School & Family Magazine Newstand Crowley ISD Winter 2017 | Page 16

A Master-Planned Community from the Mid $200s
• 15 Minutes from Downtown
Ft. Worth
Hear from Coach Brakel and former players-turned-
coaches on the Crowley ISD YouTube Channel.
• Future On-Site Crowley ISD
Elementary School
• Resort-style Swimming Pool
& Children’s Pool
• Covered Outdoor Living
Room with Fireplace
16 CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Winter 2017
S
HO
.
WY
DUNHILL HOMES
20
McPHERSON BLVD.
ChisholmTrailRanch.net
• Hike & Bike Trails
• Neighborhood Playground
and Parks
Homegrown Leaders
DOWNTOWN
FT. WORTH
30
ANTARES HOMES
HISTORYMAKER
HOMES
SANDLIN HOMES
Tommy Brakel has been a coach in Crowley ISD since 1994.
After serving four years as a sub-varsity basketball/football coach
at his alma mater, Crowley High School, he was named head
basketball coach at NCHS when the school opened in 1998 and
never looked back. In that time, he has impacted the lives of
hundreds of student-athletes throughout his career.
“From my very first staff meeting at North Crowley, we wanted
to make sure we created a family-type atmosphere for the players,”
Brakel said. “I’ve always told the guys, ‘As long as I’m here, you’ve
got a place here.”
Most former Panther players come back to North Crowley to
watch the team compete or send Coach Brakel a congratulatory
text following a big win, but three players have taken the offer
even further and currently serve on Brakel’s coaching staff. Larry
Stitle (Class of 2009) and Kameron Price (Class of 2010) donned
the blue and white, while Brian Harston (Class of 1999) played
for Brakel during his days at CHS. Other former players, such as
Brandon Key and Marvin Storey, serve as basketball coaches at
middle schools in Crowley ISD.
“Coach Brakel kept in touch with me over the years and would
always tell me how I was a natural leader and that he could see
me being a teacher and a coach,” said Harston, entering his fourth
year on Brakel’s staff. “That was something I never wanted to be,
but it was a calling that he saw in me early on.”
Making the move from player to coach is usually a transition
that most athletes can take in stride, but joining the coaching staff
of your former coach can add a different perspective.
“My first year, it was pretty weird, truthfully,” Price said.
“Going from being in a jersey and playing on the court to seeing
this side of things is pretty different. Instead of sitting there waiting
for him to coach me, now I’m giving him ideas and working with
the players.”
Brakel enjoys the chemistry of having former players and other
coaches on his staff, but also acknowledges the fact that there’s a
different connection with the coaches he knew as young men.
“To the other coaches, I’m ‘Tommy,’ but I’m ‘Coach Brakel’
to my former players all the time,” Brakel said. “Being able to
coach with the guys that are now back with me has been really
gratifying.”
Brian Harston, CHS Class of 1999
Larry Stitle, NCHS Class of 2008
Kameron Price, NCHS Class of 2010
Winter 2017 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 17