Jennifer Brown has been named the next head coach to lead the Queens University of Charlotte women’s basketball team, Director of Athletics Cherie Swarthout announced today. Brown comes to the Royals after spending the last four of her 12 seasons as a coach as the top assistant at Virginia Tech.
“Throughout the interview process, Coach Brown stood out due to her ability to nurture excellence through collaboration at each stop in her playing and coaching career to date,” Swarthout said. “Our mantra this year was #Belong and I felt Coach Brown belongs at Queens! She was able to communicate a very purposeful process along her journey demonstrating the ability to deliver excellent experiences for the student-athletes. She also demonstrated strong success in academics, athletics, and community engagement, the three key areas important to Queens. I truly believe in her ability to move the needle of our women’s basketball program in all areas regionally, nationally, and even globally with her experience.”
Virginia Tech accumulated an 86-49 record and made three WNIT appearances after posting four-consecutive 20-plus win seasons with Brown on the coaching staff. As the recruiting coordinator, she helped rebuild the program which had only one winning season from 2008-2016 bringing in some of the top recruits in the nation. After bringing in two top-25 nationally ranked recruiting classes, the Hokies were able to post the most Atlantic Coast Conference wins in 12 seasons as they finished 2019-20 at 11-7 in league play. Additionally, Brown recruited and coached eight ACC All-Conference Team selections, one ACC Rookie of the Year and one Sixth Player of the Year.
“I feel beyond blessed to join the Royals family as the new women’s basketball head coach,” Brown said. “I can’t thank Cherie and Vice President Bullock enough for this opportunity. Queens University is a special place with great people. I cannot wait to work with our past, current, and future Royals as we all strive to take the women’s basketball program to new heights.”
Prior to joining the Hokies, Brown spent six seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, James Madison University. In that time, the Dukes had a .797 winning percentage (165-42) which included six-consecutive 25-plus win seasons. They also won four CAA Regular Season Championships and four CAA Tournament Championships while also making four NCAA Championship appearances. The 2013-14 season was their most successful as they recorded 29 wins to tie a school record, and defeated a sixth-ranked Gonzaga team for their first NCAA tournament win since 1991.
With the Dukes, Brown recruited and coached 28 CAA All-Conference Team selections, four Players of the Year, two Rookies of the Year, and two Defensive Players of the Year. Additionally, two of Brown’s recruits went on to be WNBA draft picks.
Prior to joining the Colgate University coaching staff for two seasons straight out of college, Brown played for the Dukes from 2005-08 helping lead JMU to a 75-23 (.761) record. During Brown’s junior season, JMU compiled a 27-6 record, was runner-up in the CAA Tournament, and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. That same season, the Dukes were ranked as high as No. 22 in the AP Poll and No. 25 in the USA Today Poll. In her senior season, JMU put together a 24-10 record, advancing to the Round of 16 of the WNIT after receiving votes during the season in both major media polls.
Brown, a Brooklyn, New York native, holds a bachelor’s degree in justice and a master’s degree in kinesiology, both from JMU.
“I am looking forward to serving and engaging the Queens community as well as the Charlotte area, and getting them as excited about the future of the Royals women’s basketball program as I am,” Brown added.
Photo Courtesy Queens University Charlotte Athletics
Tagged with: ACC D2 Jennifer Brown Queens University of Charlotte SAC Virginia Tech
