Bobby Martinez – Sports Writer
NEW HAVEN — Meghan Brown has paved her way through numerous schools and also levels of competition during her coaching career. Brown was a part of numerous coaching staffs before coming to Southern such as Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University, Miami University, Yale University and also managed to be a part of two NCAA tournaments.
“I enjoy basketball,” said Brown, Southern Connecticut’s women’s head coach, “for what the game teaches and what it provides. It teaches life lessons you can learn from athletics and in general.”
Despite her top of the line experience prior to becoming head coach at Southern, Brown said she always takes every possible chance to become a better coach and also learn the game of basketball and also provide her athletes with advice and guidance on and off the court.
“I became really fond of basketball,” said Brown, “ by studying it and learning from coaches because it’s so much discipline and commitments. I enjoyed the leadership that came with athletics and I wanted to help provide and teach people this is a sport but it’s also life. You can have bad days and good days but you still are expected to perform.”
Before her coaching days, Brown was a basketball player at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden Connecticut. During her senior year, Brown and her team captured the Class L Championship and she was also named New Haven Register Area Girls’ Basketball Most Valuable Player.
And then it all went uphill for Brown after finishing high school. Brown Attended St. John College and received her bachelor degree in sports administration in 1996. In 2003 she completed her master’s degree in sports management at Eastern Kentucky University.
Brown said she chose her major because she wanted to be as close as possible to the game she loves and knows so much about and that is basketball despite being unsure of her career choice will be.
“I was interested in remaining in athletics,” said Brown. “ I wasn’t sure at the time what that was.”
During her time at St. Johns, she managed to play all four years and be named captain her senior year. As her first coaching experience, Brown was a volunteer assistant at Southern Connecticut State University. In 1997 she received a full-time position as an assistant coach at Lynn University in Florida.
In 1998 Brown accepted an assistant coaching job at the University of Kentucky in 1999, which was the first time she experienced the NCAA tournament. In 2001, Brown joined the Eastern Kentucky coaching staff as an assistant and also as a recruiting coordinator.
Brown said building a team isn’t as easy as it looks. She said players have to be able to come in and work hard and also accept the role that is given to them if they plan on succeeding.
“There’s a lot of value and character that goes into team building,” said Brown. “Also, you got to understand what it takes to create a team. It’s not just about putting on a uniform and lacing up your shoes. It’s a much larger picture than that.”
During her time as an assistant at Kentucky University, Brown said one of the best experiences she ever had was competing against Pat Summit and the Tennessee Volunteers.
“It was exciting,” said Brown, “because Tennessee is an unbelievable arena to play in. The crowd was very loud. Summit was very good at was she did. She also was a great teacher and she is willing to give herself for other people to grow in coaching. Overall it was amazing.”
A few lessons Brown said she learned from Summit in which she tries to apply day in and out with her coaching, is to help others develop in life and also basketball.
“So many people,” said Brown, “have reached out and helped me. I feel like I have to give so much back to my colleagues and my team. While we compete, we all want success. It can be hard sometimes and when someone can offer advice from a different perspective, it’s helpful.”
Growing up as a kid, Brown never thought of one day becoming a head coach at any level. Brown said becoming a coach wasn’t even thought of.
“I wanted to be a doctor,” said Brown.
With a resume full of numerous coaching jobs, Brown said the best part is working with the student athletes is that they inspire her and motivate her to become a better coach.
“I love my team and student athletes,” said Brown. “They’re hardworking, believers and this year is a very special group. Also, I enjoy what Southern offers to their students and I think the changes that are occurring that are making it much more student friendly and gearing up to student’s needs, I think it’s going to go through a fantastic transformation.”
Despite a rough season last year ending the with a 7-18 record, Brown said her team has worked very hard during the offseason and has been trying to become better players.
“We want to win,” said Brown. “Hopefully that’s why we do what we do. We have been doing morning conditionings, weight training and individual workouts.”
With the season tip off Nov. 9, Brown said this year her team is starting fresh and has one focus and that is winning.
What I have preached to them is to have a strong discipline on offense and defense. On defense, just keep playing the system and the philosophy in which we do. And on offense everyone being on the same page and no one can take breaks offensively.”
