Jeff Brown, the Middlebury Russell L. Reilly Head Coach of Men’s Basketball, will retire at the conclusion of the 2024-25 academic year, Director of Athletics Erin Quinn announced on Monday, February 24. Brown recently concluded his 28th season at the helm of the Panther program, and his 43rd overall. He is the winningest head coach in program history, owning a 457-248 mark.
“Coach Brown has been the architect of a men’s basketball program that competes at the highest level of Division III while bringing some thrilling moments to Pepin Gymnasium over his career,” said Quinn. “He has also been a committed administrator in the department serving athletics and the College with the grace and humility he brought to the sidelines as a coach. While Jeff will be sorely missed as a coach and colleague, we are thrilled for him, Renee, and his family for his next chapter in retirement.”
During his tenure, Brown has guided Middlebury to four NESCAC Championships (2009, 2011, 2016, 2017), an NCAA Semifinal appearance in 2011 and three national quarterfinal appearances (2011, 2013, 2017). He has been named the NESCAC Coach of the Year on five occasions, the NABC District Coach of the Year twice and earned the prestigious College Basketball Officials Association Sam Schoenfeld Sportsmanship Award in 2023. Serving as the NCAA Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee, Brown has overseen the Student-Athletes of Color organization and was a member of the 2021 CoSIDA ChangeMaker Award for his work on the Leaning Into Discomfort series.
“Coaching basketball at Middlebury for the last 28 years has been an amazing experience,” said Brown. “I appreciate the student-athletes that I have had the opportunity to work with. Middlebury is a special community, and Renee and I look forward to continuing relationships with alumni, colleagues, current student-athletes and parents. It has been an honor to serve as the first Russell L. Reilly Head Coach of Men’s Basketball.”
Brown has been inducted into the University of Vermont, New England Basketball and Rockland County (NY) halls of fame. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Manhattanville College before serving in the same capacity at his alma mater, the University of Vermont, for nearly a decade. Brown was the head coach at NESCAC for Bates from 1994-97 before assuming his role at Middlebury.
Brown was a four-year member on the Catamounts, serving as a captain in his senior campaign. He graduated third on UVM’s all-time scoring list, and is currently 14th with 1,336 points. Brown is also still listed in the top-10 spots for career steals (fifth – 170) and assists (10th – 428). He earned the 1980 John C. Evans Most Valuable Player award and was an NABC District I All-Star Honorable Mention in 1982.
Brown plans to continue residing in Middlebury, and looks forward to spending time with his family.
Middlebury will begin a national search for the position in the coming weeks, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025.
D3 NEWS: Middlebury’s Jeff Brown announces retirement
