A Brownwood High graduate who originally wanted to pursue a coaching career has settled into teaching Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology at his alma mater for 25 years.

Gene Brandstetter, who played baseball and football while at Brownwood High, originally didn’t envision college in his future plans.

“I never thought I’d go to college,” Brandstetter said. “I figured I would work for my dad until he retired then take over the family business. But I wanted to play baseball so bad, so that’s why I went to college. I got a baseball scholarship, went to college, and enjoyed that. I figured out I had to major in something and so I majored in Biology and minored in Physical Education because I thought I might want to coach as well.

“At first I was going to go to the Game Warden Academy because my uncle and both my cousins were game wardens. But then I decided I wanted to pursue my idea to coach baseball and football and teach. I went that route and went to East Texas Baptist and came back and finished at Howard Payne and graduated after my baseball was done. I continued to work for my dad until I graduated Howard Payne.”

Upon completion of college, Brandstetter’s plans again changed to an extent.

“I applied at Brownwood High School but they didn’t have a coaching position open at that time,” Brandstetter said. “I went ahead and took the Biology position that was open. A coaching position didn’t come open for the next two or three years, then I got married and had a farm to run, which is why I didn’t get into coaching football and baseball. I raise White Dorper sheep and Anatolian Shepherds that guard the sheep. I’ve been doing that ever since I graduated.”

Despite veering away from a path in coaching, it was a pair of coaches during his high school days that inspired him to pursue the profession.

“Coach Wilson was my football coach and the one that pulled me aside and took me under his wing to make me a defensive end,” Brandstetter said. “Also, my baseball coach, which was Coach Howeth, was also an amazing coach. Those two put in my mind that I wanted to maybe wanted to coach football and baseball.”

Brandstetter has taught throughout his career in his hometown and couldn’t envision it any other way.

“It is my alma mater, I love it there and my roots are deep here,” Brandstetter said. “I was raised in Brownwood, went to Brownwood High School. My wife was raised in Blanket, went to Blanket High School and now we run that farm out in Blanket. My roots are pretty deep here and I’m here to stay. I could retire in two years, but it’s too early to retire for me. I enjoy the kids, I enjoy what I’m teaching so I plan on going at least another five, six, seven years.”

Regarding the most gratifying aspects of teaching, Brandstetter said, “The kids are fun and I look forward to getting a new group every year just to see what kids I’m going to get and what the personalities are going to be. I love the kids. Just a few weeks ago I ran into one my students at church and she had become a chiropractor. It’s fun to find out when you run into them what they’re doing and what’s going on in their lives now. That’s what I like the most. Seeing the kids after leaving high school, seeing what they’re going to become and running into them and seeing what they’re doing with their lives now. Every once in a while I’ll get an email from a kid in college telling me how glad he is he took my Anatomy class. That makes your day right there.”

He and his wife Courtney, a teacher at Early, have been married for 27 years. The couple has a 19-year-old daughter, Lillie, who graduated from Early, and 15-year-old son Landen will be a sophomore and attend Brownwood High in the fall.