Former CNU Track Coach Led Program to National Prominence
NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Christopher Newport University will honor long-time track & field coach Vince Brown on Sunday, December 4th. The track inside the Freeman Center on the CNU campus will be officially dedicated "Vince Brown Track."
Brown announced his retirement after leading the CNU track & field program for the last 25 years, and guided his squads to 12 national championships. Brown\'s success has also included countless conference championships as well as victories in dozens of other meets.
Brown, a native of Hampton, also served as an Assistant to the Athletic Director while at CNU. The dedication ceremony will take place at 9 am on December 4th prior to the first CNU track meet of the season. The meet is free and the public is invited to attend the ceremony as well as the meet.
The dedication will follow another honor for Brown. On November 30th, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association will induct Brown into its Hall of Fame. Brown will be joining 12 other individuals to form this year\'s Hall of Fame Class. The organization will proudly induct them into their Hall of Fame at a special ceremony on the evening of Wednesday, November 30th in Jacksonville, Florida.
CNU\'s impressive success can be best explained by recruiting, and Brown has recruited some of the greatest athletes ever in Division III to Christopher Newport University. Over the years, CNU has produced an amazing total of 61 individual and relay national championships, along with the staggering total of 444 All-America awards won by over 70 different athletes.
Brown has been recognized for the achievements of his CNU track teams in many ways, including numerous regional and national Coach of the Year awards. In addition, he was presented with Christopher Newport\'s Distinguished Service Medallion, an award bestowed very infrequently by the University. Brown has also been inducted into the Christopher Newport University Athletic Hall of Fame.
The graduate of Emory & Henry College began his coaching career in far southwestern Virginia at Chilhowie High School, where he served as head track coach and assistant coach of basketball and football in the late 60\'s. He then moved to Blacksburg High School, where he directed the Indians to one state title, eight regional and ten district championships in the early 70\'s. Brown also served as an assistant track & field coach at Virginia Tech from 1975 to 1976.
In 1976, Brown moved to the Virginia Peninsula to direct the Hampton High School track and cross country programs. His squad at Hampton High was a state runner-up in outdoor track. Brown then joined the Christopher Newport staff in 1980 as head track and cross country coach.