Story Courtesy: Eric Doennig, Associate AD – Media Relations, Drury University
Drury men’s basketball head coach Chris Foster has announced the addition of Brendon Gooch to the Panthers coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 2026-27 season.
Gooch arrives at Drury after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach on the men’s basketball staff of fellow Great Lakes Valley Conference member Quincy. With the Hawks, he contributed to Quincy’s scouting and game-planning efforts while leading skill development coaching the Hawks’ guards. His work helped QU rank second among all GLVC clubs in assists per game in 2024-25. He also assisted with Quincy’s recruitment and development of several all-conference performers during his tenure.
Prior to his time in Quincy, Gooch spent the 2023-24 campaign as an assistant with another league foe, Illinois Springfield. In his one season with the Prairie Stars, he helped UIS to 18 wins, which ranks as the program’s second-best season total as an NCAA Division II program. He worked with the UIS guards, who combined to post the No. 2 three-point field goal percentage in the nation that year.
“We are excited to add Brendon to our coaching staff,” Foster stated. “I was fortunate to have coached him during his collegiate career, and his work ethic and leadership have always stood out. I’m confident those same qualities will have an immediate impact on our student-athletes and help us elevate our program as we compete for championships at Drury.”
Gooch embarked on a career in coaching following a standout collegiate and professional playing career. He played three seasons at the NCAA Division I level for Southern Illinois (2017-20), before completing his collegiate career at McKendree (2020-22), where he played under Foster during the 2020-21 season. Gooch was a team captain for the Bearcats and earned Second-Team All-GLVC honors in his first season at McKendree.
Gooch also played professionally in Ireland, where he was a member of the Drogheda Wolves Basketball National Team in 2022-23.
“I am grateful and excited for the chance to join this staff,” Gooch said. “Having played for Coach Foster, I’ve seen first-hand the standard and culture he brings to the program every day. It’s special to now be on the coaching side and support that vision and be a part of the great tradition here at Drury.”
A native of Belleville, Ill., Gooch earned his bachelor’s degree from SIU in 2020, before completing an MBA from McKendree.
At Drury, Gooch will join a coaching staff led by Foster, who enters his sixth season at the helm this fall, alongside assistant coach Sam Briscoe, who completed his first year as a full-time assistant at DU this spring.
Drury concluded the 2025-26 season with a 17-14 record as the GLVC Tournament runner-up.
