After 25 years as head men's basketball coach at NJCU, Charles Brown has announced he will retire from the school that he has called home since 1962, effective Sept. 30.
“I felt it was time,” Brown said. “I've been doing this for 41 years between high school and college and have been thinking about if for a while. People have been asking me for a while when I was going to retire. I just felt it was time. I feel comfortable with the program and I feel I have done as much as I can do with it. I'm satisfied. I am honored to have had the opportunity to coach here at the university for 25 years.”
Alice De Fazio, interim athletic director, said: “Charles Brown has represented both the NJCU athletic department and university in a most professional and forthright manner. He served as a role model and mentor to so many, but in my estimation his legacy is reflected more in his qualities as a person rather than a coach. He will be missed.”
He completed his silver anniversary as head coach of the Gothic Knights during the 2006-07 season, and his 483-218 ledger through 25 seasons makes him the winningest men's or women's basketball coach in the history of the New Jersey Athletic Conference, both overall and in league play (300-118). He is the second winningest men's college basketball coach in New Jersey history at the Division I, II, and III levels. The 2006-07 season was his 41st overall as a coach between the high school and collegiate levels.
His teams have qualified for the postseason in every one of his 25 years as head coach, including 12 NCAA Tournaments and 13 ECAC Tournaments. He has never had a losing season.
Brown guided the Gothic Knights to the NCAA Division III Final Four in 1986 and 1992, losing to the eventual national champion each time in the national semifinal. He has led NJCU to five NJAC Championships (1986, 1990, 1992, 1995, and 2004), adding to NJCU's conference record of 11 overall titles.
“This has been a special program for me,” Brown noted. “This is my alma mater. I am thankful for the opportunity former President Bill Maxwell and former athletic director Larry Schiner gave me 25 years ago, and I'm thankful to the current administration -- Dr. Carlos Hernandez, Dr. Alene Graham, and Dr. John Melendez, who allowed me to come on board full-time nine years ago.”
“It's been a great experience, and what I've enjoyed most of all has been working with the student athletes I've been fortunate enough to coach and befriend. This is a special place, and New Jersey City University will always have a special place in my heart. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to be here all these years. The University has given me an opportunity to get a good education, to be a student athlete, and most of all coach with fine young men.”
In 701 career games, Brown owns a .689 career winning percentage. He entered his final season in 2006-07 ranking 14th among active coaches in career victories and 26th in winning percentage in Division III. Overall in Division III history, Brown is 26th in victories and 31st in percentage, prior to the 2006-07 season.
When Brown finished his 25th and final season in 2006-07 with a 19-10 mark, the Gothic Knights secured their 32nd consecutive winning season dating to 1975-76 -- the second-longest active streak in Division III and the third longest in Division III history.
NJCU did not immediately announce how it would fill the coaching vacancy.