One of college basketball's best feel-good stories, Isaac Brown begins ninth season at Wichita State and his third as head coach.
Thrust into an interim role just eight days before the start of the 2020-21 college basketball season, Brown earned the head coaching job on a permanent basis after leading a Shocker team picked seventh in the preseason to its first American Athletic Conference regular season title, as well as an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament. He was a unanimous choice for the league's coach of the year award.
Known around the game as a player’s coach and all-around people person, Brown has also proved himself resourceful in guiding the Shockers to a 31-19 record in his first two go-arounds.
Under Brown's watch, several Shockers have made impressive strides in their development. Tyson Etienne went from a reserve guard to a two-time all-conference selection, earning American co-Player of the Year honors in 2021. He signed a contract with the Atlanta Hawks in the summer of 2022 and earned a spot on the team's preseason roster.
Guards Dexter Dennis and Ricky Council IV earned major conference awards in 2022 as The American's Defensive Player and Sixth Man of the Year, respectively.
The 2021-22 Shockers battled untimely injuries and illness during a 15-13 season, highlighted by a pair of non-conference road wins over Missouri and Oklahoma State. Two of the team's most-memorable performances came in overtime losses to eventual No. 1 seed Arizona and Elite Eight participant Houston.
Brown's 2020-21 team opened the year 1-2 while playing and practicing shorthanded due to the COVID-19 protocol, but then quickly took off, winning 14 of their next 16 games, including an upset of sixth-ranked and Final Four-bound Houston on Feb. 18.
Shortly after, Brown's interim tag was replaced with a five-year contract.
On Mar. 1, 2021, Brown was formally introduced as the 26th full-time head coach in Shocker history and the state of Kansas' first black head men's basketball coach.
WSU went on to finish 16-6 (11-2 AAC). With its berth in the First Four, Brown became the first rookie head coach to lead a team to the Big Dance since Wisconsin's Greg Gard in 2016.
Brown was tabbed NABC District 24 Coach of the Year and was a finalist for a handful of national coaching honors, including the Jim Phelan Award (national coach of the year), Joe B. Hall Award (top first-year head coach) and the Ben Jobe Award (top minority head coach).
Shocker guards thrived in Brown's system with Etienne earning the conference's co-player of the year honor. In addition, UConn graduate transfer Alterique Gilbert wrote a storybook ending to an injury-plagued career. The former McDonald's All-American led the team in assists and earned third team all-conference honors.
Brown, 53, is in his ninth season overall at WSU -- the first six as an assistant under Gregg Marshall -- and his 21st at the Division I level, having also served as an assistant at Louisiana Tech (2011-14), Arkansas State (2010-11), Arkansas (2007-10) and South Alabama (2002-07).
Combined Brown helped lead those five programs to 11 20-win seasons in 18 years with eight conference regular season titles, two conference tournament championships and 10 postseason appearances. Along the way he coached 58 all-conference selections and six NBA players.
The Shockers' 2021 American Athletic Conference title gives Brown championship rings from five different leagues (AAC, WAC, C-USA, MVC, Sun Belt).
WSU won over three-quarters of its games during Brown's time as a Shocker assistant (2014-20), going 157-50 (.758), highlighted by four-straight NCAA tournament bids (2014-18) and a run to the 2019 NIT semifinals.
In addition to Marshall, Brown has learned from a number of college basketball's top minds, including current Florida head coach Mike White at Louisiana Tech (2011-14). At Arkansas State he worked with a pair of Final Four coaches in head coach John Brady (LSU, 2006) and assistant coach Richard Williams (Mississippi State, 1996). Brown also spent eight years under John Pelphrey at South Alabama (2007-10).
His proximity to success is no coincidence. A 2020 Stadium writeup named Brown as one of The American's top assistant coaches. In 2019 he was invited to participate in the TopConnect program, designed to identify and train future leaders in the college basketball coaching world.
As an assistant, Brown's work with the Shocker big men was noteworthy. WSU led its conference in rebound margin in four straight seasons from 2014-15 to 2017-18 and ranked second nationally in that category in each of the last two years of that run.
Brown’s biggest big man success story was Jaime Echenique, a 6-foot-11 center who came off the bench in junior college but developed into an all-conference performer for WSU. Echenique led the team in scoring and rebounding as a senior in 2019-20 and finished his career ranked among the school’s all-time top-10 in blocked shots, despite playing just two seasons. In December of 2021, Echenique made his debut with the Washington Wizards, becoming the NBA's first Colombian-born player.
WSU graduated its entire front court in 2018-19, but the center position was still a source of major production by the end of the year. Echenique finished third on the conference blocks chart, and sophomore 7-footer Asbjørn Midtgaard was one of the league's most-improved players. The pair formed an effective platoon down the stretch, helping the Shockers win 14 of their last 18 games and become the first team in NIT history to sweep the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 seeds in its region on the way to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden.
Brown spent four years molding 2017-18 seniors Rashard Kelly, Shaquille Morris and Rauno Nurger into one of the nation's most fearsome frontcourts, joined by a fourth senior in JUCO transfer Darral Willis Jr. The 6-foot-8 Morris averaged 14.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and league-best 1.5 blocks on his way to first team All-AAC plaudits. Kelly averaged 7.6 boards and was the conference's top offensive rebounder (104). The Shockers were out-rebounded just twice in 33 games.
WSU (25-8) spent the entire 2017-18 season in the national rankings, climbing as high as No. 3 in the AP Poll, and earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
WSU's 31-wins in 2016-17 came as a surprise to many. With guards Ron Baker (Knicks) and Fred VanVleet (Raptors) moving on to the NBA, the Shockers figured to take a step backward. Instead, they improved by five wins and returned to the national rankings.
Led by a pair of All-Valley first teamers, Landry Shamet and Markis McDuffie, WSU (31-5) finished 17-1 in conference play and swept its way to the MVC Tournament crown. For the fifth consecutive year, the Shockers advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Round of 32 when they defeated Dayton.
Brown's work with the Shocker big men paid significant dividends. WSU ranked second in the nation in rebound margin (+9.0), trailing only national champion North Carolina.
Morris earned all-conference status (third team) for the first time in his career, JUCO transfer Darral Willis Jr. landed on the MVC's All-Newcomer team, and juniors Kelly and Nurger each captured All-Bench Team status.
In 2015-16, WSU finished 26-9, won the MVC crown with a 16-2 record. Brown worked extensively with the Shocker big men, helping the 6-foot-8 Morris take a major leap forward in his development to earn the team's Most Improved Player award. During MVC play, Morris and senior transfer Anton Grady formed a dominant platoon at the center position, averaging 15.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in just over 31 minutes per game. WSU's bigs played a key defensive role in two NCAA Tournaments wins against massive front lines from Vanderbilt and Arizona.
During the 2014-15 campaign, WSU never left the top-25 and posted an impressive 17-1 MVC mark. The reward was an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, where the seventh-seeded Shockers downed Indiana and second-seeded Kansas to book a trip to the Sweet 16.
In his first year at WSU, Brown helped coax a breakout season from senior forward Darius Carter, who made the MVC's Most-Improved unit and earned an honorable mention all-conference nod.
ASSISTANT COACH AT LOUISIANA TECH (2011-14):
In three seasons at Louisiana Tech, Brown helped guide the Bulldogs to the 2013 WAC crown and - after the school transitioned to a new conference - a share of the 2014 Conference USA title.
In his final go-around, the Bulldogs won a school-record 29 games, defeating Big 12 runner-up Oklahoma and SEC runner-up Georgia along the way. LA Tech won the inaugural Gulf Coast Showcase tournament and ranked in the top-20 nationally scoring offense, scoring margin, assists, steals and turnover margin.
Though the 2013-14 Bulldogs fell a win shy of the NCAA Tournament, reaching the C-USA Tournament championship, they rebounded to win two postseason games in the NIT.
Brown's on-court responsibilities for the Bulldogs involved coaching the wings and guards, which included four all-conference players during his coaching stint.
With his assistance, Louisiana Tech featured a trio of guards this past season who earned postseason honors -- Kenneth Smith was selected first team All-Conference USA as well as the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, Alex Hamilton was selected third team All-Conference USA and Kenyon McNeail was named the C-USA Sixth Man of the Year.
The prior season was just as historic as the backcourt tandem of Smith and Raheem Appleby were selected first team all-WAC. In addition, Hamilton was named to the All-Newcomer team.
In 2012-13, he helped coach the team to a 27-7 overall record and a 16-2 mark in conference that earned the Bulldogs their first-ever WAC regular season championship.
The year featured a program-record 18-game winning streak, the school's first AP Top 25 ranking in 28 years and a berth into the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) where they advanced to the second round.
This solid foundation was laid a year earlier by Brown and the coaching staff when the team finished the regular season with wins in five of their last six games and reached the program's first-ever WAC Tournament final after upsetting Utah State and Nevada in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH AT ARKANSAS STATE (2010-11):
Prior to joining Mike White's staff, Brown served as associate head coach at Arkansas State.
In the 2010-11 season, Brown helped the Red Wolves to a 17-14 overall record including a 13-0 mark at home while serving under head coach John Brady. ASU won the Sun Belt Conference West Division title with an 11-5 record.
ASSISTANT COACH AT ARKANSAS (2007-10):
Prior to ASU, Brown spent three years at the University of Arkansas under head coach John Pelphrey, assisting with recruiting and on-the-floor coaching.
During his time with the Razorbacks, Brown helped lead the squad to a 52-45 record, including a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2008 when the team advanced to the second round.
ASSISTANT COACH AT SOUTH ALABAMA (2002-07):
Prior to his stint at Arkansas, Brown served on the coaching staff for Pelphrey at South Alabama for five seasons. During his time at USA, Brown helped direct the Jaguars to the best turnaround in the nation in 2006 when the team improved its record to 24-7 after three losing seasons, captured the SBC West Division title and tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998.
Following their success in 2007, the Jaguars posted a 20-12 record in 2007, won the SBC regular-season title and earned a berth in the NIT, where it dropped a 79-73 decision to Syracuse.
The 2007 team led the Sun Belt in turnover margin, assist-to-turnover ratio and three-point defense, and it was second in steals and scoring defense. The Jaguars also made 272-of-749 three-pointers, an average of 8.5 per game.
JUNIOR COLLEGE COACHING:
Brown began his coaching career at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Miss., in 1997. After two years, he went to his hometown as an assistant at Pascagoula (Miss.) High School.
Following one season, he moved back into the junior college ranks at Okaloosa-Walton Community College in Niceville, Fla. (now Northwest Florida State College). At OWCC, he recruited and coached Kedric Brown, who in 2001 became the first junior college player selected as an NBA lottery pick (No. 11 by Boston). He also coached guard Donell Taylor, who played for the Washington Wizards. Fifteen OWCC players signed Division I scholarships while Brown was on the staff.
PLAYING CAREER:
Brown played two years at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (1988-90) and was an all-region and all-state performer for the Bulldogs, averaging 16.4 points, 7.2 assists and 2.0 steals during his sophomore campaign. MGCCC won the NJCAA Region 23 title that year and came within a win of the national tournament. In 2019, Brown was inducted into the MGCCC Hall of Fame.
Brown moved on Texas A&M for his junior season. Despite averaging 12.0 points and 3.4 assists during the 1990-91 season, he elected to transfer.
He sat out the 1992 season at Northeast Louisiana (now Louisiana-Monroe) before ending his college career on a high note. Brown helped the Warhawks to a 26-5 finish and the Southland Conference regular season and tournament titles. He scored 14 points on 3-of-5 three-point shooting in an NCAA tournament loss to Iowa.
Brown earned his bachelor's in health and physical education from ULM in 1995.
THE ISAAC BROWN FILE:
Career Record (Pre-2022-23 Season):
31-18 (.633)
2020-21 Achievements:
American Athletic Conference Regular Season Champion
NCAA Tournament Qualifier (At-Large)
American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year
NABC District 24 Coach of the Year
Jim Phelan Award Finalist (National COY)
Joe B. Hall Award Finalist (First-Year Coach)
Ben Job Award Finalist (Minority Coach)
Brown's Wichita State Timeline:
June 12, 2014 -- Announced as WSU assistant coach under Gregg Marshall
Nov. 17, 2020 -- Named interim head coach after Marshall's resignation
Dec. 2, 2020 -- First career win (88-83 over Oral Roberts)
Dec. 15, 2020 -- First AAC win (69-65 at Tulsa)
Feb. 18, 2021 -- First top-25 win (68-63 vs. No. 6 Houston)
Feb. 26, 2021 -- Interim tag removed; Agrees to five-year contract
Mar. 1, 2021 -- Formally introduced as WSU head coach at a press conference
Mar. 10, 2021 -- Named American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in a unanimous vote
Mar. 14, 2021 -- First NCAA tournament bid
Coaching Experience:
Wichita State -- Head Coach -- 2020-Pr.
Wichita State – Assistant Coach – 2014-20
Louisiana Tech – Assistant Coach – 2011-14
Arkansas State – Associate Head Coach – 2010-11
Arkansas – Assistant Coach – 2007-10
South Alabama – Assistant Coach – 2002-07
Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) CC – Assistant Coach – 2000-02
Pascagoula (Miss.) HS – Assistant Coach – 1999-2000
Pearl River (Miss.) CC – Assistant Coach – 1997-99
Birthdate:
May 7, 1969
Education:
1995: University of Louisiana-Monroe, Bachelors, Health and Physical Education
Playing Career:
Mississippi Gulf Coast CC – 1988-90
Texas A&M – 1990-91
Northeast Louisiana (now La. Monroe) – 1991-93
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ISAAC BROWN:
“Isaac Brown is an extremely well-rounded basketball coach. He is knowledgeable in all facets of the game and a great mentor to the players. I really enjoyed working with Isaac, as he is a great teammate. He is prepared to lead a program.” – Dusty May, Head Coach, Florida Atlantic
" The biggest thing that a lot of coaches fail to realize is – they don't listen. They're not good listeners. Isaac is a very good listener. He will listen to different people. He will listen to the players." – Rob Evans, Former Head Coach, Ole Miss & Arizona State
“I.B. is a player’s coach, plain and simple. Guys are comfortable playing for him and listening to him. He’s going to tell you the truth and tell you what you need to be successful… Players want to run through a brick wall for him.” -- Rashard Kelly, Wichita State Forward (2014-18)
“He’s just got the ‘it’ factor when it comes to people liking, trusting and respecting him. When you think about those things — I like him, I trust him, I respect him — where do those things come from? They come from someone giving you the most valuable thing that we have, and that’s our time. That’s why I think Isaac is going to succeed.” – John Pelphrey, Head Coach, Tennessee Tech
“This is a great hire by Wichita State, because Isaac is a great recruiter, he knows his X’s and O’s and he knows how to get players to buy in and how to hold them accountable. Accountability from the head coach brings credibility, and any time you have credibility with the players, then you have a leg up and have an opportunity to win.” – John Brady, Former Head Coach, Sanford, LSU & Arkansas State
“Isaac is one of my favorite people and he’s ready to be a head coach.” – Mike White, Head Coach, Georgia (former HC at LA Tech & Florida)
