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Brandon Roy, a Garfield High alumnus and former NBA All-Star, will resume his role as the Bulldogs’ head boys basketball coach after sitting out last season while a state review examined recruiting-related complaints. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association found no rule violations, clearing the way for his reappointment — a development that matters for Garfield’s program stability and for Seattle’s high school hoops scene.
Cleared by the state review
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Roy missed the 2025–26 season after Garfield and Seattle Public Schools referred allegations of improper tampering to the WIAA. The association completed its investigation and said it uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing.
School officials posted the vacancy this spring. Roy applied and advanced through a detailed hiring process that included school administrators, athletics staff, a current student-athlete and a parent representative. Seattle Public Schools announced his return last month.
At a press conference marking his reinstatement, Roy insisted he never engaged in illicit recruiting and said he had consistently denied the accusations since they arose.
What Roy brings back to Garfield
Roy’s return reconnects Garfield with a coach who helped build one of Washington’s most successful high school programs. He has led the Bulldogs to multiple state titles in earlier stints and is taking over the job for the fourth time.
The appointment immediately affects several practical areas: team morale, offseason recruiting and the daily development of student-athletes. For families and players weighing program options, Roy’s presence signals continuity.
- 2025–26: Roy did not coach while the WIAA reviewed allegations.
- December (prior): Garfield and SPS filed the complaint and Roy was formally dismissed pending review.
- Spring: Position was advertised; Roy applied and completed interviews with a committee that included a student and a parent rep.
- Now: The WIAA found no violations and Roy has been rehired as head coach.
A decorated resume, on and off the court
Roy’s playing resume includes an All-American season at the University of Washington, the Pac-10 Player of the Year award in 2006 and selection as the sixth overall pick in that year’s NBA draft. In Portland he was named NBA Rookie of the Year (2007) and became a three-time All-Star before knee injuries shortened his professional career.
His coaching record at the high school level is notable. Roy launched his head-coaching career at Nathan Hale High School in 2016, guiding the program to a 29–0 season and earning national recognition as a high school coach. Since first taking Garfield’s reins in 2017–18, he has returned multiple times and led the Bulldogs to several Class 3A state championships.
Roy’s repeated comebacks reflect both his personal ties to the community and the program’s appetite for his leadership style.
What to watch this season
Expect the early weeks to focus on rebuilding routines and reestablishing coaching systems. Key indicators to follow:
- How returning players respond to Roy’s coaching approach in practice and preseason scrimmages.
- Whether the program attracts transfers or local prospects who see Garfield as a stable option.
- Team performance in nonconference games as a barometer for the first full season back under Roy’s direction.
The district’s decision closes a chapter of uncertainty for Garfield but opens a new one in which the program’s on-court success and the development of its student-athletes will quickly determine how smoothly the transition proceeds.
