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Bryan Bender

@bryanbender

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Head Mens Basketball Coach at Ellsworth CC
Leading intentionally with Passion, humility & Discipline! #PhD

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ECC Career Day 2026 / Speaker- Bryan Bender #publicspeaking #motivation #career

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The journey toward One More keeps us working hard and finding joy in the process!

Passion: Love and appreciate all things and show it!
Humility: Thinking like you’re first while acting like you’re second.
Discipline: Knowing and doing the most important thing, moment by moment.

Winning every moment so the final score takes care of itself! #PhD #OneMore

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Ellsworth Junior College head coach Bryan Bender has built his program around finding ways to do more with less and developing players who fit the standard he’s established.

From recruiting under-the-radar talent and high-character players to building a roster that blends Iowa prospects, players from across the country and international talent, Bender wants Ellsworth to stand out through development, academics and culture. Last season, the program posted the highest GPA among Division II junior colleges and third-highest overall nationally, according to Bender.

“For me, it’s raising the floor. We want guys that the standard is the standard, and we understand our culture.”

That approach has helped Ellsworth win 99 games and reach two Final Fours over the last few years, but Bender believes there’s still another step for the program to take.

“Champions behave like champions before they’re champions.”

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For Ellsworth College head coach Bryan Bender, the identity of his program starts with its values.

“We’ve always been a value-driven program. So our values are what lead us.”

Those values — passion, humility, discipline and academics — PhD — set the standard for how Ellsworth operates in three different areas.

“PhD is the highest level of education a person can get, and we want to do it in three places: court, community, classroom.”

But after reaching the national championship game last season and falling just short, the Panthers have added another message to their culture this year: One More.

“Everything that we’re doing is geared towards getting one more win, or one more rep, or one more night in the gym, one more anything that you possibly can get, myself included.”

For Bender, One More isn’t limited to chasing another win. It’s about finding another opportunity every day to improve and push the program forward.

“That’s kind of our identity and who we are as a program.”

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Year #5 with my guy and we ready to take on the nation!!!! #PhD #ECCHoopSquad

P.S.

A.I. bogus cause I ain’t that big 😂😂😂😂

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Alumni @rohan_dhanoa first look at @ellsworth_mbb

Ellsworth CC was the national JUCO runner up & lost in the national finals.

Super proud of Rohan as he is one of the best players to come out of our program!

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Congrats @ravrandhawa35 🏁

Real development takes time & comes with a lot of highs & lows. & rav keeps going even when the outside world counts him out, the community hates, he has stayed focused on his deepest passions. You can call it dedication, persistence & determination, etc BUT that is something that will go beyond basketball & habits he will take with him after playing

Also being Punjabi in this sport means walking a path very few before you have walked. There’s no real blueprint, no long list of names to look up to, no guarantee anyone’s going to give you the benefit of the doubt. You have to be undeniable just to get a fair look.

FAR FROM DONE. 🏁🏁

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Congratulations to BC Hoops Standout @ravrandhawa35 on his recent Division 1 commitment to @hupirates_mbb

You can count on one hand the number of East Indian guards 6’3 and under who’ve played D1 basketball in the 🌍 That’s not a talent gap. That’s a door that’s barely been opened

We couldn’t be more proud ✅

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Congrats to @jakob.wolker on his recent commitment to @lincolnprepmbb A new chapter begins for this 6'9" talented young, nationally recognized 🇨🇦 baller. When preparation meets opportunity... special things can happen. Get used to hearing his name this year. The BIG DOG can score from all 3 levels. Congrats man... go get 'em.
Science and stats over wasted reps!!
Get Coached Up!!
#basketball #basketballtraining #basketballneverstops #ballislife #basketball🏀

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A huge shoutout to @antoinepusey out of BCPrep 🏀 in Brampton for his commitment to the Robert Morris basketball program. You can't measure heart and desire by height but if you could...Antoine stands as tall as any baller out of the YYZ area and beyond. He has developed himself into the 90/40 shooter conversation through his commitment and dedication over his high school years with his hard work at mastering his craft of shooting.
Just getting started. Dream big Antoine. Congrats to you and your family. Happy for you... proud of you.
Coach Babs
Science and stats over wasted reps.
Get COACHED UP!!!
#basketball #basketballtraining #basketballneverstops #ballislife #basketball🏀

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They say to leave things better than you found them…

I sure hope that I did. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Ellsworth.

#PhD

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Congratulations to BC Hoops family / alumni @rohan_dhanoa on his commitment to JUCO National Runner Up @ellsworth_mbb

He is going to a program that just finished second in the country & one of the most established juco programs for sending kids to 4 year programs. This is huge for our program & we are super excited for Rohan.

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