Waxahachie, Texas- February 1, 2016- Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) is pleased to announce that Terry Bryan Day will be held on February 27, 2016. Terry Bryan was a SAGU alumnus and men’s basketball coach who passed away on August 19, 2015 after a courageous battle with Huntington’s disease . Bryan will be honored at the men’s basketball game against MACU.
Coach Bryan attended and played basketball for SAGU in 1976-1979. In 1984, he returned to lead the Lions as the men’s basketball head coach. Upon his arrival the men’s basketball team had a win total of 11 games. At the time he left SAGU in 1990, he had 27 wins. In his last two seasons, SAGU won back-to-back championships at the Assemblies of God Basketball Tournament.
Even though SAGU was Bryan’s first coaching job, his wife of 26-years, Olivia Bryan Suckow , says it become his passion, “Basketball became his median for ministry. He wanted to disciple and mentor young people. He felt a strong calling to return to SAGU and coach.”
In 1989-1990, Coach Bryan led his team to a 27-7 record. That year was SAGU’s winningest year on record until 2012-2014 when Coach Donnie Bostwick led his team to a record of 33-5.
While at SAGU, Bryan had a quick impact on his player’s lives. At his funeral, former player Rick Mitchell , spoke of 
how Bryan saved his life. Coach Bryan held such a special spot in Mitchell’s life that Bryan officiated Mitchell’s wedding on the Waxahachie square.
In 1990, Bryan left SAGU to pursue other teaching and coaching opportunities. But he wasn’t done entirely with SAGU. After being diagnosed with Huntington’s disease in 1999 he was left unable to work a full-time job. At that time volleyball coach Hank Moore and men’s basketball coach Scott Vaughn asked Bryan to volunteer with the men’s basketball team.
Coach Moore had first met Coach Bryan when Moore first moved to Waxahachie in 1985. Moore knew Bryan would be a great role model to be around his team and he believes Bryan’s contributions to SAGU have a lasting legacy now, “Terry pastored his teams and made a huge impact on all of their lives. As a coach, it is my desire to love our University and my players as Terry loved his kids. SAGU is a better place today because of his servant’s heart and the contribution he made to SAGU Athletics.”
Bryan volunteered at SAGU from 1999-2005. On game days he sat on the bench and kept stats for the Lions. In January 2005, his Huntington’s disease progressed to the point he was unable to continue and he had to give up his position.
Bryan and his twin brother Larry, who also had Huntington’s disease, spent the final decade of their lives in their home state of Kansas. On August 19, 2015, at age 61, Bryan passed away in Goessel, Kansas.
On February 27, 2016, SAGU will honor Terry Bryan at halftime of the men’s basketball game against MACU. Many of Bryan’s former players will be in attendance as well as his family. The men’s game starts at 5pm.
Upon Bryan’s death, the Terry Bryan Endowed Scholarship was established. Interested parties can contact Irby McKnight.
According to HDSA.org, Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure. HD is known as the quintessential family disease because every child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of carrying the faulty gene. Today, there are approximately 30,000 symptomatic Americans and more than 200,000 at-risk of inheriting the disease.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.
Contact: Natalie Tristan, Sports Information, [email protected]
