Roosevelt’s Brown Finalist for NFHS Coach of the Year

Roosevelt cross country coach Steve Brown

Roosevelt Boys’ Cross Country Coach Steve Brown has been named a finalist for Coach of the Year honors by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

If Brown adds the NFHS award, it will be the crowning achievement on an already distinguished resume.

Previous recognitions include:

• Iowa State Coach of the Year: 2001, 2003, 2007
• Iowa Regional Coach of the Year: 2000, 2002, 2004
• CIML Metro Conference Coach of the Year: 2000 to 2011

Roosevelt freshman Harry Prentice was a qualifier for the 2015 State cross country championship.

On top of coaching Roosevelt teams to multiple appearances at the State meet, Brown led the Roughriders to three consecutive Iowa cross country team titles from 2001 to 2003. He also coached two runners who earned the State individual title (Jon Thomas in 2003 and Keil Uhl in 2004).

Coach Brown has been at Roosevelt for 18 seasons and compiled an overall meet record of 1510-516.

“It has been a personal honor to serve as coach of over 700 runners,” Brown said. “Coaching is a special opportunity to help kids learn and grow. I try to focus my main goal on helping each individual athlete have an experience that will enrich their lives and provide opportunities to grow into positive leaders. There is nothing better than spending four years working with an athlete and witnessing their growth into a confident and positive young adult.”

The Roughriders have not lost their way to State, either. In fact, Coach Brown may have a stable of young runners who will add to Roosevelt’s legacy. This year freshman Harry Prentice added to the Riders’ long list of State cross country qualifiers.