Brynjar Karl Sigurðsson (born 17 September 1973) is an Icelandic businessman, basketball coach and former player. He played several seasons in the Icelandic top-tier Úrvalsdeild karla and was a member of the Icelandic national team. Following his basketball career, he founded the company Sideline Sports which designed coaching software used by the Premier League, NBA and the NFL.[1][2] A controversial figure in Iceland, he has been scrutinized for his coaching methods[3] and fight with the Icelandic Basketball Association to let his junior women's team compete in boys tournaments.[4][5][6][7] In February 2021, the documentary Raise the bar which follows him and his girls teams, premiered in Iceland.[8]
Aþena | |
---|---|
Position | Head coach |
League | 1. deild kvenna |
Personal information | |
Born | Reykjavík, Iceland | 17 September 1973
Nationality | Icelandic |
Listed height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) |
Listed weight | 82 kg (181 lb) |
Career information | |
High school | Assumption High School |
College | UAM (1998–1999) |
Playing career | 1989–2001 2009 |
Position | Forward |
Career history | |
As player: | |
1989–1991 | ÍR |
1992 | Valur |
1992–1993 | Breiðablik |
1993–1994 | Valur |
1994–1995 | ÍA |
1995–1996 | Valur |
1996–1997 | ÍA |
1997–1998 | Valur |
1999–2000 | ÍA |
2000 | Valur |
2001 | ÍA |
2009 | FSu |
As coach: | |
2001 | ÍA |
2005–2009 | FSu |
2021–present | Aþena |
Career Úrvalsdeild karla statistics | |
Points | 2,115 (13.1 ppg) |
Rebounds | 437 (4.0 rpg) |
Games | 162 |
Early life
editBrynjar was born in Breiðholt, Reykjavík in 1973. He started training basketball at the age of 9.[2]
Basketball career
editClub career
editBrynjar spent most of his career with Valur and ÍA. In 1996, he was slated to play for freshly promoted KFÍ during the 1996–97 season[9] but he eventually signed back with ÍA.[10] In January 2001, Brynjar transferred from Valur to ÍA, which by then was playing in the second-tier 1. deild karla.[11] He appeared in four games the rest of the season, averaging 27.3 points per game.[12] The following season, he averaged 32.2 points in five games as a player-coach.[13] He resigned in December the same year due to unpaid salary from the club.[14]
In 2009, Brynjar had a short comeback in with FSu, for whom he was the head coach, when he scored 20 points in a loss against Snæfell.[15]
National team career
editBrynjar played 11 games for the Icelandic national team from 1994 to 1995.[16]
Coaching career
editIn May 2001, Brynjar was hired as a player-coach for ÍA.[17] He resigned in December the same year due to unpaid salary.[14] In 2005, he founded the FSu basketball academy in Selfoss.[18] In 2008, he guided the team to promotion to the top-tier Úrvalsdeild karla after beating Valur in the 1. deild karla promotion playoffs.[19]
In 2021, he became the head coach of 1. deild kvenna club Aþena.[20] In 2024, he guided the team to promotion to the top-tier Úrvalsdeild kvenna for the first time.[21]
Handball career
editIn 2011, Brynjar was selected to Valur's roster for its game against Akureyri in the Icelandic Handball Cup finals despite never having played professional handball before.[22] The game plan was for him to see spot minutes as a defender in the first half but due to Valur playing a man short for an extended amount of time, he eventually did not see any playing time in Valur's 26–24 win.[23]
Executive career
editIn October 2021, Brynjar was announced as the new chairman of Leiknir's basketball department.[24]
References
edit- ^ Sigurður Elvar Þórólfsson (19 November 2007). "LeBron James er leikgreindur á Selfossi". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ a b Pétur Blöndal (19 February 2012). "Þessi stórkostlega þjáning". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). pp. 16–17. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ Einar Þorsteinsson; Róbert Jóhannsson (18 February 2021). "Þarft að vita hvar línan er og byggja upp traust". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ Jakob Bjarnar (18 February 2021). "Brynjar þjálfari hvetur Viðar prófessor til að vinna heimavinnuna". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ Valur Páll Eiríksson (22 May 2019). "Málið litið alvarlegum augum innan KKÍ". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ Henry Birgir Gunnarsson (22 May 2019). "Fréttaskýring: Hvað gerir umdeildasti körfuboltaþjálfari landsins næst?". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ Ágúst Borgþór Sverrisson (14 February 2021). "Kjaftstopp yfir framferði liðsins og þá sérstaklega þjálfarans". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ Kristín Ólafsdóttir (18 February 2021). ""Umdeildasti körfuboltaþjálfari landsins" og stelpurnar hans". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Brynjar Karl til Ísafjarðar". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 11 June 1996. p. 8B. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "Brynjar með ÍA". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). 12 August 1996. p. 21. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "Brynjar Karl til Noregs". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 10 February 2001. p. B1. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "2000-2001 1. deild karla - ÍA" (in Icelandic). Icelandic Basketball Association.
- ^ "2001-2002 1. deild karla - ÍA" (in Icelandic). Icelandic Basketball Association. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Slæmur skellur hjá ÍA". Skessuhorn (in Icelandic). 20 December 2001. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Brynjar Karl tók fram keppnisskóna". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 14 November 2009. p. E3. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "A landslið". kki.is (in Icelandic). Icelandic Basketball Association. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Brynjar í stað Brynjars". Skessuhorn (in Icelandic). 10 May 2001. p. 14. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "FIBA styrkir íslenskan þjálfunarhugbúnað". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 14 February 2006. p. 20. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "FSu í úrvalsdeildina í körfu karl". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 2 April 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ Jóhann Ingi Hafþórsson (5 July 2021). "Fjandsamlegt umhverfi fyrir nýja klúbba". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ^ Jóhann Ingi Hafþórsson (9 May 2024). "Brynjar fer sínar eigin leiðir". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Með körfuboltakappa í hópnum". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 28 February 2011. p. 24. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Brynjar Karl Sigurðsson". Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). 28 February 2011. p. 24. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ Ingvi Þór Sæmundsson (1 October 2021). "Brynjar Karl aftur heim til Leiknis". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 October 2021.