Greg Brown was introduced as Lipscomb’s new head coach of the women’s basketball team Thursday afternoon in a press conference with Athletic Director Philip Hutcheson.
Brown, a former associate women’s basketball coach with the University of Central Florida, replaces former coach Frank Bennett, who was promoted to associate athletic director earlier this year after 32 years of coaching the Lady Bisons.
Before Brown spoke, Hutcheson shared some insight into the future of the Lady Bisons program, the hiring process and what Lipscomb looked for in a new coach.
“At Lipscomb, we make a big point of being interested in what we call the four C’s,” Hutcheson said. “We want to excel in the classroom, in competition, in the community and in our Christian walk, and so when we’re looking for a coach, we’re interested in all of those things.”
Hutcheson said he believes that Brown is the right man for the job.
“As we looked for a coach, we did find several who embodied what we were looking for, but out of that came a guy in Greg Brown,” Hutcheson said. “[Brown] embodied all four of the characteristics we were looking for, and he has a background and a resume and experience that’s really unsurpassed.”
Hutcheson said he believes that the women’s basketball program can be successful in the coming seasons.
“I am firmly convinced there is no reason that Lipscomb women’s basketball cannot be great,” Hutcheson said. “We are in a great city, at a great place in a great city. Middle Tennessee is known for its women’s basketball. There is no shortage of talent in this area, in the south and beyond. Lipscomb is the type of place that is appealing to great students and great people, and we have a history of champions here. We’ve got everything in place to be great, so I am firmly convinced that that’s the path we’re on.”
A 1993 Lipscomb graduate, Brown expressed his excitement in returning to the university.
“The spirit and enthusiasm on the campus, and the people that I have had the opportunity to meet and be around is everything I remembered it being – and better,” Brown said. “I’m so enthused about being a part of this [team] – being a part of leading this program.”
Brown, also a former graduate assistant and assistant coach under Coach Pat Summitt and the Lady Vols, shed light on his past and the diverse steps he’s taken along the way.
“I’ve always been told that you can’t sell what you don’t own, and I think the two things you own are unique experiences and your vision, and I’ve been fortunate to be a part of some great, unique experiences,” Brown said. “I’ve taught from junior high to the national championship games against UConn, and I’ve seen everything in between. I’ve seen what it’s like to be at the top of a program and compete.”
Brown said he thinks a productive environment is a key part of his vision for success.
“What we want to create is an atmosphere and an environment for everyone to succeed,” Brown said. “We want our players to be more successful in life because they were a part of our program, because they were a part of this university and because they were a part of this community.”
Brown also said he believes active community participation is a must for the Lady Bisons.
“We want to be vital to the community, not part of the community, not serving the community, but vital to the community – meaning that the community cannot survive without us.”
Brown said he thinks Lipscomb should look into local athletes when building a new class.
“We want to keep the local talent,” Brown said. “Those are the types of players that we want to sign.”
Brown said he wants Lipscomb fans to be active within the Lady Bisons’ program.
“We want [the fans] to be as involved as they possibly can. Our practices are always open,” Brown said. “I think women’s basketball is about relationships. We want to build those relationships in any way that we can.”
Through this vision, Brown shared his hope for the Lady Bisons to be contenders for the national championship.
“We want to put ourselves in the position to win championships,” Brown said, noting that while champions can exist without a championship, winning a title for Lipscomb would be a high priority for the team.
Above all else, Brown said, is the importance of Lipscomb’s Christian base and how that translates on and off the court.
“I really think that God is that center of everything that we’re doing. So every program, every practice, every team meeting, every time we’re in the community – it’s a Christ-centered approach,” Brown said. “That’s exactly what Coach Bennett, Dr. Lowry and Philip has said here before us, and we will continue that. That will not change.”