Sandy Brondello : Head Coach and Mom
 Sandy Brondello sits with San Antonio's Becky Hammon D. Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty Images |
The current mother of one – we’ll say one and a half - is entering her first season as head coach of the Silver Stars, all while expecting her second child before the first week of June.
In honor of Mother’s Day, WNBA.com chatted with Sandy to discuss what it’s like being a parent and coach in the WNBA.
First off, how is the pregnancy going and how are you feeling?
Sandy Brondello: I feel great. We have a three-year-old son already and the second pregnancy is going as smoothly as the first one did. Some of the girls are asking me if I’m feeling uncomfortable, but I don’t. I’m working out pretty regularly. It’s been a part of my life for so long. I think that helps. Staying active has helped me stay healthy and everything has just been going fine, a smooth pregnancy thus far.
How has working out changed now that you’re pregnant? What kind of exercises are you doing?
SB: I have continued to do the things I’ve done in the past but just not at such a high intensity. Up until a month ago I was still lifting weights, just not as heavy. I probably go more on the elliptical than I do on the treadmill. Running stopped about two months ago. Not that I was running for a long time but it’s a lot of walking uphill on the treadmill, elliptical and also swimming. That’s basically what I’ve been focusing on. I worked out with our training/strength conditioning coach in the offseason and she was really good. She just monitored my program and made it interesting. That was fun. It got me motivated, but like I said it’s a part of my life and I’ve always been active. But now that training camp has started I’m a little bit more tired. I’m standing up all day and I need to get home to my son, but I’m not working out as much now as I did before training camp started.
When are you expecting?
SB: May 31st is the due date, so about three weeks. I’m quite large. It’s like I have a basketball up my shirt. (laughs) But I feel good. I can still walk around. I’m glad I don’t have any complications. Just want to be able to get back on the court and do what I love.
What do you think the biggest challenge will be in trying to balance out your time as a mom and your time as a coach?
SB: Our son’s always traveled with us on every trip we’ve done. Obviously he was done before the season; he was a February baby. So I had a little time to adapt to that. With this being my second baby, at least I know what to expect and what I’m doing really. I’m much more educated the second time than the first time. It’s more of just finding the balance, getting the rest when I can and usually there’s support around me when I need to. My husband and I, we’ve been coaches here for a while. A lot of our work is done from home, so that’s very useful to me.
How long do you think you’ll coach before you give birth?
SB: I’m not allowed to fly anymore until the baby’s born. I’m expecting to miss maybe three regular season games, but that’s obviously depends on how I recover and how I’m doing after surgery and that. But once I have the strength and the baby’s fine, I’ll start to travel again and I’ll travel with someone who will help me out and take care of the baby when I’m on the court.
Only three games?
SB: (laughs) Well, that’s the plan. Unless I go before my due date or a miss I game here or there. So it can be anywhere between three and six games. The less the better for me, but I know that I need to recover, feel comfortable and get my strength back before I get back. In the mean time, Olaf will step into my shoes. It’s not like we don’t have an experienced coach in the background.
You might even have Lisa Leslie or Candace Parker beat on that one, coming back after only three or four games.
SB: (laughs) Well if I was running up and down the court it might be a different case. I just have to stand there and yell instructions, so it’s a little different.
What comes first – being a coach or being a mom?
SB: Being a mom. Without a doubt. I was a professional athlete for a long time. I’ve seen a lot of things throughout my career, but nothing outweighs being a mother and giving birth. Our son, and now we’re having a baby girl – that’s the number one priority. I’m just blessed that I’m able to do two things. I love basketball too, but my priority is to be a mother number one.
So now with both of your kids growing up in a house where mom and dad are basketball coaches, can I assume the kiddies will be packing up in a mini van or something for games every weekend?
SB: (laughs) Yeah, probably. I mean, Brody is very athletic and he loves going to the basketball games so that’s what he’s grown up around. I always find that children, and I learned from my own childhood, they’re very resilient and they get the depth of the surroundings that they’re in. So yeah, the kids will be growing up around a basketball court but like every parent says, we want them to pick the sport they play.
When you came over from Australia in 1998 with the Detroit Shock, what was communication like with your mom back home?
SB: I’ve always been close but it’s not something where I have to talk every day. I’m close with her and obviously I saw her once a week usually. She’s always been there for me throughout my whole career. She offers advice where she can in terms of being a mother.
Is Mom still in Australia or is she stateside now?
SB: No, all my family is in Australia. And my husband’s German so all of his family is in Germany. We’re kind of in the middle, but we have a great support system. San Antonio is such a great place to bring children up and also we work for a great organization. Being a parent is important to me and I’m happy I’m able to travel with my children and that’s not a problem. Dan Hughes is great like that. He’s a real family man. It’s just been a great opportunity for us to be able to work with him.
So after all that international play throughout your playing career, you’re still traveling around the world, huh?
SB: Yeah it doesn’t stop. I was talking to my husband the other day about that. We’re basketball coaches, what else could we possibly do? We both have a passion for the game, we love the game and we love teaching the game. It’s exciting and now we have this opportunity for us to coach. As a coach I just want to get better every single day.
What are your plans for Mother’s Day?
SB: Well, the team gets back on Saturday night so I think it’ll just be time spent with Olaf and Brody and relaxing. We try to do as much things with Brody before the season so it’ll be a family day.
