by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Niigaan Binsi, Lead Thunderbird, is Brady Fairbanks’ Ojibwe name.
“I am a Leech Laker from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe,” said Brady. “I am the head Men’s Basketball Coach at the Leech Lake Tribal College, and also the Athletic Director. I reside in Bemidji, MN with my family.”
Brady was one of the stars of the Cass Lake-Bena HS (MN) Panthers basketball program. He was named Minnesota All State Second team in 2007. Brady was the Northland Conference and Section MVP his junior and senior seasons.
Brady Fairbanks was an explosive player on a team with other explosive starters and a few reserves.
Brady was highly recruited out of high school. He attended Bemidji State University his first two years and a few games into his junior season. He transferred to Haskell Indian Nations University and was named an NAIA DII All-American his senior season. Brady scored over 1000 points combined for both schools in three years.
Brady was provided an opportunity to develop a college basketball program. The pieces came together at the right time and he started coaching at Leech Lake Tribal College, Cass Lake, MN. He was named the NIAC Conference Coach of the Year in 2014 when he led the team to the conference championship. He was also named Coach of the Year when the team won the 2018 NIAC Tournament.
“Seeing these young men with no help to better themselves motivated me to show them a different path than what everyone else has done,” said Brady. “When they see a new light, they have a different perspective. I try to install as many Anishinaabe values in them as I can. I also learn and grow from them. They keep me on my toes and always wanting to give them something a lot of us young natives never had.”
“I have always prided myself in my work ethic” said Brady. “I believe if I work as hard as I can and do my best, then whatever happens is supposed to happen. I also believe that preparation and consistent hard work over a long period of time will show how good you can be.“
The Influence Of Mom
“My mother Bonnie Lynn Fairbanks has always been opening my eyes to healing and to stay true to my culture,” said Brady.
“Brady is a pretty amazing LLTC coach going above and beyond any coach I have ever known,” said mom Bonnie. “He puts his heart and soul and a huge amount of time in this job that he created at the college. No basketball program was ever there and he started the program from scratch and it was a huge task. Figuring it all out from budget, practice, fund raising with no money in the program, and trying to make young men feel proud with warm ups and shoes and such. Knowing there are lots of struggles with money with students so he works hard to gather dollars for program.”
“Brady does many things and has a love for the young men that come to LLTC. Wanting them to know they can get an education as well as learn and improve their basketball skills. So he is not just the coach, he spends many hours recruiting players from all over as far as Florida. There are no dorms and he helps them find places to live. He even tried to make connections with local resorts to open their doors for players to have a place close to live because many don’t have cars. He made a connection with BSU so his players could have a place to live and organized a bus transporting them to school. Every day he picks up players and drops them off wherever they are living,” added Bonnie.
“Brady is the bus driver to all the games and is happy to drive his team anywhere,” said Bonnie. “I laughed a couple weeks ago when I called him and he says ‘mom can I call you back? I’m getting all the boys passports because we play in Canada soon,’” added Bonnie.
“Brady has trust and respect from his players and he is a great helper to them with issues that arise. He is also their counselor helping them get back on track, with who they are as native young men,” said Bonnie. “At the beginning of each year he brings his player to the sweat lodge to have them experience cleansing, letting go and gaining new beginnings. Knowing that we all carry a lot and need that spiritual help,” added Bonnie.
“Brady is leading by example,” said Bonnie. “It’s way bigger than the time on court. It’s a tremendous amount of heart and soul put into helping these young men. Being a good male role model, I wanted to share a bigger picture of what he does as Coach Brady.”
The Influence Of Big Brother LeRoy
“My brother LeRoy shows me hard work and persistence. He always is believing in me,” said Brady.
“I played with him in the Derek Brown Memorial tournament after his sophomore season and he really proved himself as a legitimate player,” said big brother LeRoy Fairbanks. “It was a men’s division tourney and the field was a very competitive group of teams. I believe we took second that year, but as we got deeper in the tournament, his motor just kept going, and he didn’t get tired. A lot of people have seen him differently after playing in that tournament. He went on to have a successful high school career and earned an NCAA Division II scholarship.”
“Our conversations of basketball have definitely evolved from 15 years ago to today. A lot of that has to do with how his knowledge of the game of basketball expanded, but also how he approaches coaching the game and coaching the athlete. Understanding how important mental strength, eating right, flexibility, durability, proper rest and just the overall wellbeing of an athlete is. Sharing that knowledge is what he is doing, and passing that along to his players and other area athletes is what’s important. I think I was pretty proud of him as an athlete and all the accolades he received, but I was most proud that he was able to leave his home and community and finish school and earn his degree,” added LeRoy.
“With limited coaching experience he took on the coaching position and starting the Leech Lakers college basketball program at the Leech Lake Tribal College,” said LeRoy. “He helped establish a legitimate community college level basketball team that is often competitive with other regional teams that are larger, and who recruit a larger area. He accepted the offer to start the program with a vision of helping area athletes attain what he was able to, and that was getting to play college ball while getting an education.”
“I’ve seen Brady excel in everything he has put his mind to, and I have no doubt in my mind he will succeed in whatever the future holds for him. I am proud that he has an education, and he is a community leader and a great father and uncle. On all of his teams he has ever played on, no matter which level, he slowly proved his worth and elevated to leadership positions on any team,” added LeRoy.
The 2017 CLB Panthers Are State Runner-ups
“Thank you Coach Dan Ninham for always showing us how to work and learn,” said Brady. “I would never have got to experience basketball at a high level if it wasn’t for the fundamentals you installed in me as young man.”
In 2007, the CLB Panthers were at the pinnacle of a six-year run of being a dominant conference and section team ending up winning 167 of 190 games. The 2007 team ended the season with a 30-2 record with both losses by a basket versus the 2007 Class AAA state champion St. Paul Johnson HS and Ellsworth HS in the 2007 Class A state championship game.
The CLB Panthers six-year run began and ended playing an aggressive and disciplined ‘run and score’ mentality with various levels of pressure scramble defenses. Of the 30 wins in 2007, 18 of the games were over 100 points per game including a then national #2 ranking of eight consecutive games over 100. Oftentimes a high scoring team also has a high defensive average. Contrary to this, the Panthers had a 41-point differential of offense to defense.
The six-year statistic that made things happen was forcing 31 turnovers a game including 18 steals a game. Brady and his teammates thrived in this system. The Panthers hold and held several team and individual state records and rankings from this period. The teams were undefeated in conference and home games for up to five years.
One would think that the style of the CLB Panthers and Haskell Indian Nation’s University Indians would influence Brady to have a ‘green light’ offense and ‘red light’ defense. “I believe it helped me with the speed of the game when I played,” said Brady. “I enjoyed the ‘score 1st mentality’, but we ran too many plays in college, and is a reason I don’t have too many plays for my team. I want them learning how to play what’s in front of them. Understanding how to use screens for read and react. But I always adjust how I coach to the players I have and their talents.”
“I stress confidence on the offensive end,” said Brady. “Taking what is given and always looking to move the ball. We constantly train on the fundamentals of passing, dribbling, shooting, and footwork. When you’re able to have five guys do those things at a high level, then scoring comes easy for our team.”
“Defensively we play as hard as we can and play together as a team. Being in the right spot to help your teammates. Communication is the most important factor. My teams don’t usually have big guys and were not as athletic. But when we play together, we can make up for it with our style of play,” added Brady.
An Opportunity at Haskell Indian Nations University
Chad Kills Crow, former head basketball coach, Haskell Indian Nations University, and current coach at Gracemont HS, OK, said: “Brady was a special player. He transferred to Haskell after about a year of recruiting him. Although he had to sit a year to regain eligibility, he patiently did so. He instantly became the team leader. I saw something special in him that first year: He practiced with intensity and he made everyone better. When I think about Brady Fairbanks the first image I see is his million-dollar smile. He is such a people person and relates to everyone. He has so many gifts and I believe his best coaching has yet to come. He is definitely a natural leader and even a better person with a heart of gold. I’d send my son or daughter to play for him not only because of his skill and knowledge of the game but for his ability to mold young minds into great people.”
“Brady was Haskell’s first All-American basketball player since joining the NAIA. He was easily an NCAA caliber athlete. Brady came to me and bought into my system and led us. I still visit Coach Brady today both as his former coach and friend. He is a wonderful person,” added Coach Chad.
“I went to two different colleges with Brady and he was one of the best teammates I have ever had,” said Zach Eastman, head varsity boy’s basketball coach, Lapwai HS, Idaho. “His work ethic to his craft was incredible to watch and be a part of. He is a natural born leader and he holds his teammates to high standards and expectations. He has so much knowledge of the game I know it will translate into his coaching philosophy. His ability to relate to his players and being a leader will give him a great future with coaching.”
“In a college game at Haskell I played with him and I witnessed him single-handed win us the game. He scored 50 points and guarded their best player. I knew I was playing with one of the best player’s in Indian country,” added Coach Zach.
“Brady is one of the best all-around basketball players I have ever played with,” said Bo Schneider. “He’s a fierce competitor that lets his game do the talking. Brady was my teammate during his senior basketball season at Haskell Indian Nations University in 2011-2012. He was a transfer from Bemidji State University, a Division II program in Bemidji, MN. He led our team that year and put up outstanding numbers all season. He finished as a NAIA All-American Honorable Mention, Runner-Up for MCAC Conference Player of the Year, was awarded MCAC Conference Newcomer of the Year, and was selected to the All-Conference team. I remember playing alongside Brady on his Senior Night in Coffin Sports Complex and witnessing him put up over 40 points in his last home game of the season. And that wasn’t the only time he scored over 40 points during his senior season either. He’s a well-known player anywhere he travels to.”
“Brady has a way with players. He’s able to relate to any player he has been a teammate to or has coached, making him a trustworthy and approachable person. He assisted the Haskell Men’s Basketball program following his senior year and eventually went on to become part of the coaching staff, serving as the student assistant coach for the 2015-2016 season. Between that, Brady returned home and gave his tribe’s college, Leech Lake Tribal College, a jumpstart for their men and women’s basketball programs. He was awarded the Conference Coach of the Year in the school’s inaugural season of 2013-2014, and was awarded the honor again in 2016-2017. He’s led a winning program at LLTC and has continued taking on additional roles, including Athletic Director, all while still coaching the men’s basketball program. Brady’s character and leadership are above reproach. He is held in high-regard among former teammates and coaches, as well as among past and present players that Coach Fairbanks has overseen,” added Bo.
From No Aspiration To Coach To Leading His Team and Program
Brady started coaching in the 2013-14 season at Leech Lake Tribal College and then he took a year leave of absence to finish his degree. He received his BA Degree at Haskell during the 2015-16 season and was also an assistant coach. Brady continued coaching at LLTC for four seasons after returning home: 2016 to the current season. He has never had a losing season at LLTC.
“I honestly had no aspiration to coach at first,” said Brady. “I coached a team in a tournament of guys all 30 years old and over when I was 23. It was fun. Then I coached the first Little Lakers team of 3rd graders who now are in 10th grade except my nephew Dominic who was in 1st grade.”
“LLTC offered me the job to start a women and men’s team, and coach the men’s basketball team,” said Brady. “After seeing my first college team be successful and watching them learn made me feel like I could make a difference for them. Not only on the court but also off the court. I used a lot of my own good or bad past experiences to help them with the situations they were in. Sometimes I felt like I had to go through a lot of bad things in my playing career to teach me the lessons of doing things the right way. And that’s the way I teach my players.”
“A successful coach is developing players in multiple facets of life,” said Brady. “My first job is to make sure they are honest people with a positive lifestyle. Then I want to mold them into the best players that they can be. Giving them the knowledge to fight through adversity on the court and in their life. Use this game as a tool. I want to give them all the knowledge and tools that I have.”
“I’m trying to help the younger generation find a better path for themselves and a different outlook on life,” added Brady.
His Exuberance For The Game Make His Teams Better
“Over my 40+ years of coaching basketball, I have been blessed to coach elite players from traveling middle school teams, to Bemidji State, to the NBA Pro-Am in Salt Lake City,” said Karl Salscheider, former assistant coach of the CLB Panthers during Brady’s seasons. “Almost every player was skilled and worked hard, but very few enjoyed the game like Brady Fairbanks. He had a love of the game that spilled over to everyone else. Brady made his teams better not only by his hard work, skills, anticipation, and decision-making but also by his exuberance for the game. Few teams won more games and wore more smiles than Brady’s.”
Photo Credit: LLTC – Ryan White
