Matt Brase
Matt Brase | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 15, 1982 United States |
| Occupation | Basketball coach |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Known for | Assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers, head coach of Haiti men's national basketball team |
Matt Brase (born June 15, 1982) is an American basketball coach who currently serves as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and also holds the position of head coach for the Haiti men's national basketball team.
Playing career
Brase competed collegiately at the University of Arizona, where he played a key role in guiding the team to the Elite Eight round of the 2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. During his tenure from 2003 to 2005, he was under the mentorship of his grandfather, the esteemed coach Lute Olson.
College coaching career
Following his graduation, Brase took on multiple responsibilities within the Arizona Wildcats basketball organization. He was elevated to assistant coach in 2009 and contributed to the squad’s progression to the Sweet 16. Between 2009 and 2011, he worked as an assistant coach at Grand Canyon University while simultaneously earning a master's degree in business administration with a concentration in leadership.
Professional coaching career
In 2011, Brase joined the Houston Rockets where his duties included player personnel management and scouting across collegiate, international, and NBA levels. He was an assistant coach for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers during the 2012–2013 season. By 2013, Brase had become the Rockets’ Director of Operations and was appointed head coach of the Vipers in 2015. Returning as an assistant coach for Houston in 2018, he led the Vipers to secure the NBA D-League Western Conference championship.
On July 6, 2022, Brase accepted the head coaching role at Pallacanestro Varese, competing in Italy's top-tier league, Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He then joined the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant coach on September 5, 2023, reuniting professionally with former Vipers head coach Nick Nurse.
Personal life
Brase’s father, Jon, is a dentist and previously played baseball at Iowa. His sister competed in women's basketball at the University of Arizona before moving into coaching roles at Loyola Marymount and with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. His mother, Jody—who is Lute Olson’s daughter—serves as Principal at Catalina Foothills High School.