Coach Brian Agler enjoying the climb with Storm

It's 6:12 a.m., and I'm already out of breath.

A simple assignment — shadow Storm coach and director of player personnel Brian Agler for a day — has turned into a physical fitness test. We're marching up Queen Anne Hill, and Agler is playing reporter, asking questions about my family, my profession and my passions. I'm h-h-huffing, answering very slowly be-cause it's h-h-hard to talk when you can't breathe.

Plus, I have on jeans. I didn't know a walk was part of the plan. And those jeans are feeling a little too tight for this mission.

"You OK?" Agler asks, grinning.

"Sh-sh-sure!" I shoot back. "Haven't done this in a while."

We walk from Lower Queen Anne, up the hill, through the neighborhood, past Seattle Pacific University, into Fremont and back. We stop for water and chitchat in Fremont. The journey lasts about 2 ½ hours.

It's a regular routine for Agler, who has done some impressive work in only two seasons with the Storm. On Monday, the team rewarded the defensive whiz with a contract that will keep him here for two more seasons, with an option for a third.

As his team prepares for its playoff opener against Los Angeles on Wednesday, let's take a walk with the coach. Let's see him as more than the taskmaster with the serious disposition and the bags under his eyes. Let's figure out why, despite his ultra-demanding leadership methods, he fits perfectly with the Storm.

"Do you need to stop?" Agler asks, grinning.

No way. Not now.

Nomadic life of a coach

Agler takes this walk for the exercise, but he also uses the time to call his wife, Robin, to check on his family back in Ohio. Or he'll communicate with the WNBA league office in New York if he needs to. It's also his time to gather his thoughts and enjoy himself.

During our hike, he marvels at the Queen Anne homes and talks about parenting, marriage, friendships and the nomadic coaching lifestyle.

As a head coach, Agler began his career by building the Northeast Oklahoma A&M Junior College women's team from scratch. It started a 25-year journey full of startups and major rebuilding projects. He did a remarkable job at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Then Kansas State hired him in 1993, but he was out by 1996. After that, he had a two-championship run with the Columbus Quest of the defunct American Basketball League. In 1999, he came to the WNBA as coach and GM of the expansion Minnesota Lynx.

When the Storm hired Agler last year, it was the first time he'd taken over a team that had a winning infrastructure in place. The only catch was that the franchise had just been purchased by four owners independent of the NBA, and he needed to lead the basketball team through an uncertain time.

He's done that. Agler put together a starting five of legendary talent in his first season, and the Storm won a franchise-best 22 games. This season, he finished 20-14, grinding through injuries. If Agler is ever blessed with a healthier team — or at least a healthy Lauren Jackson — he just might win the franchise's second championship.

"Injuries are a part of the game, but credit goes to Brian for keeping the team's morale up and keeping their focus up and keeping this team performing at a high level," Storm CEO Karen Bryant said. "He's one of the best, in my opinion, at preparing a team."

His detailed preparation became clear during my day with him. It was Aug. 21. The Storm was preparing for a game the next night against Indiana, the best team in the Eastern Conference.

Agler returned from his walk at about 8:50 a.m. and was at the Furtado Center, the team's practice facility, by 10. After a meeting with assistant coaches Nancy Darsch and Shelley Patterson, he studied film of Indiana until practice.

It was a crisp one-hour practice. Over the years, he's learned not to push players too hard late in the season. Besides, on this day, the Storm had several injured and sick players, so he really wanted to save their energy for the game.

He went through everything the Fever would do to attack the Storm and focused heavily on getting his post players to pass out of double teams.

"Posts, you have to see the whole floor!" he exclaimed at one point. "You can't see two-thirds of the floor!"

Only Agler talked during practice. He moved from concept to concept quickly. He made every point in a precise, concise manner, and he even coached the male practice players as if they were preparing for competition.

"That practice flowed well," I told Agler afterward.

"Eh, I thought we were kind of sluggish," he replied.

The next day, the Storm won 74-60.

More mellow now

Over 25 years as a head coach, Agler has mellowed. Storm guard Shannon "Pee Wee" Johnson played for him on those Columbus championship teams and notices a distinct difference.

"He's changed a lot since the first time I met him," Johnson said. "We've always been very good friends. He's always been a great guy and fond of having a family atmosphere on a team. But he's calmed down a lot. When I first got him, he always used to yell at us."

Agler is honest about all his successes and failures. When he couldn't revive Kansas State, he was humbled the most. He wound up resigning in 1996 amid NCAA rules violations.

"It was devastating," Agler said. "When you really put your heart and soul into something and it doesn't work out — outside of your family, that job is your top priority — it's crushing. I'm a much better person and a much better coach after going through that."

Now, he's a nice mix of coaching talent and experience. The players appreciate Agler's ability to push without alienating. He's a demanding coach, but he's also one who seeks his players' input.

And he's learned to adjust his methods to bring out the best in his athletes.

"If he's wrong, we also can go to him and say, 'I feel like you were wrong in this instance,' " said guard Tanisha Wright, who has thrived under Agler. "He can accept responsibility, but at the same time, he pushes us. We feel comfortable going to him."

If they ever need a really good talk, they can always walk Queen Anne Hill with Agler. It's a wonderful experience once you catch your breath and keep pace with a very good coach who continues to evolve.

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com