The Chlebek brothers have both sides of the court covered as they coach the FGCU men's basketball team as assistant coaches. Ryan Chlebek covers one side, while his brother Will Chlebek takes the other, both united by their shared goal of coaching the Eagles.
"Being at separate places, to now we're in the same place doing the same thing. I can't put into words how cool it is," said Will Chlebek.
Ryan Chlebek shared the sentiment, saying, "We get caught up in it a bit. You know just always looking over to each other in the middle of practice or the middle of a drill. Helping each other out in the moment."
The brothers grew up in Naples in a family with a rich coaching heritage. Their grandfather, dad, and uncle all coached college sports.
"Growing up it wasn't necessarily pictures, coloring pictures or anything. It was always playbooks," said Ryan Chlebek.
Will Chlebek began his journey with FGCU as a student manager during head coach Pat Chambers' first year in 2022. He returned last year as an assistant coach, eager to bring his brother Ryan, who was previously at Palm Beach Atlantic University, into the fold.
"I kind of quarterbacked it," said Will Chlebek.
Chambers recalled, "Will you know asked me last year hey do you mind if my brother came to work with us. Or comes around. I'm like yeah sure. And then next thing you know he's around every day."
"I couldn't just be Coach like hire my brother. It was an ultimate trust thing. He trusted me," said Will Chlebek.
Ryan Chlebek added, "Will was like, are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you want to see me everyday? And I was like yeah, let's do it. And it's been awesome ever since."
The brothers are now relishing their time together.
"To be able to see him everyday and just go through the everyday struggles of getting better and just everything, it's awesome," said Will Chlebek.
"We don't take it for granted. That's the biggest thing. Being able to be appreciative and thankful for it in the moment," said Ryan Chlebek.