Vince Brown Has Led Program To National Prominence
NEWPORT NEWS, VA - Christopher Newport University Track & Field Coach Vince Brown has announced his retirement.Brown has led the CNU track & field program for the last 25 years, and has 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, has also served as an Assistant to the Athletic Director at CNU. He will conclude his illustrious career at the end of the upcoming outdoor track & field season.
"It has been an honor to have Vince Brown in our athletic department for the past 25 years," Director of Athletics C.J. Woollum said. "What Vince has accomplished is immeasurable and I, and our other coaches, live in awe of his achievements. He has represented CNU with style and grace and he certainly has earned this opportunity to retire and move into the next phase of his life."
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.
\"I consider myself fortunate to have been at CNU during the tenures of Presidents Anderson, Santoro and Trible, all of whom were extremely supportive of our efforts to develop an outstanding track and field program," Brown said. "Also, I could not have asked for better Athletic Directors to work with than Bev Vaughan and C. J. Woollum. Numerous assistant coaches as well gave so much time and effort in encouraging and nurturing our young athletes. The successes we have attained would not have been possible without the combined efforts of all these individuals, and I appreciate each and every one of them."
"Most of all, it has been exciting and gratifying to help young men and women develop their athletic talents and leadership abilities and to watch them go on to graduate and become productive citizens who are making a difference in the world," Brown said. 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.
A search to find Brown\'s successor will begin immediately.