From Africa to Mankato: The Authentic Journey of Coach Brian Sebera

🌍 From escaping genocide as a child to shaping champions at Minnesota State, Brian Sebera’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and intentional leadership. In this heartfelt conversation, Brian opens up about the life journey that led him from Uganda and South Africa to Canada and eventually to coaching in the U.S.

💬 “Authenticity is everything. You don't change who you are to fit into a program—you bring who you are to elevate it.” – Brian Sebera

In this episode, you’ll hear:

✈️ Brian’s childhood journey from East Africa to North America—and how track gave him a sense of belonging

🧠 Why observing basketball coaches helped him grow as a track coach

🎓 How he balanced earning his doctorate while coaching (and sleeping on a friend’s floor)

🏆 The culture of excellence at Minnesota State and why “winning doesn’t mean compromising values”

🔄 A rare inside look at transitioning from athlete to coach on the same team

❤️ His philosophy of leading with care, communication, and clarity

🌟 Whether you're a coach, athlete, or lifelong learner, Brian’s journey is proof that purpose and passion can be your greatest training tools.

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into 300+ episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.

🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode: Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Project episode, which airs every Tuesday through Sunday. Find YOUR voice on the Gill Connections Podcast Network.

📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

Laughter

Related Tags

Videos

Podcasts

Episodes