From Hartsburg to H-Town: The Rise of Brode Hopkins

Coach Brode Hopkins Promoted to Associate Head Coach at NAU

HOUSTON, TX – North American University has announced the promotion of Coach Brode Hopkins to Associate Head Coach for the men's basketball program. Hopkins joined NAU in the fall of 2023 as an assistant coach and has contributed significantly to the program's development over the past two seasons.

According to Head Coach Bryan Doze, "Coach Brode is an everyday guy. He shows up and brings energy every single day. His passion for helping our players grow on and off the court is why we have been successful the last two years. He's very versatile in basketball and doesn't have a specialty—he is just very detail-oriented when it comes to developing our players." 

During his tenure at NAU, Hopkins assisted in achieving the most NAIA wins in program history and contributed to the team's offensive improvements. He helped maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA across the roster and supported the development team, which finished with a combined 16-4 record over two seasons.

From Hartsburg to Houston

Prior to his arrival at North American University, Hopkins served as a graduate assistant at Minnesota State University for two seasons. During that time, the Mavericks held a .611 win percentage and climbed as high as No. 10 in the national AP poll. Hopkins was involved in the training and development of Malik Willingham, who earned unanimous all-conference honors.

Before his time at Minnesota State, Hopkins coached at Springfield Commonwealth Academy in Massachusetts. In his first season, the program improved from a .185 win percentage to .818 and earned a spot in the National Prep Tournament, finishing the season ranked 11th nationally. Hopkins was named Coach of the Year for his performance that season. He also developed four NCAA Division I players, two NCAA Division II athletes, and one NJCAA signee.

Hopkins earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a minor in Theology from Lincoln Christian University. He was a four-year starter and two-year team captain for the Red Lions basketball program, finishing his collegiate career with over 1,000 points and more than 500 assists.

A native of Hartsburg, Illinois, Hopkins attended Hartem High School.

Hopkins has received recognition for his work in both athletic and community development. He was awarded a Player Development Award during his time at Minnesota State and received a Community Service Award for his work with youth basketball camps and mentorship initiatives.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Hopkins serves as an ambassador for the NAIA Champions of Character program, supporting character education and leadership development within the athletics department.