Brian Hegseth is the father of Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense. A longtime educator in Minnesota public schools, he built a 42-year career in education, including coaching basketball at Forest Lake High School and a 27-year tenure (approximately 1992-2019) as retired high school basketball coach and Activities Director at Centennial High School in Circle Pines, where he oversaw athletics, intramurals, clubs, fine arts, and extracurriculars amid the school's growth. In recognition of his contributions, he received the 2018-2019 Pete Veldman Class AA Minnesota Athletic/Activity Administrator of the Year award from the Minnesota Interscholastic Activities Administrators Association shortly before retirement. Hegseth, who turned 70 around August 2024, has been married to Penelope 'Penny' Hegseth (née Haugen) since 1976; they appeared together on Fox & Friends in 2019 sharing family stories and were interviewed in 2025 about their son's appointment. The family home emphasized faith. Hegseth resides in Forest Lake, Minnesota.