[Stardust]

http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...902260370/

While off coaching high school basketball in Cincinnati in the late 1990s, Jeff Stowers missed his son's momentous playing career at Simon Kenton.

But Stowers has been able to watch Brenden's entire second career at Simon Kenton - and he wants it to end soon.

And that's a good thing.

Brenden Stowers, a former Northern Kentucky University All-America guard, is in his fifth season as an assistant for the Simon Kenton girls' basketball team, of which Jeff is the head coach.

Brenden's fingerprints are all over Simon Kenton's run to the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches' poll championship this season. And the Stowerses are hoping Brenden can parlay this season's success and five years of experience into a college men's or women's assistant coaching job.

"I think he's more than ready for the next step," said Jeff, whose teams plays Walton-Verona in the 32nd District championship game tonight at Williamstown. "Somebody's going to get a gem."

It is becoming apparent around the program that the affable and approachable Brenden might not be around much longer.

Last week, junior guard Sydni Wainscott asked her head coach about Brenden's future.

"Is Brenden going to be coaching us next year?" she asked.

"Syd," Jeff replied, "Brenden's got bigger and better things to go on to."

Jeff is confident in saying that because Brenden essentially has been running the team for four seasons. The Pioneers have gone 49-13 over the past two seasons, including a trip to the state tournament last year.

"He's got free reign to do what he wants, for the most part," said Jeff, who recently was voted the Eighth Region coach of the year. "My job is to manage the team."

Having been coached by his dad since he was 8 years old through his AAU playing days in high school, Brenden said he gained an appreciation for the profession through watching Jeff. Brenden followed his dad's lead by going to NKU, where Jeff played from 1972-76 and Brenden from 1999-2003.

So when Brenden's professional playing opportunities dried up, he turned to his father for a job. That first season (2004-05), Brenden didn't say much. He mostly watched his dad and worked diligently with individual players.

But things changed the following season. Noticing how detail-oriented and well-prepared his son was, Jeff knew it was time to give Brenden more control........