Jim Brown earns Hall of Fame honor
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Between 1970 and 2003, USI employees could set their watch by the arrival of Jim Brown each day. He was in at 7:30 a.m. each morning for 33 years.
That dedication earned Brown the respect of his colleagues and now a place in the USI Athletic Hall of Fame. “It is an honor to join the distinguished individuals in the Hall of Fame,” said Brown. “This is a culmination of 33 years of working to help young people succeed.”
In addition to Brown, the Hall of Fame Class of 2009 includes the late John Hollinden ’83 (men’s basketball); Jim Nolan (cross country and track); Elly Rono ’98 (cross country and track); Eileen Weber ’98 (women’s basketball), Head Coach Chance Dugan (women’s basketball) and the 1995 national championship men’s basketball team.
Brown joined the USI faculty and the Athletics staff in 1970. He was the assistant men’s basketball coach, the sports information director, and intramural director in addition to teaching in the Physical Education Department.
In the following years, Brown would serve as the men’s golf head coach (1977-2003) and helped to create and coach the baseball team (1971-75) as well as the women’s golf team (1995-2000).
The men’s golf team excelled under Brown’s tutelage; although he claimed that his greatest coaching contribution was “getting the team to the golf course on time.” The squad went on to win the GLVC Championship in 1981, win the NCAA North Regional in 1996, and appeared in the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1996. Brown also coached Dave McAtee as an individual at the 1986 national tournament.
“While there are so many wonderful memories about the teams I coached, the highlight was taking the 1996 team to the nationals,” said Brown. “The guys came together to play their best golf, especially during the regional.”
Starting with that 1996 squad, Brown and the Eagles advanced to the NCAA II Tournament for five consecutive seasons.
The emphasis on academics was an essential lesson he would impart as a coach. The men’s golf team, alone, would produce five Golf Coaches Association Scholar All-Americans during Brown’s tenure.
“Academics are such a large part of what we do in collegiate athletics,” said Brown. “I am extremely proud of the program I helped create to assist athletes to succeed, not only in athletics, but in the classroom. It was a great feeling to see the average grade point average for the student athletes surge over 3.0 and to see the student athletes recognized for their hard work in their academic fields.”
Since his retirement, Brown works part-time at Helfrich Hills Golf Course and volunteers at St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry. He and his wife Anita also have traveled extensively over the past few years, visiting Ireland, England, Europe, Hawaii, and the Caribbean.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is February 6 in Carter Hall. Tickets are $25 each and must be purchased by February 4. The Class of 2009 also will be introduced at the Homecoming game versus Drury University on February 7.
Ray Simmons
Sports Information
812/465-1622 or rsimmons@usi.edu
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