LIST OF BASKETBALL COURTS NAMED FOR COACHES IN DIVISION I, II, III and NAIA
JERSEY CITY, NJ…New Jersey City University will bestow the ultimate honor on a coaching legend who has represented the University with distinction for nearly 50 years when it dedicates center court at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center to retired men's basketball coaching icon
CHARLIE BROWN on Saturday, November 15. The main playing court will renamed "Charlie Brown Court" when the dedication ceremony is held prior to NJCU's 2008-09 season opener against York College (NY) at 4 p.m.
A two-day celebration of the career of
Brown, a 1965 graduate of the institution (M.A., 1985)who retired in September 2007 after 25 years at the helm of the Gothic Knights, will commence with a special retirement dinner on Friday, November 14 from 6-10 p.m. at Casino-In-The-Park in Jersey City. The cost f
or the dinner is $125 per person, with all proceeds to benefit a "Coach" Charlie Brown Endowed Scholarship Fund for NJCU students.
NJCU will become the first school among the 25 Division I, II and III institutions in the state to dedicate its game court to a coach. Brown will become one of only a handful of coaches anywhere in the United States in Division I, II, III or NAIA history to receive this honor.
"I am honored and humbled," said Brown of the dedication. "It's a very, very special thing that doesn't happen to people too often and usually only at big-time Division I programs. So for people to think enough of me to honor me with my name on the court—it's hard to express how I feel. This [NJCU] has always been a special university to me and now it's a final, lasting connection."
Alice De Fazio, Interim Director of Athletics, said "Charlie Brown is an icon, and has been the face of our university for many years. His commitment and dedication go unmatched. There is no individual more deserving of this honor."
Marc Brown, in his second year as interim head men's basketball coach, following the retirement of his father, said: "Words cannot explain the joy I feel each and every moment I see "Charlie Brown Court" on the main court here at NJCU. It is rare to be recognized as such, and is a privilege. My father is not just a parent, he is my mentor, friend, and has always been my idol. His accomplishments in the Jersey City community, and at NJCU, are unparalleled. Following in his footsteps as the head men's basketball coach has been a dream come true. I have always said, if I can accomplish half of what my father has, I will be a huge success."
Charlie Brown has been a basketball icon in New Jersey for almost 50 years having etched his name into record books as a player and coach, while carving a legacy of winning at NJCU and across the state and nation.
He completed his silver anniversary and final season as head coach of the Gothic Knights during the 2006-07 season, and his 483-218 ledger in 25 seasons makes him the winningest men's or women's basketball coach in the history of the New Jersey Athletic Conference, both overall and in league play (300-118). He is the second winningest men's college basketball coach in New Jersey history at the Division I, II, and III levels, just shy of the all-time record of 514. The 2006-07 season was his 41st overall as a coach between the high school and collegiate levels.
Brown is the winningest coach in Gothic Knight history by more than 350 wins in a category that includes Hall of Fame coaches Larry Schiner (133), Ollie Gelston (126), and Paul Weinstein (115), and has more victories than all three combined (374).
His teams qualified for the post-season in every one of his 25 years as head coach, including 12 NCAA Tournaments and 13 ECAC Tournaments. He never had a losing season.
Brown guided the Gothic Knights to the NCAA Division III Final Four in 1986 and 1992, losing to the eventual national champion each time in the national semifinal. He has led NJCU to five NJAC Championships (1986, 1990, 1992, 1995, and 2004), adding to NJCU's conference record of 11 overall titles.
The 1986 Kodak Division III National Coach of the Year, Brown was a three-time National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Atlantic District Coach of the Year (1986, 2004, and 2007), six-time New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Coach of the Year (1986, 1989, 1990, 1995, 2004, and 2007) and three-time Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Coach of the Year (1990, 1992 and 2004).
In 701 career games, Brown owned a .689 career winning percentage. Prior to the 2008 season, he ranked 14th among active coaches in career victories and 31st in winning percentage in Division III. Overall in Division III history, Brown is 23rd in victories and 35th in percentage.
This is a major reason why the NJCU men's basketball program ranks among the 15 winningest programs all-time in winning percentage in Division III history.
When Brown finished his 25th and final season in 2006-07 with a 19-10 mark, the Gothic Knights secured their 37th consecutive non-losing season since 1970-71, and 32nd straight winning seasons dating to 1975-76—the second longest active streaks in Division III and the third longest ever in Division III history.
In 25 seasons at his alma mater, Brown averaged more than 19 wins per season, winning 20 or more on eight occasions (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2001, 2004, and 2006).
Brown guided 12 teams to the NCAA Division III Tournament (1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995,
1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, and 2005). When not in the NCAA's, his clubs reached the ECAC Metro New York/New Jersey tournament on 13 occasions (1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007), winning five championships (1983, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2006).
Brown admitted he was surprised when he first learned of the University's plans to honor him. "I know they don't do things like that too often. It is a physical legacy, and that's why I am overwhelmed. When you're doing this [coaching] you don't realize you're affecting people so much. People must think I've done a good job to put my name on the court and for it to be there all time. It's hard for me to put into words what this means."
Brown's career NJAC record of 300-118 gave him an amazing .718 winning percentage in among the most difficult basketball conferences in Division III. Despite the challenges of the NJAC, Brown has guided his program to the NJAC tournament in 19 of 25 seasons (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 (play-in game in 2002), 2004, 2006, 2007). When hired in 1982-83, he became the first African-American head coach in NJAC history.
In 2004-05, NJCU played an independent schedule, and won another title, when the Knights captured the inaugural Association of Division III Independents Men's Basketball championship. He was a unanimous choice as the 2005 Independent Men's Coach of the Year.
In addition to his other coaching awards, the Star Ledger tabbed him as the All-State Coach of the Year in 1986. He was MBWA Division III Coach of the Year in 1990 and 2004, sharing the award in 1992.
On January 25, 2004, Brown was inducted into the New Jersey Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame and presented with the "Coaching Legends Award" at its annual banquet.
On December 5, 2004, Brown was bestowed the first-ever "Jackie Robinson Role Model Award" by the Jersey City branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and was honored as part of the organization's 85th annual Freedom Fund Banquet.
In 2002, the Metropolitan New Jersey Collegiate Basketball Officials Association presented the Schoenfeld Sportsmanship Award upon Brown's program, an honor presented annually to the school that demonstrates the highest degree of sportsmanship, character, and ethics among their players, coaches, administration, and spectators.
He was inducted into the Hudson County Athletic Hall of Fame on January 21, 1993. Among other honors Brown has received include the Jersey City Education Association Division III Coach of the Year, and 1989 and 1990 NJCBCA College Division Coach of the Year. He accepted the L. Harvey Smith Spirit Civic Association Community Service Award on September 16, 1994. Under his tutelage, the 1994-95 team led the nation in field goal percentage defense (. 370).
Known for an up-tempo coaching style that stresses relentless defense, Brown played the way he coached. As a lightning-quick point guard, he ignited Gothic teams that claimed back-to-back New Jersey Collegiate Athletic Conference crowns in 1964 and 1965.
He helped the 1964 team reach the NAIA National Tournament and earned Honorable Mention College Division All-America honors as a senior. He graduated as NJCU's all-time leading scorer, tallying 1,324 points in only three seasons of action from 1962-65, after transferring from Morgan State (MD). He still ranks 11th in program history in scoring. He averaged 18.1 points and 5.7 boards per game in his career.
An All-Hudson County basketball player at Jersey City's Lincoln High School, where he graduated in 1960, Brown served the city as a principal in the Jersey City Public School System until his retirement in the summer of 1998, before becoming full time at NJCU. His dedication to education has helped his players at NJCU achieve a graduation rate of more than 65 percent in recent years, a percentage that was closer to 12 percent when he was hired in September 1982.
Prior to taking the reigns of the NJCU basketball program, Brown served as head coach at Lincoln for 16 years between 1966-1981, securing a career record of 231-150 in 381 games at the high school level (.606 winning percentage). Brown, the first African-American high school coach in Hudson County history, guided the Lions to three Hudson County championships (1969, 1974, 1978), and earned Hudson County Coach of the Year honors in those three seasons. Brown also led Lincoln to state sectional championships in 1969, 1973, 1974, and 1978.
A charter member of the NJCU Athletics Hall of Fame on October 13, 1979 in men's basketball, cross-country, and outdoor track & field, Brown received the school's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1992. The NJCU Board of Trustees issued a Resolution honoring his 400th win on February 24, 2003.
Brown, reminiscing, said: "I look back sometimes and I came to work everyday and did what I thought was right. I never thought I'd be rewarded in this way. God has blessed me and my family and given me the opportunity to do something special that I have enjoyed. I have been rewarded not just with wins but companionship with players who have become friends of mine. Some have reached out to me in recent weeks to let me know their feelings on the [court dedication] and they felt it was deserved. They're all excited about it, as are members of my family."
"My family has been with me all these years and they know my feelings about the University and especially the basketball program, so they feel the same way I do. And that makes it even more special."
Marc Brown summed up the significance of the floor dedication. "My family also celebrates his legacy with him, as we have all witnessed his success over the years," "He has not been just a basketball coach at NJCU. Charlie Brown has changed the lives of many of his former players. He leads by example and continues to be the epitome of class."
For more information on the event or to purchase tickets to Coach Brown's retirement dinner, please contact the NJCU Office of Development at 201-200-3489.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
