Head Coach Trey Brown ’12 captained the Bowdoin Polar Bears his Senior year in college.
Brown, a former collegiate player at Bowdoin College, spent the last three years as a running backs/defensive backs coach under Modeste.
According to Nick Thomas ’21 and Co-Captain Jake Jordan ’20, Brown uses his experiences as a former player to foster relationships and create an environment where everyone has the ability to succeed.
“There is never a dull moment when it comes to the team or to practice. Coach Brown is always there to implement something new, make jokes when we need a laugh, and most of all, always there to make sure that [we’re] doing okay. Coach Brown texted each and every one of his players to check in and see how we were doing academically and socially, [and] to see if he could do anything for us. That truly [made] a difference and [brightened] our day,” said Thomas.
Jordan added, “He holds values that are essential to being a good teammate and has done everything in his power to instill them upon his players.”
According to Brown, he prioritizes personal awareness not just on the field, but in life in general.
“I really want my players to understand that I’m not just having you run out there and do this…just because I want you to do it. There’s a reason—it’s going to help the team as a whole and everybody’s job is important, whether you’re on the field or not,” said Brown.
He continued, “It sounds cliche, but I think everybody [on] the field knows they have a job to do. But knowing why you do it, I think [that] is way more important than what you’re doing…Andover as a whole is about having a foundation.”
As an admissions officer, Brown appreciates the opportunity to coach and have more personal interactions with his players.
“Being in admissions, we see the students coming in, [but] we don’t really get to see them develop… through [their four years]. Being able to see kids grow, whether it be day by day, week by week, or year by year… That’s what I love about coaching,” said Brown.
Recognizing the competitive nature of his players, Brown encourages the use of this drive and passion in games, according to Tommy Savino ’21.
“As a former player, he knows how a team works and how teammates get along with each other and how teammates have disagreements. Coach Brown knows how competitive we are and being able to let us be as competitive in practice helps us perform better in games and helps us play better as a team as a whole,” said Savino.
According to Brown, he works to implement his values into his coaching style, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and selflessness.
“A lot of players… [are] learning that it’s not all about you, it’s about the team as a whole and giving your best effort at every play of the game, also… that you’re representing the team, not just… yourself. What you do on the field or off the field reflects on us as a whole body,” said Brown.
To his players, Brown serves as a role model, according to Thomas.
“The best part about working with Coach Brown is that he is always honest with you. He will speak the truth and say what is best for you to be not only a better player, but also a better person. He’ll call you out when you make mistakes [and] he’ll let you know when he recognizes that you’re not putting 100 percent effort in. He’s that figure in our lives who will do whatever is best for us and we truly appreciate that,” said Thomas.
Editor’s Note: Jake Jordan is a Live Editor for The Phillipian.
