WINONA, Minn. — Every family has something they share with each other, that brings them closer together. Call it a bond, if you will. For Todd and Kevin Landrum, that bond is basketball.
Basketball, however, is more than a bond.
It's their job.
The Landrums are wrapping up their second year coaching the Saint Mary's University men's basketball team, with Todd as the head coach and Kevin as an assistant.
"It's really a unique experience being able to share this time together, and it's great to be around the whole family," Todd Landrum said.
"I get to see my grandkids, and my wife comes to all the games. We know it won't last forever, and we really appreciate what is going on."
It has helped that the SMU men have taken a step forward this year. It hasn't been a giant step in terms of record: The Cardinals are 9-15 after going 7-18 a year ago, but eight of their losses were by eight points or fewer, including three by three points or less.
However, SMU has been competitive in nearly every game and can reach double-digit wins if it wins at Augsburg in tonight's season finale.
The Landrums' basketball story began well before they joined forces with the Cardinals. For as long as both Todd and Kevin can remember, basketball has been a huge part of their lives.
Wherever Todd was coaching, Kevin would be there. Whether it was as a ballboy for an Ohio State team that advanced to the NIT or riding 15-passenger vans to games in West Virginia when Todd coached at the University of Charleston, Kevin was right there with his father, soaking it all in.
"When I was coaching at the University of Charleston, we used to host high school playoff games," Todd said. "When there was nobody on the court, Kevin would go out and shoot in between games or at halftime. And when he would make a shot all the students would cheer.
Kevin followed his father to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and played for him for three seasons.
Now, they are reunited once again with a common goal: rebuilding a Cardinals program that went 2-21 during the 2007-08 season, the year before Todd took over.
Their first recruiting class has been impressive with Chris Palmer, Michael Burfeind and Thomas Sims, and the competitiveness of the program has risen dramatically because of them. With no seniors on the team, the future looks bright.
"I love playing for these guys, and I am very confident with where they are leading the program," SMU junior forward Gary Seifert said. "Switching coaches is tough, and they have worked with us and made it easy."
What has made this season even more special is that Todd was able to be there for Kevin when his son and his wife had a daughter earlier this year.
"I'm not sure how that would have gone over coaching with someone else," Kevin said. "He trusts that I will get my work done even though I'm not sitting in my office eight hours a day."
That freedom has been great for both coaches.
"When I was his age — and he is light years ahead of where I was, by the way — I had someone trust me and give me the same amount of freedom," Todd said.
"And I've found in my time coaching that you get better assistants when you give them some freedom."
That doesn't mean there haven't been some disagreements in practice, meetings or even games.
"There have been some situations where a third party with a cool head has been needed," Todd said. "We can get at each other sometimes."
Kevin admits that he sometimes forgets who is the head coach and who is the assistant.
"After it happens, I usually realize that if I was anywhere else I probably wouldn't take it as far," Kevin said. "But we both know that we're trying to get this team better."
And they get to do it together, a fact they wouldn't trade for anything.
"I love this team, and I love coaching with the guys we got," Todd said. "Kevin is a great young coach, and it really has been a great experience working with him."
