Brian Brazil receives Excellence in Education Award

Fort Worth, TX

5/7/2008

Brian Brazil ’88 was the 2008 recipient of the Excellence in Education Award given by the TCU College of Education Alumni Association. The 15th annual award program was held in April 2008 at the Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center.

“Winning the award is a tremendous honor and I am truly humbled by it,” said Brazil. “It also makes me be aware of the responsibility that I have to prove myself worthy of such an award. I also know so many others that are so much more worthy of this award. I am extremely grateful for this award.”

Brazil first came to TCU as an undergraduate in education, by the influence of Coach Jim Wacker, a former head coach for the Horned Frog Football team. Brazil is currently the head football coach and athletic coordinator at Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas. For his outstanding achievements, Brazil has been recognized as All-America Football Foundation High School Coach and named district coach five times.

“I fell in love with the university and the city of Fort Worth,” Brazil said. “It was one of the best decision’s I ever made in my life, and a tremendous experience.”

His experience at TCU was full of fond memories that centered on his involvement with sports and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, but his fondest memory is that of the day he met his wife-to-be at a crush party at Frankelburgers. After graduation, Brazil fulfilled his dream of becoming a teacher and high school football coach.

“My primary reason for pursuing teaching as a career is because I truly feel that this is what I have been called to do,” he explained. “I believe I am capable to do other things and could enjoy them, but I do not believe any other profession can give me the joy that working with young people on a daily basis gives.”

Although it can be a challenge at times, the rewards of seeing students want to participate in the classroom greatly outweigh the difficulty, and in those moments Brazil is reassured of his calling to become a teacher.

The influence that he brings to his coaching and teaching career carries into his influence on his children. Although he would be happy to see them follow in his footsteps, just as he did, Brazil wants his children to follow their calling into whatever they believe is right.

His dedication to his students and athletes has proved to pay off, but even with numerous awards and accolades nothing gives him greater joy as an educator than to have a former student come by to visit and he can see that he or she is doing well.

He was the fifteenth individual to receive this prestigious award. Previous recipients of the TCU Excellence in Education Award have been: Dr. M.J. Neeley, Bill Haley, Mary Elmore Williams, Susan Swain Hotard, Taddie Curl Hamilton, Shari Perrin Emmons, Susan N. Smith, Dr. Henry J. Patterson, Ellen Young Swain, Sidney H. Poynter, Dr. Dan Powell, Dr. Cathy Collins Block, Kathy Lott and Dale Young.

Other honorees during the event included: Aubrey Culver - Preservice Educator of the Year Award; Meghan Burk – Senior Scholar; Jennifer Linder Wilson - Graduate & Counseling Victor Frankl Award.