Just weeks ago, alumnus Justin Berry ’11 packed his bags and moved more than 5,500 miles from Texas to his new home in Europe for a job opportunity.
He accepted the role of men’s head coach for the Gold Coast Wallabies, based in Zürich and is already hard at work, preparing for his team’s first game on Sept. 27.
“I’m excited to compete,” Berry said. “It’s a cool thing to see the basketball environment in a new place, try to put your own mark on it and prove yourself to people who’ve never heard of you before.”
Where it began
Berry’s roots trace back to a small town in Texas.
Berry explained, “I grew up in a really small town called Jourdanton, Texas, and then did my last two years of high school at Lytle. On one hand, growing up in that atmosphere was great because you get to enjoy a sense of community and there weren’t a ton of distractions in regard to pursuing a goal. On the other hand, it also drove me to want to go do something different and see what else the world has to offer.”
That desire to see more of the world and grow on and off the court eventually landed him at Newman, where he said he developed lifelong skills.
“At Newman, I learned a lot about working with people and personalities of all different backgrounds — from teammates and coaches, to classmates and instructors.”
Berry arrived at Newman University in 2009 with hopes of finding a new home and finally settling in as a student-athlete.
After graduating from high school in 2007 with a long list of accolades — including two-time district MVP and two-time All-San Antonio Area honouree — he discovered life as a collegiate basketball athlete isn’t always easy. Berry spent most of his freshman and sophomore years on the road away from home, and transferred schools twice before attending Newman.
“At the time, Athletic Director Vic Trilli was really welcoming and made me feel like a big piece of what they were trying to do, so I ended up committing,” Berry recalled. “I’d also spoken to Dr. Cheryl Golden over the phone a few times during my recruitment, which I thought was a cool opportunity to hear about the academic side of things from someone outside the athletic department.”
Berry also enjoyed Newman outside of basketball. He spent time in Old Town, read in corners of the student center, caught lectures on campus and played plenty of “Call of Duty” with teammates.
Berry graduated summa cum laude in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in international studies.
A European tour
Following graduation, Berry embarked on a professional playing career that spanned eight years across five countries — the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Iceland and Sweden.
His journey wasn’t without its setbacks. He recalled that the hardest times were “waiting on contracts during off seasons and an Achilles tendon tear while playing in Spain.”
Berry said, “Luckily, I was able to rehab and play three more seasons, but coming back from something like that will test you mentally.”
In 2021, Berry launched Get Recruited, an international scouting platform that has already helped place more than 65 international players in U.S. colleges.
Last season, he guided a Danish second-league team to the championship and gained promotion to the top division.
“The club ended up having some financial issues, so it was time to move on to the next thing,” he explained. “An agent I’ve known for a long time asked if I’d be interested in coaching in Switzerland. I figured it would be a cool new experience in a place I hadn’t been yet, so here I am.”
Lifelong lessons
Looking back, Berry believes these experiences shaped his career and his outlook.
When asked what advice he would share with current student-athletes, he said, “Make sure your level of work ethic reflects your goal, be bold, and commit to the idea of an uncommon lifestyle. It doesn’t always have the comfort and predictability of most other career paths, but the chance to make it doing something you love is worth any of the uncertainty and stress that can come at the beginning of that journey.”
He still stays in touch with many of his former teammates.
“Those are relationships that really do last, regardless of time, distance or circumstance,” he said. “When you work, live, struggle and succeed alongside people, there’s a bond that’s hard to duplicate in any other setting.”
Excitement ahead
As he builds his network in Switzerland, Berry carries confidence from his journey and the lessons learned both in college and Europe.
“Because I’m not so far removed from my professional playing career, I can connect well with my players and understand a lot of what their experience entails,” he said.
Berry encourages students to “enjoy every minute” of their college experience for its once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
“Figure out what your passion outside of playing might be. Meet people from outside your team, experience as much as you can, and on the sports side, don’t leave any room for regret when it comes to what kind of effort you put in.”
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