Deion Branch reveals the most fulfilling part of being interim head coach at Fenway Bowl

Deion Branch wrapped up his time as the Cardinals interim head coach on Saturday as Louisville took down Cincinnati 24-7 in the Fenway Bowl. After the win, the former NFL star shared what the most fulfilling part of acting as interim head coach has been for him.

“The joy from the players, man, that’s the most fulfilling part of the whole experience,” Branch said after his Gatorade bath. “Just seeing the smiles on these guys’ faces each and every day.”

The opportunity to coach the Cards through the bowl game prep also gave Branch the chance to take off his ‘player development cap,’ in exchange for the more hard-nosed ‘coach cap.'”

“Also, just on the opposite end of the spectrum, I came in as player development and now I have to change caps and put on that coach cap,” Branch said. “I have to figure out how to separate myself as a coach and as a player developer, somebody who is like their big brother, their uncle, to now as their coach demanding certain things from these guys.

“I heard a couple grumblings throughout the past two weeks. Heard, “Unc done switched up on us.” You know, I’m the same guy, but my role has changed. I can’t be super easy and super kind, I have to be a little more demanding.”

If the players struggled to deal with Branch as a drill sergeant, it didn’t show in their dominant performance over the Bearcats.

Brohm on Louisville: ‘It’s my home’

Jeff Brohm left Purdue to head back home and coach Louisville, but like new Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield, Brohm sat back and watched the Fenway Bowl between the Cardinals and Bearcats. During the ESPN broadcast, Brohm shared his thoughts on the timing of his move back home.

“Well, just like you said, it’s my home,” Brohm said on the ESPN broadcast. “That’s where I played, it’s where I was born and grew up. Just have a lot of people here that really have given to me over the years. It just felt after six years of coaching at Purdue, a great university with tremendous leadership that we’ve made a lot of progress. We found a way to get to the Big Ten championship game. So I just felt that the timing was right to come back home and try to help this football team here a little bit.”

Brohm was also asked about what Deion Branch brings to the staff at Louisville.

“Deion Branch is a tremendous person who’s achieved a great deal,” Brohm said. “Not only at the University of Louisville, but also the NFL. So he demands and he’s earned a lot of respect that I think the players understand that he’s there for them. He wants to help them achieve their goals. He’s done a great job in this bowl game and getting this team ready to play.

“When your players know that you love them and care about them they’re normally going to do great things for you. So I just think he’s a great addition to this staff. He’s done a tremendous job since he’s been here and I think he’ll continue to do great things.”

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.