St. Cloud Tech graduate Brett Mushatt, Class of 1994, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of Saint John’s University’s Bob Basten Excellence in Leadership Award. A standout athlete during his years at Tech and later an All-American football player at Saint John’s, Mushatt has spent much of his adult life giving back to the same Central Minnesota community where he grew up and now serves as Assistant Police Chief for the City of St. Cloud.

The Bob Basten Excellence in Leadership Award is presented annually to a former Saint John’s football student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, meaningful service to the community and alma mater, integrity and a continued commitment to excellence. Mushatt will formally receive the honor during the Johnnies’ October 3 football game against Bethel at Clemens Stadium.

Long before his career in law enforcement, Mushatt was making a name for himself as a Tiger athlete. He graduated from Tech in 1994 and was an accomplished track athlete as well as a football player. At the 1994 Minnesota Class AA state track and field championships, Mushatt finished third in the 100-meter dash, running an 11.05 in the final. He won the Section 8AA 100-meter title the week before.

Mushatt continued his athletic career at Saint John’s University, where he became a four-year starter at defensive back. He earned All-MIAC honors as both a junior and senior and was named an All-American during the 1996 season. His nine interceptions that year remain tied for third in Saint John’s history, while his 15 career interceptions are also tied for third on the program’s all-time list.

After graduating from Saint John’s in 1998, Mushatt remained deeply connected to Central Minnesota. He first worked in several roles with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota and continues to serve on the organization’s board of directors. In 2002, he began his career with the St. Cloud Police Department. Over the next two decades he advanced through the department, becoming Assistant Police Chief in 2022.

His community involvement extends well beyond his work in public safety. Mushatt has served on the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust Peer Support Advisory Board and has spent many years volunteering as a coach. Saint John’s reports that he coached defensive backs for Sauk Rapids football for 17 seasons and has also coached track and field for the past seven years.

Saint John’s head football coach Gary Fasching pointed to Mushatt’s commitment to service and his work building trust between the community and law enforcement as examples of why he was chosen for the award. The same qualities that helped make Mushatt successful as an athlete — leadership, discipline, teamwork and commitment — have continued to shape his professional and community life.

For fellow Tech alumni, Mushatt’s story is an especially fitting one to celebrate. More than 30 years after representing the Tigers on the field and track, he continues to represent the values of leadership, service and commitment to the St. Cloud community.

Congratulations to Brett Mushatt, Tech Class of 1994, on this well-deserved honor.