Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick Brown has announced her resignation as head coach of the UNC Asheville women’s basketball program. UNC Asheville women’s basketball associate head coach Honey Brown has been promoted to the program’s head coach.
“First I would like to thank Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone and Chancellor Nancy J. Cable for this wonderful opportunity, as well as Chancellor Emerita Anne Ponder, who was at the helm of this great university when I was hired,” Mock said. “I want to also thank the fans and the supporters of the Asheville community who stood by us during the rebuilding process and who were able to cut down nets with us in 2016 and 2017.
“We have set a standard of excellence and the program is ready to ascend to the next level. I have full confidence it will take off under the leadership of Honey Brown and wish her the very best as she takes over the reigns as UNC Asheville’s next head women’s basketball coach.”
In eight seasons with the program, Mock led the Bulldogs to a 117-137 overall record, which included winning records in each of the past five seasons – a first in the program’s history. The program earned recognition as a NCAA Division I Academic Top 25 team honor roll list by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association in 2017 and 2019 with a team grade-point average greater than 3.5. Mock’s eight-year tenure and 117-career victories are both second all-time in the program’s history.
Mock led the Bulldogs to a 26-7 record during the 2015-16 season and the first Big South Conference regular-season title in program history earning a place in the NCAA Tournament. Mock earned recognition as the 2016 Big South Coach of the Year and HERO Sports Coach of the Year after leading the team to the largest turnaround in Division I that season.
The following season, the Bulldogs made it two consecutive trips to “The Big Dance” by defeating top-seeded Radford on its home floor in the Big South Tournament championship game. In 2017-18, Mock led the Bulldogs to 17 victories and the Big South championship game for the third consecutive season. The Bulldogs competed in the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament that year. The following season, the Bulldogs again won 17 games and played in the WBI, marking four straight seasons competing in a postseason tournament.
This past season, the Bulldogs won their first-round Big South Tournament game in dominating fashion, setting the tournament First Round records for made 3-pointers in a game (12) and a half (8). The Bulldogs did not get to play again due to the cancelation of the remainder of the tournament, but Mock earned the 13th Big South Tournament victory of her career.
“We appreciate the great job that Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick Brown has done with our women’s basketball program during her eight years as our head coach,” Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone said. “She has provided the vision and game plan that has distinguished our program as one of the best in the Big South Conference. All who follow our program know that Brenda is passionate about winning games but is even more so about developing champions and leaders in life. We wish her and Jeremy much success and happiness as they begin their new adventure.”
Cone continued, “Though it’s hard to say goodbye to Brenda, we are thrilled to officially introduce Honey Brown as our next head women’s basketball coach. In the eight years that she has been on our staff, she has always demonstrated the qualities of a champion and leader on the court and in our community. Working alongside Coach Brenda Brown, she has been a vital component in establishing one of the most consistent and successful women’s basketball programs in the Big South Conference. She is the right person to not only build on our winning tradition but to provide us with a vision and road map for greater levels of achievement in the future.”
Honey Brown becomes the 11th head coach in program history and the seventh since the program moved to Division I in the 1986-87 season. She has spent the past eight seasons as an assistant for Mock Kirkpatrick Brown. After six seasons, she was elevated to associate head coach prior to the start of the 2018-19 campaign.
“I am honored to be the next Head Women’s Basketball Coach at UNC Asheville,” Brown said. “I am thankful to Chancellor Cable and Janet Cone for this opportunity. Asheville has been a wonderful place on and off the court for me the past eight years and I look forward to many more years to come.
“I am grateful to Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick Brown for all the hard work and love she put into UNC Asheville. Together we built something very special and I am excited to now lead this program.”
Prior to her time on the Bulldogs’ bench, Brown spent four seasons as an assistant at Saint Louis working primarily with SLU’s point guards. Before her time with the Billikens, Brown served as director and head trainer at Performance Training, Inc., in Orlando, Fla. While there, she managed all aspects of the company, including staffing, schedules and marketing.
Brown also spent four years as an assistant at Ohio University and a season as an assistant at Central Florida. She got her start in coaching as an assistant with Lenoir City High School in Lenoir City, Tenn. While with LCHS, she helped lead the Panthers to a state tournament appearance in 1998.
A 1994 graduate of Maryville College, she was third in the nation in three-point percentage for Division III her junior year, while serving as a team captain her final two seasons. The Scots made four consecutive appearances in the NCAA III Tournament during her career at Maryville, including two trips to the round of 16.
“On behalf of the entire UNC Asheville community, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Coach Mock Kirkpatrick Brown for her expertise, leadership and outstanding record leading our women to victory as a team and as individuals,” said UNC Asheville Chancellor Nancy J. Cable. “I stand ready to support Coach Honey Brown and each and every one of our talented and high-energy players as they pursue success both on and off the court.”
Statement from Honey Brown
“What a great day and exciting day it is to be a Bulldog! I’m honored to be your next Bulldog head women’s basketball coach. After spending the last eight years here as an assistant, I feel like I’ve had a small part in helping build this program. Of anyone, I know what a great team and great group of young ladies we have and I’m so excited to lead them, and it is going to be a lot of fun. First of all, I would like to thank Chancellor (Nancy) Cable, and our athletic director, Janet Cone, for this opportunity and for entrusting me with this program. UNC Asheville is such a special place, and there are so many people willing to sacrifice and give so much of their effort to this program and this university. I would like to recognize what Janet calls ‘The Team Behind the Team’ and all the support staff. I appreciate all of your hard work and dedication, and look forward to working with you more in the future.
“And to Coach Mock: when you’re with somebody for eight years, you get to know each other quite a bit. We’ve been through so many highs and lows and life changes together. I appreciate her more than she will ever know. She’s challenged me in so many ways, I just feel confident and appreciative of all the opportunities she’s given me. She’s empowered me over these last eight years, and I feel so ready and prepared for this opportunity. I will be forever grateful to her.”
Statement from Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick Brown
“First I would like to thank director of athletics Janet Cone and Chancellor Nancy Cable for this wonderful opportunity as well as Chancellor Emerita Anne Ponder, who was at the helm of this great university when I was hired. I want to also thank the fans and the supporters of the Asheville community who stood by us during the rebuilding process and who were able to cut down nets with us in 2016 and 2017. UNC Asheville has a community of people that aren’t just fans, but followers. They love you because of who you are and not just what you do and I appreciate their presence in all of my eight seasons as the head coach. I loved that aspect of coaching here and recognize the culture of family is unique to this university. My gratitude goes to all of the coaches and administrators in the UNC Asheville athletic department for their hard work and dedication. You inspired me every day and made me want to work hard for this university. I was born and raised in this area and UNC Asheville will always have a huge place in my heart.
“Although God has been clear that it is time for me to step down from this assignment, the hardest group of people to say goodbye to will be the staff and the players. It was beyond a privilege to be their leader and friend. I learned so much from all of them and appreciate their patience as I grew from a hot-headed first year coach into someone who finally discovered what leadership and purpose are all about. I love these kids and cherish every day I got to spend with them and be a part of their amazing journey. I will miss them dearly but am certain they will be in good hands and am excited about what the future holds for the program. I am grateful to my current staff as well as all of our former coaching staff members and UNC Asheville alum that have played here. Your contributions are both appreciated and so instrumental to our success. We have set a standard of excellence and the program is ready to ascend to the next level. I have full confidence it will take off under the leadership of Honey Brown and wish her the very best as she takes over the reigns as UNC Asheville’s next head women’s basketball coach.”
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