Seahawks Basketball Coach, Don Bryson
Lamar State College-Port Arthur took a giant step forward on May 28, 2004, when Athletic Director Bill Worsham announced the hiring of Don Bryson as the coach of the college's new intercollegiate men's basketball team.
 Seahawks Basketball Coach, Don Bryson |
"When we put this new program together, we thought about the type of person we wanted as the first coach," Worsham said. "We needed someone with a wide range of coaching experience. We also needed someone with high integrity, knowledge and community awareness, someone who would set the highest standard of excellence for the program. Don Bryson is the personification of that description. We are very lucky he was interested in coming out of retirement to be a part of our program."
Bryson, a retired Port Neches-Groves High School coach and administrator, has a long connection to the Golden Triangle, including playing and coaching for current Lamar University head basketball coach Billy Tubbs.
Bryson, a 6'6" center, played for LU from 1962 to 1965, earning All American honors in his senor year. He still is listed near the top of Lamar's season and career playing records, demonstrating his ability as both an defensive and offensive threat.
In 1964, Bryson led the Southland Conference in total rebounds (281) and rebounding average (11.2 per game). The following year, he won All American honors as he topped the SLC in rebounds (342) and rebounding average (14.9 per game).
That same year Bryson also showed he could be an offensive force, leading the SLC with 533 points and scoring average (23.1 points per game).
Bryson had arguably the greatest two-game performance in Cardinal history, beginning with a 36-point, 24-rebound game on January 14, 1965, against Southern Mississippi. Four nights later, Bryson scored 32 points and snared 22 rebounds against Nicholls State.
After earning a master's degree from McNeese State University, Bryson spent four years as a teacher and a coach at Port Neches Junior High School. He then served a year as head basketball coach at Nederland High School before returning to PN-G for one season as a teacher and head basketball coach.
From 1971 to 1977, Bryson taught physical education and served as an assistant coach under Billy Tubbs at Lamar University.
In 1977, Bryson returned to PN-G High School as a teacher and head basketball coach until 1990, when he was named assistant principal of the school.
In 1997, Bryson took over as principal of Port Neches Middle School, where he worked until his retirement in 2002.
"As a high school coach, Don helped significantly impacted the lives of many players. As a college recruiter, he made a significant contribution to the foundation of a successful basketball program during Billy Tubbs' first tenure as Lamar's coach," Worsham said. "We are confident that Don's impressive reputation will help draw excellent players to Lamar-Port Arthur."