Bryan Bender

Head Mens Basketball Coach at Ellsworth CC—Leading intentionally with passion, humility & discipline (PhD) | 2026 NJCAA DII National Runner-up & 2024 Final Four

[Bryan Bender @BryanBender]

Excited to have @CoachReedy_ join the Panther Family! #PhD #OneMore

https://t.co/ikuJuvBtmB

@HoopDirt @JUCOadvocate @CoachCBlack

[Bryan Bender @BryanBender]

Appreciate Revocruit & @bashjimenez for taking the time to hear our story and give our program a platform.

Grateful for the opportunity to share about our roster, values, and work behind what we’re building at Ellsworth. #PhD #OneMore

[Revocruit JUCO @JC4PT]

NEXT STOP: Ellsworth Community College 📍🏀

Head Coach Bryan Bender joins the JUCO Virtual Tour to break down this year’s Ellsworth group and the names four-year coaches need to know heading into the season.

[Aakash Gupta @aakashgupta]

Minnesota's head coach just launched himself into a mob of his own players at full sprint. P.J. Fleck crowd-surfs after every win, today's was his 100th, and the mania took 15 years to build. It started with the worst thing that can happen to a person.

In February 2011, Fleck's infant son Colt died of a heart condition. Fleck was a 30-year-old receivers coach at the time. He came up with a phrase to get himself out of bed. Row the boat. Your back faces the future, you can't see what's coming, all you control is the oar.

Two years later Western Michigan made him the youngest head coach in the FBS. He went 1-11 his first season and people laughed at the boat stuff. By 2016 the same program went 13-0 and made the Cotton Bowl.

When Minnesota hired him away in 2017, there was a catch. Western Michigan had trademarked "Row the Boat." The school owned the legal rights to the phrase he created for his son. Fleck paid them $50,000 out of his own pocket, structured as a scholarship for a walk-on player, to take the words with him.

Nine years of rowing later, today happened. Minnesota beat #24 Michigan 20-14, took back the Little Brown Jug for the first time since 2014, and beat them at home for the first time in 49 years. 51,012 fans stormed the field.

So yes, the man flies into that pile looking slightly unhinged. He knows better than anyone in that locker room that you don't get to choose which days are the good ones. You just keep rowing until one shows up.

[Revocruit JUCO @JC4PT]

Ellsworth Junior College head coach Bryan Bender has built his program around finding ways to do more with less and developing players who fit the standard he’s established.

From recruiting under-the-radar talent and high-character players to building a roster that blends Iowa prospects, players from across the country and international talent, Bender wants Ellsworth to stand out through development, academics and culture. Last season, the program posted the highest GPA among Division II junior colleges and third-highest overall nationally, according to Bender.

“For me, it’s raising the floor. We want guys that the standard is the standard, and we understand our culture.”

That approach has helped Ellsworth win 99 games and reach two Final Fours over the last few years, but Bender believes there’s still another step for the program to take.

“Champions behave like champions before they’re champions.”

[Bryan Bender @BryanBender]

Big-time opportunity for a high major to add an experienced interior presence late. Excited to see what’s next for Emmanuel!

[Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria]

C Emmanuel Ogbole from Rutgers got a full injunction against the NCAA and is eligible for the 26-27 season, per his agent Sam Permut

[Bryan Bender @BryanBender]

Grateful to be able to speak about our program with @bashjimenez and @JC4PT #PhD #OneMore

[Revocruit JUCO @JC4PT]

For Ellsworth Community College head coach Brian Bender, the identity of his program starts with its values.

“We’ve always been a value-driven program. So our values are what lead us.”

Those values — passion, humility, discipline and academics — PhD — set the standard for how Ellsworth operates in three different areas.

“PhD is the highest level of education a person can get, and we want to do it in three places: court, community, classroom.”

But after reaching the national championship game last season and falling just short, the Panthers have added another message to their culture this year: One More.

“Everything that we’re doing is geared towards getting one more win, or one more rep, or one more night in the gym, one more anything that you possibly can get, myself included.”

For Bender, One More isn’t limited to chasing another win. It’s about finding another opportunity every day to improve and push the program forward.

“That’s kind of our identity and who we are as a program.”

[Bryan Bender @BryanBender]

Ellsworth CC Basketball: Court-Community-Classroom
🏆National Runner-Up
📚Highest team GPA in NJCAA DII
🖊️6 NCAA Division I signees — most all-time from one NJCAA DII program #OneMore #PhD

@JUCOadvocate @JC4PT @JucoRecruiting

[Harp @3SeedTraining]

JUCO 6’3 Guard @rav_randhawa35 has committed to Division 1 program Hampton University in the CAA Conference!

Great pick up for the Pirates 🏴‍☠️

[Bryan Bender @BryanBender]

Time to get to work! #PhD

@Drew_Munley14 @DameDash15_ @HoopDirt @JUCOadvocate

[Ellsworth CC Athletics @AthleticsECC]

Panthers Add Two to Men's Basketball Staff https://t.co/C15NCzlwik

[Bryan Bender @BryanBender]

I have a Nigerian development Big in the US that is 7’3” 265 lbs that needs a DI JUCO or NAIA this fall.

Needs a full ride. Please message for more information.

@JUCOadvocate @DirtySouthJuco @JC4PT

[Ben Tanoff @CoachTanoff]

Have the opportunity to bring in one more staff member late. Join what we're building at Mid-South!

Part-time/stipend +
Hourly rate doing study hall based on highest degree earned

DM with interest/for details/to recommend someone!

@JUCOadvocate @courtvisionmbb @NCAA_HoopsGuru

[Rising Coaches @RisingCoaches]

Every player you coach might only be yours for a year. Henderson State HC @jimmyelgas1 explains why he still goes all-in on relationships anyway. Even when the portal makes it painful to get close. Coach the person, not just the roster spot.

Listen now on the Rising Coaches Podcast

[Bryan Bender @BryanBender]

It's time to officially close the door on the 2025–26 season.

The best season in 55 years of Ellsworth Community College basketball both on the floor and in the classroom.

A journey filled with milestones, unforgettable adventures and opportunities, lifelong relationships, and I'm incredibly grateful for our coaching staff, our players, and all of the families, friends, and supporters who made this year so special.

Thank you for believing in our program and being part of something bigger than basketball.

Now it's time to turn the page...the pursuit of One More begins.

#PhD #OneMore

[HoopDirt.com @HoopDirt]

JOB POSTING: Assistant Men's Basketball Coach - Ellsworth Community College

https://t.co/YS8FvbNUvI

[Bryan Bender @BryanBender]

We are looking for two new assistant coaches to join our staff next season! #PhD

[Bryan Bender @BryanBender]

We are looking for two new assistant coaches to join our staff next season! #PhD

[HoopDirt.com @HoopDirt]

JOB POSTING: Assistant Men's Basketball Coach - Ellsworth Community College

https://t.co/YS8FvbNUvI

[Bryan Bender @BryanBender]

Need a PG??? Rav Randhawa is still available!

[Bryan Bender @BryanBender]

🚨4-Year coaches🚨
Rav Randhawa
6'3" 190 lbs.
Sophomore Guard from Ellsworth CC
2 year Starter on Nationally Rank JUCO
3.97 GPA / Has his A.A.
Elite Leader, can play on or off the ball. Winner!
52 Career Starts - 565 Points / 184 assists with 3.2 A/TO ratio
@rav_randhawa35 @JUCOadvocate @JC4PT @Bchoopscanada @3SeedTraining @JucoRecruiting @themapleminute @sunnysooch @wesblairbrown @DrKrisWatkins @brownballershq @CoachCBlack @JucoAssistance @CoachK_251 @JUCOroundup @JucoGems @swopesathletic1 @UnsignedMidwest

[Coach Guido | Windmills Recruitment @WindmillsGuido]

🚨 College Coaches 🚨

It's almost time! Next week we will host this year's Men's Basketball Showcase in the Netherlands! 🇳🇱

If you or your staff are in Europe around this time, feel free to reach out so we can help accommodate you.

📩 [email protected] / 📞 DM

[Ersin Demir @EDemirNBA]

College Coaches.
Still looking to add a quality player to your roster?

Here are a few to consider:

6'1" - @DonaldWattsIII1
6'3" - @davidpopa2024
6'3" - @rav_randhawa35
6'6" - @Krishen_Atwal
6'6" - @ryanraad2
6'8" - @MatijaO44
6'9" - @JordyNdjomo_
6'11" - @andricmihajlo33

[Harp @3SeedTraining]

D2 Programs looking for a LEAD guard who can be an impact player right away 👇

@rav_randhawa35