Isaac Brown credited the leaders on the team, the people in the locker room who stuck together in tough times and got the Shockers to the NCAA Tournament.
 
They credited Brown for making it possible by keeping the focus on the court and athletes.
 
"He deserved it, especially with all the turmoil going on," sophomore guard Tyson Etienne said. "The fact we've been able to keep a tight ship and he's been the leader of that, it's deserved."
 
In late February, Wichita State made Brown – known as "IB" – its permanent head basketball coach.  Brown served as interim coach starting Nov. 18, 2020.
 
"I'm excited for the players and I'm excited to be the coach at such a great basketball school," he said. "I want to keep things going. We want to compete to be at the top of the league every year."
 
The Shockers made it possible to hire Brown with their performance.
 
"The leadership from the veteran guys has been huge," he said. "A lot of times I will get on a guy about something, and I don't have to say it twice. Those guys will pull him in the corner and talk to him."
 
 

"Now, let's get to business because we have a championship to win."

🗣 Head @Coach_IBrown pic.twitter.com/K4N4qIwBkv

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) February 26, 2021

Wichita State won the program's first American Athletic Conference title with an 11-2 record, 16-6 overall. It earned an at-large spot in the NCAA Tournament. A win at Mississippi and a home win over then-No. 6 Houston highlighted the season.
 
Brown took over a team with seven newcomers picked seventh in the conference. The departure of former coach Gregg Marshall and COVID-19 restrictions made it a challenging season, one that Brown navigated smoothly.
 
"You know he wants the best for you," center Morris Udeze said. "When somebody is talking to you about life situations, wants to know about your family, you know it's genuine."

Brown becomes one of the state's sport's trail blazers as the first Black head men's basketball coach at an NCAA Division I school in Kansas. He joins former Wichita State football coach Jeff Jeffries, former Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington and others as pioneers in the state's high-profile sports.
 
Brown coached in high school and junior college. Wichita State is his fifth NCAA Division I stop. He joined the staff in 2014 as an assistant. Director of athletics Darron Boatright viewed those experiences as a major plus.
 
"Sometimes those guys get a shot at 30 years old and they're not ready, and they get fired in three years, and we still don't know if they can coach or not," Boatright said. "Isaac has maturity. The people he has worked under and the programs he has worked for have set him apart in my mind."

The Roundhouse is counting down the 10 most interesting and significant stories of 2021 for Wichita State athletics. Check back this week for more.
 
No. 10 - Baseball's new home in downtown Wichita
No. 9 - Setter Kayce Litzau leads Shocker volleyball
No. 8 - Smash Sisters bash their way to NCAA regional
No. 7 - Win over Houston propels Shockers to AAC title, NCAA berth
No. 6 - Shocker baseball pushes toward top of AAC
No. 5 - Seniors lead men's tennis to NCAA Championships
No. 4 - Wichita State distance runners excel in 2021