who played on each of Briggs’ first three championship teams. “He would put in just as much work, or more, than us. With watching film, being here early, even when it was the offseason. He just lived and breathed football. That’s all he did, and I think that’s what made us buy in.”
Although many have commended the diligence exhibited by Briggs over the years, it has taken a toll on not only his physical and mental health but also those he cares about most. The now-former Blue Devils head coach specifically mentioned his wife, Justine, as someone who has made immense sacrifices over the years while he has pursued his aspirations of coaching greatness.
“Putting up with the long hours, the bad moods, the hours upon hours of film I watched during any free moment I had,” said Briggs of how his coaching pursuits impacted life at home. “I’m so thankful for her for bearing the weight of my stress. Thankful for her keeping our two boys, Jackson (6) and Troy (4), fed in the fall, doubling up on bedtime duty and getting our boys dressed for hockey when daddy couldn’t be there. Justine has been by my side through the good, the bad, the big wins, and the losses, and it hasn’t gone unappreciated.”
Briggs also expressed his thanks to his mother and father, Sharon and Jim, who he says have inspired him since he decided he fell in love with football as a young boy.
“My father is my inspiration and provides daily guidance. I learned so much about coaching from him, and I continue to learn from him every day,” said Briggs. “I’m thankful I had the opportunity to coach alongside a Section V and BHS Hall of Famer, and share a line of communication with him on the headsets over the years. It truly meant the world to me.
“And my Mother, who brought motherly love to the program. Whether it was bringing donuts and cider to our players every Saturday morning for 11 years, washing muddy, bloody, sweaty uniforms in her own bathtub after games just to get the stains out, or bringing bowls of Halloween candy to the locker room for the players to have after practices on the week of Halloween. She was always there to make things special.”
Along with those closest to him, Briggs explained how the players he’s coached have made quite the significant impact on him, perhaps more so than any impact a coach could make on a player.
“I have coached so many fine young men and one woman, and I truly believe I learned more from them than they could ever learn from me,” said Briggs. “It was so enjoyable to watch the growth of kids from their seventh-grade year through their senior year. We truly have special athletes in Batavia. I’m forever grateful for the dedication and commitment our young athletes gave to the program, and I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned from them.”
As he gets set to head off into the sunset and enjoy time with his family, a slight sense of guilt remains within Briggs’ psyche.
“I’m sorry I won’t be seeing the underclassmen’s career’s through as their head coach, but the program is in great shape,” said Briggs, whose JV team finished undefeated this season, its third straight unbeaten campaign. “I feel as though I am letting some people down, and that hurts. But I know that, in my heart, this is the right decision for my family and my health. The program will continue to succeed, as my tenure was simply a small chapter of the longstanding proud tradition of Batavia football.”
While his modesty is to be commended, the end of Briggs’ statement can be debated.
Before the 2004 BHS alumnus took the reins as the Blue Devils varsity football coach to begin the 2012 season, Batavia had endured years of futility, failing to achieve a winning season the previous nine seasons prior to Briggs’ arrival. Before Briggs became the Blue Devils head coach, the team’s last winning season came in 2003, when Briggs was the team’s starting quarterback as a high school junior.
Upon seizing control of the Blue Devils’ program, things quickly came full circle for Briggs. He struggled to gain traction out of the gate, finishing his first two seasons as head coach with a combined record of 6-10. Then, in Briggs’ third season at the helm, everything changed.
The 2014 season was a magical one for Briggs, his coaching staff, his players and Batavia football fans everywhere, as for the first time since the 1991 season, the Blue Devils finished as sectional champions with a 15-14 win over Livonia in the Class B title game. The likes of Greg Mruczek, Ryan Hogan, Dominick Mogavero and a list of other athletes helped propel Briggs to his first title as head coach.
The ‘14 finals victory ignited a string of three consecutive championship seasons for Batavia, with a 52-20 win over Livonia in the ‘15 title game and a 40-21 win over Hornell in the ‘16 final completing the impressive stretch. Mruczek and company stuck around for championship No. 2, but to complete the title trifecta, Jerry Reinhart and Butch Ray stepped to the forefront as leaders of the Blue Devils’ program, while a young Ray Leach burst onto the scene his sophomore season.
The Blue Devils won their next championship two seasons later, 49-14 over Wayne in ‘18, and proceeded to advance to the state championship game behind the efforts of Leach, who recorded a record-setting campaign while guiding Batavia to the Carrier Dome. The Blue Devils then spent a couple of years away from the mountaintop before reclaiming championship glory to conclude the ‘21 campaign with a 22-14 win over HF-L.
Batavia seized another sectional championship this fall, defeating Monroe, 16-8, in a dramatic Class B final before advancing past Iroquois in the Far West Regional final to advance to the program’s second state semifinal appearance.
While Briggs deserves plenty of credit for the Batavia football program’s resurgence, if you ask him, he believes many others should share in the glory that coincides with the Blue Devils’ rise to prominence over the past decade.
“From the modified coaches to the JV coaches to the varsity coaches, every one of these guys has been the glue who held us together,” said Briggs. “I held the label ‘head coach’ for the last 11 years, but at the end of the day, we are a program. And every coach played an important role in the success we’ve shared over that period. Any head coach worth their salt knows they can’t be successful without fantastic assistant coaches. We set high expectations on this staff and these guys met and exceeded every one of them. They challenged me, supported me, and worked alongside me every step of the way. I’m forever in debt to them for what they gave over these last 11 years. These guys are more than friends to me — they’ve been a second family. No one can ever take away the memories and camaraderie we shared together.”
Briggs accepted the varsity job at Batavia at the ripe age of 26, which is nearly unprecedented for varsity football coaches or any varsity sport. With that said, his advancement to head coach of the Blue Devils program didn’t come out of thin air.
Years after a successful playing career at BHS, Briggs returned to coach modified and JV football during the two seasons before he was eventually hired as head varsity coach. Briggs says that the support of Batavia athletic director Mike Bromley was invaluable for a young coach with fairly minimal coaching experience.
“He was in my corner from day one,” said Briggs of Bromley. “Between answering late night and early morning phone calls, to listening to my requests and complaints. No matter what, he was always there for me. He’s the best athletic director around, and he cares tremendously for our athletic programs, coaches, and the student-athletes in Batavia. I’m very thankful for him and his willingness to take a chance on a kid many years ago.”
Briggs finishes his 11-year varsity coaching career with an 88-25 record, six sectional titles, two state semifinal appearances and a trip to the state championship game. The success he’s experienced has been nearly unprecedented. But rather than claim full credit for his achievements and seemingly infinite accolades, which include a win in this year’s Batavia Daily News Fall Sports Awards Fan Vote for 2022 Football Coach of the Year, among many other Coach of the Year honors from Section V and elsewhere, Briggs shares the glory he’s received with many individuals whose contributions have often flown under the radar, but have been, in his mind, equally as valuable in the program’s success as his pursuits.
“I want to thank the rest of our administrative team, past and present, for working with me through the good and the bad,” he said. “I would also like to thank the teachers, counselors, faculty and staff who worked with me to do what’s best for our student-athletes.
“I want to thank Jay Aquino and the entire Buildings and Grounds crew, who always communicated with me and made sure our playing surfaces and experiences were the best in the area and all of Section V.”
“Thank you to all of the booster parents who helped out throughout the years, especially those who took on the task of the head booster. Your dedication, ability to be the ‘parent communicator,’ and efforts to make every season special were admirable, and they helped me tremendously.
“To the Batavia Football alumni, supporters, community members, and game-night staples such as PA announcer Paul Spiotta, our chain crew, and Matt Holman, our man in the press box. Thank you for all you did for our football team over the years. The support was amazing, from golfing in our golf tournament to showing up to flapjack fundraisers — thank you for the support.”
“Thank you to John Reigle and the Batavia Bulldawgs. Thank you for being the current foundation of our football program. Your hard work and dedication to our youth players are special, and you’ve made these young kids respect and admire the players in our program. After all, tradition starts here. Thanks for working with me and supporting us over the years.
“Thank you to my supporters, my critics, and everyone who challenged me over the last 11 years. I’ve learned a great deal from all of you, and it’s helped teach me how to handle the many situations we face in life.”
As Briggs steps away from a healthy Batavia football program, many will wonder what’s next for the still-youthful coach. For Briggs, who will remain Batavia’s JV ice hockey coach, the answer isn’t as complicated as one may think.
“I look forward to more time with my family and friends,” he said.
As far as the program he leaves behind, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Batavia football.
“The next head coach has not been selected,” said Batavia athletic director Mike Bromley. “We will decide on a process of determining a new head coach in the near future.”
While it remains unclear what Batavia football will look like next fall, Briggs knows where he will be come early September.
“I’ll be rooting for the Devils from the stands,” said the now-former head coach.
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