University of South Alabama Athletics

MOBILE, Ala. --- Mike Brown, former head coach of Motlow State Community College, has been named assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of South Alabama, the school announced this week.

Brown, a native of Ann Arbor, Mich., will assist in all aspects of the program, including recruiting and on-court coaching.

“Mike is a young, energetic coach that is starting to show signs of being one of the premier coaches coming up in the profession,” said USA head coach Ronnie Arrow. “His successes show that he recognizes good talent and is really good with the players.”

In his one season at Motlow State, Brown guided the Bucks to a 22-8 record and the school’s first Tennessee Junior and Community College Athletic Association division title since 2001. He posted the sixth-highest win total in a single season and all five sophomores from the 2008-09 team will play at four-year schools this year, including three at the Division I level.

MSCC, located in Tullahoma, Tenn., reached the semifinals of the TJCCAA Tournament, falling to host Cleveland State. Brown coached Tim Williams, an All-American and the co-TJCCAA Player of the Year.

Brown spent the previous year as director of basketball operations at Kent State. In that season KSU won the Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Four players earned all-MAC honors and one was an All-American. The Golden Flashes were also ranked in the AP and ESPN Coaches’ polls during the season.

Schoolcraft (Mich.) College hired Brown in 2006 as its head coach after spending one season at the Livonia, Mich., school as an assistant. His one season in the head role was a success as the Ocelots won the 2007 state championship, went 23-10 and had two All-Americans and two all-region selections. Brown’s guidance earned him the Michigan Community College Athletic Association Coach of the Year award. All five sophomores on that team signed with DI schools.

Brown got his start in the coaching profession as an assistant boy’s coach at Belleville (Mich.) High School in 2004. The Tigers went 21-2 and were MEGA Red Division champions.

“When Coach Arrow offered me the job I was extremely excited,” said Brown. “This is a great opportunity as a young coach to work in a program like the University of South Alabama’s and work under someone like Coach Arrow who has been successful at all levels of coaching. I am looking forward to working with a great staff and will hope to learn and grow as a coach.”

As a player Brown earned four varsity letters at Siena Heights (Mich.) University (1998-2000) and Wayne State (Mich.) University (2000-02). Siena Heights posted a 58-15 mark in his two seasons with two trips to the NCAA Tournament and included a national semifinals appearance and two conference titles. As a senior he led the team in scoring, assists, and steals, was a third team All-American and first team all-conference and was named to the all-defensive team and all-academic teams.

He played his final two seasons at Wayne State, earning all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors as a junior after leading the team in scoring, assists and steals. Brown was named the preseason player of the year in 2001 but played in only seven games after suffering a season-ending injury.

Brown has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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TRANSACTIONS: Mike Brown named men’s basketball assistant coach at South Alabama