Assistant Coach Chat: Columbia’s Jake Brown
For today’s edition of Assistant Coach Chat, we spoke with Columbia assistant coach Jake Brown. Coach Brown returns to Columbia this year after two seasons as an assistant at Howard. The Middlebury College grad previously spent the 2018-19 season on Jim Engles‘ as a graduate assistant. Some highlights from our chat below:
On why he got into coaching…
My uncle, Jeff Brown who is the Head Coach at Middlebury College, is my main inspiration. I was lucky enough to play for him for four years at Middlebury, but ever since I can remember I was watching him coach from the sidelines. Since I was about 8 years old, I’ve always been super passionate about the game and what it’s done for me. Through basketball, I’ve been able to travel the world, get a top-notch education and make lifelong friends. It’s always been my life, and to have the opportunity to make a career out of coaching is something I don’t take for granted.
On the Columbia staff’s focus for this year…
We’ve been primarily focused on recruiting. We’ve been on the road quite a bit, and we’ve been able to get a lot of guys on campus for unofficial visits. Our team goal is probably the same as every other team in the conference, to win an Ivy League Championship. More than that, we have a young group, so just instilling our team’s core values, and showing them when we play.
On the chaos and uncertainty of the last year and a half…
I tend to be an optimist, so for me, it’s been a year of growth and a time to build relationships. The coaching community has been very active in staying connected, and I’ve been able to meet other coaches and develop relationships that might not have come to fruition in a normal year. It’s been a challenging time for everyone over the past 21 months, but we’ve always been a giant family who united in the face of uncertainty. Through good times and some bad, from game-winners to heartbreakers, we’ve stayed connected.
On what Lions fans should be most excited about…
We’re excited to get going after a year hiatus due to COVID-19, and all of our guys are showing that excitement this preseason. We have 10 guys who haven’t logged a minute in a Columbia uniform. There’s nothing better than basketball in New York City. Stay safe, stay healthy, and when November comes around we’ll be ready to play!
Special thanks to Coach Jake Brown and the Columbia Lions program. If you are interesting in hearing from for more D-I assistant coaches, check out our other Assistant Coach Chats.
