Braswell Moves Up One Notch

Cal State Long Beach assistant basketball Coach Bob Braswell spent Thursday morning on a jet traveling to Denver where he will attend the NCAA Final Four festivities.

As if he needed a plane.

One year after leaving the high school ranks, Braswell has moved a step closer to fulfilling his goal of becoming a Division I head coach. Braswell, who coached at Cleveland High from 1985-1989 and twice led the team to the City Section 4-A Division final, has been named the No. 1 assistant at Cal State Long Beach.

“I’m pretty pumped up about it,” Braswell said.

Braswell, 28, who spent last season as the No. 2 assistant at Long Beach, was promoted when Coach Joe Harrington accepted a position at Colorado. Seth Greenberg, 33, Harrington’s right-hand man and chief assistant the past three seasons, was named Thursday to replace Harrington.

Braswell assumes Greenberg’s duties as chief recruiter and scouting coordinator.

“It’s exciting. I never would have expected to make the jump from Cleveland to where I am now this fast,” Braswell said by telephone from Denver. “I’ve really learned a lot about basketball over the last year, on and off the court.”

Greenberg said he feels fortunate that he and Braswell will continue to work together.

“I’m elated to have him staying with the program,” Greenberg said. “Especially because he’s such a great teacher.”

Harrington, 44, said he will recruit another staff at Colorado and that he accepted the position with the understanding that Greenberg and Braswell would be allowed to fill his shoes at Long Beach. Harrington said he did not consider bringing the pair with him.

“Staying would be the best thing for (Braswell) professionally,” said Harrington, who also is in Denver. “He needs to remain there and continue to develop as a college coach, because he can definitely become one.”