American Leadership Gilbert North reeling over death of baseball coach Brett Brewer

American Leaderhip Gilbert North head baseball coach Brett Brewer, who had stepped down after leading the Eagles to the 3A final last year, died suddenly early Saturday morning.

His wife Nicki posted on Facebook about his death Sunday, stating, in part, "I’m grateful for Brett he was one of my biggest teachers in this life mainly about the atonement, charity, patience."

Brewer, 48, was one of the greatest athletes ever to come out of the White Mountains in the early 1990s, starring in football and baseball at Snowflake High School. He led ALA GN's baseball program the past three years.

Brewer's last game as coach was 2-1 loss to Northwest Chrsitian last May in the 3A baseball final. He handed the job over to David Webster, whose son is married to Brewer's daughter.

After Brewer collapsed in his home in the early morning hours Saturday, his daughter shortly after that went into labor. Twenty-four hours later she had a baby boy and named him Braxton Brett Webster, David Webster said.

"I think his death caused her to go into labor," David Webster said. "We think that Brett got up there and said, 'Hey, we're going to need some happiness down there,' and he sent his grandson down. That's what we think."

ALA Gilbert North Athletic Director Randy Ricedorff said that Brewer was always performing acts of kindness. He said that Brewer was known as maybe the best athlete to ever come out of the White Mountains.

"When I was coaching (Show Low football) up there, this Brett Brewer was a legend," Ricedorff said. "He had a full ride to ASU to play football and baseball, then he got drafted (in the 14th round in 1993 by the Atlanta Braves). And went straight to Triple A and he hurt his shoulder."

Brewer didn't teach on campus. He was co-owner of Brewer & Stratton Property Management LLC.

"To everybody he was around, he was so genuine," Ricedorff said. "He was that guy who would stop in and bring a One-Stop Nutrition (protein shake) to you. Just random acts of kindness. If you were ever in need, he was one to help out any way he could. He put a lot of money into our program into our field. He did an awesome job with the culture."

Brewer's son Logan played football and baseball at ALA Gilbert North.

"I got to coach my kids, so it was fun to watch him coach his son and have the experience that I had, just timeless of memories," Ricedorff said. "I know those boys loved him. He was very personable. He'd get to know the guys. We have a lot of young men struggling right now, because of who he was and how genuine he was."

Webster said that Brewer missed some of last season due to a health issue. He said that after the season ended, Brewer told him he was handing the program off to him. But Webster said he was reluctant to take it first with a son who is now an eighth grader at ALA GN and wanting to watch him play. Both coaches had sons who were seniors on last year's team that went 24-7: Logan Brewer and Easton Webster.

But after ALA GN wasn't able to find the right candidate, Webster took it over. He said one reason he decided to take the job was to bring the group up with his eighth-grade son.

"In the end, Randy called two months latrer and said, 'I can't find anyone who can do the job like Brett did and the culture we want to keep,' " Webster said. "So my first call was to Brett. I said, 'Hey, nobody is taking this job.' People wanted it. I said, 'If I'm doing this, you've got to support me.' He said, 'Of course.'

"We're going to have a nice talk (with the players). He was just an all-around great guy."

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ALA Gilbert North reeling over death of baseball coach Brett Brewer