Aug. 19, 2009

Pride of Cincinnati: Brayden Coombs

For RedHawk wide receiver Brayden Coombs (Cincinnati, Ohio), the 2009 season will truly be one to remember. Not only will he be playing out his last season in the Red and White, but he will also be entering graduate school in the fall, while also preparing for a return to his hometown as he readies himself for the RUMBLE at the RIVER delivered by CBTS at Paul Brown Stadium on September 5.

With all this in mind as he looks ahead to the 2009 season, Coombs has set a simple goal for himself: "To consistently be a significant contributor out of the slot position in what I really feel can and should be the best receiving corps in the MAC."

He continues to praise the efforts of his teammates by saying that he is "nothing short of amazed at what some of these guys do on a daily basis."

As for the goals of the team, Coombs insists that he and his teammates have a one-game-at-a-time mentality, and that by staying focused, success will follow.

"Right now, our goal as a team is to beat Kentucky," said Coombs. "Hopefully we will be able to take the momentum from that game and create a snowball effect that ends in a MAC Championship and Bowl Game."

With individual and team goals in mind, the team is hard at work preparing for the upcoming season. Coombs credits new coach Michael Haywood and his staff for getting the team on the right track, both on and off the field.

"While winning games this season is obviously important, Coach Haywood made it clear from day one that his number one priority was to change the culture of our program" said Coombs. "In addition to the changes the staff was able to create throughout our team as students and men off the field, they have also brought a tremendous amount of football knowledge and experience to our program."

As a fifth-year senior that had already completed his undergraduate studies, Coombs was faced with a decision about his future. He could either take the easy road and take a few classes here and there, or challenge himself and enter graduate school. Coombs says the decision quickly became a "no-brainer," and he is now pursuing a Master's degree of Sports Studies with a concentration in Sports Behavior and Performance as he looks ahead to a career in coaching.

For most people, graduate school alone is a challenge, but add football to the mix and Coombs is looking at quite a workload. He remains unconcerned, however, and credits his experiences as an undergrad for preparing him for the next level of academia.

"I am confident that earning an undergraduate degree from the Farmer School of Business, while also playing football, has undoubtedly prepared me for any other academic challenges I may face," he says.

Coombs is a local product who came to Miami from Colerain High School, one of the best high school football programs in the country. While at Colerain, Coombs grew as both a player and a person. He described his time there as "one of the best things that ever happened to me."

He continues, "In addition to growing up on the sidelines of one the best football programs in the state, I was given the opportunity to be surrounded by so many different kinds of people from all different backgrounds. There is no doubt that those experiences made me a more well-rounded and empathetic person, just as being surrounded by so many other great football players made me a better player. My years at Colerain were some of the best of my life and I will always be thankful for the people I met there and the experiences we shared together. It is somewhere that I always look forward to returning to, and I'm always welcomed with open arms."

Coombs will have the opportunity to return to his hometown as the RedHawks prepare to face Kentucky in the RUMBLE at the RIVER delivered by CBTS at Paul Brown Stadium on September 5. Coombs, who has already played in Paul Brown in high school, relishes the opportunity to once again grace the turf of his hometown's pro venue.

"As a college football player looking at your last 12-14 games playing the sport, you are fortunate any time you have the chance to play in an NFL stadium like Paul Brown," Coombs said. "The fact that the game is about 10 minutes from my house and will take place in front of my family, friends, and several other people that I grew up with and in front of, only makes it that much more special.

"I really can't wait."

RedHawk Q & A

What is your most memorable sports moment?

Without a doubt I would have to say the culmination of a remarkable senior season of high school football that ended in a state championship. Not only was the season itself incredible, playing alongside some great fans and unbelievable football players on what I believe was one of the best teams in the country, but the last moments of the State Championship game were ones that I will absolutely never forget. Surrounded by both best friends and incredible family, I was lucky enough to realize every high school boys' dream and to share it with the people I love most. I will always cherish that season and that night in Canton. Plus, it has provided me with endless ammunition for the inevitable arguments we have in the locker room regarding whose high school team was the best.

What are your career plans following graduation?

I spent my first year and a half of college completely unsure of what I wanted to do with my life and changed my mind constantly. At some point, my Grandpop, who is one of the most important people in my life told me to follow my heart and do something that I really enjoy, and that if I spent my career doing something I loved, I would never work a day of my life. Almost immediately after that conversation my uncertainties disappeared and from that point on I was almost obsessed with spending my life coaching football, which actually brought me a tremendous amount of peace. Since then I have been talking to as many people as I can and trying to learn as much as possible about the career. While I am still uncertain exactly where or in what position my career will start, after finishing my Master's I am going to pursue a coaching career in the NFL. I have spent the last year or so developing a database of contacts, including several members of the [Cradle of Coaches], which includes some really awesome people that have been generous enough to help me out. While coaching in the NFL is going to be my career, I have also considered, and not ruled out, playing American football for a club in Europe. I never had the chance to study abroad, and have always wanted to go to Europe. I think it would be fascinating to spend a year or so scraping by on the minimum, just to see the world and meet new people. At this point I still can't decide exactly which route I am going to take. As much as I love everything about being here at Miami, I am absolutely excited to begin the next chapter in my life and see where that takes me.

Favorite Movie?

I am a really big movie guy, so I would never be able to pick just one. However I did spend a lot of my free time this spring watching the entire series of HBO's "The Wire," and that was definitely one of the best and most addicting things I have ever watched.

Favorite Band/Artist?

I listen to a lot of music and you can really find just about any artist imaginable (outside of heavy metal) on my iPod, but if I was forced to choose one all-time favorite I would have to go with the late Bob Marley.

What are some of your other hobbies/activities outside of football?

I like to think that I am a pretty normal guy. I really just like to hang out with my housemates and friends. I like to play basketball and softball, probably a little more than the healthy amount of video games, and go out on the weekends when my football schedule admits it. I also got a puppy two years ago that I am probably a little too attached to, but really provides me with a lot of comfort and stress relief. Life as a college student in Oxford is definitely close to heaven as far as I'm concerned.

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