University of Tennessee Athletics
SUMMITT NAMES BROWN AS NEW ASSISTANT COACH
April 19, 2003 | Women's Basketball
April 19, 2003
KNOXVILLE, TENN
University of Tennessee Lady Volunteer head basketball coach Pat Summitt announced the hiring today of Greg Brown as an assistant coach for the program.
The 32-year old Brown, a first year graduate assistant coach with the Lady Vols, rounds out Summitt's staff which was left with a vacancy when longtime staffer and associate head coach Mickie DeMoss accepted the head coaching position at the University of Kentucky on March 17, 2003.
"I am excited to bring Greg on board in the capacity as an assistant coach. In filling the position, I was looking for someone who could step on the floor and teach the game," said Summitt. "In losing Mickie, we needed to bring in someone with the energy and enthusiasm to teach the game - I believe that Greg fills that role as a very efficient teacher. "
A 1993 graduate of Davis Lipscomb University, Brown joins a staff that includes Summitt, 18-year assistant and former Lady Vol Olympian and All-American Holly Warlick, and former Lady Vol standout Nikki Caldwell who joined Summitt's staff this season after spending the last three years at the University of Virginia.
"Holly and Nikki are both great floor coaches and teachers of the game. I watched Greg work with Don Meyer (former David Lipscomb men's basketball coach and noted shooting guru) and I knew he would be an excellent addition to our staff," said Summitt.
"One of my basketball mentors, Coach Meyer knew what I was looking for and gave Greg a glowing endorsement for the position," Summitt continued.
Brown, a native of Shepherdsille, Kentucky, was a student coach under Coach Meyer at David Lipscomb University from 1991-93. After graduation from Lipscomb with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Brown entered the coaching ranks at Friendship Christian School in Lebanon, Tenn. While at FCS, Brown was a junior varsity coach in 1996-98 before a stint as Head Girls Varsity Coach form 1998-02.
Before joining the UT staff, Brown, a two-time District 8A Coach of the Year, led his Lady Commanders to three district championships, a region championship, made three sub-state appearances and nabbed one sub-state title. In 2002, Friendship posted a 31-3 mark in making it to the TSSAA State Tournament Quarter-Finals.
"This has been an incredible week for me," said Brown. "I became a father for the first time on Wednesday (April 16, 2003) - (Greg and his wife Teresa, are the proud parents of a brand new baby boy, Bryant Cole Brown) and then to have Pat offer me this job a few days later---.
"I am excited to continue to work for the premier program in women's basketball," said Brown. "Before Pat hired me for the graduate assistant position, we talked about what makes a job a truly great job. I told her last year that a great job is when you can be 100% loyal to a University and a coach. That you really believe in the educational benefits that the University has to offer and you can proud of the outstanding experience we offer our student-athletes with our basketball program. For those reasons, UT is a great fit for me."
In addition to his on-court duties, Brown will continue to assist Warlick with opponent scouting responsibilities. Additionally, he will serve as the camp director of the Pat Head Summitt Basketball Camps beginning this summer.
