Michael Brown ‘08 returns to York College as assistant men's and women’s track & field coach ahead of the 2022-23 season. Brown graduated from York in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in movement science following a legendary track & field career as a Cardinal from 2002-06.
“Coming back to York is an honor and a privilege at the same time. York has such a great wealth of unbelievable history, both academically and athletically, at the same token, it is for the culture and definitely for Coach Thomas Pope. The legacy that he has left is a motivational push on what we need to do on our part, as coaches.”
Holding 14 program records that still stand today, Brown contributed to a total of two CUNYAC Indoor Track & Field Championships in 2005 and 2006 as well as two CUNYAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2005 and 2006. Brown was selected All-America in 2004 and 2005, and was recognized by the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) as the 2006 Indoor and Outdoor Track Performer of the Year. In 2005, the two-time CUNYAC All-Star crossed the 800m finish line eighth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Then in 2006, Brown competed as a member of York's 4x400 squad at the NCAA Indoor Championships and later placed sixth in the 400m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Brown was named indoor and outdoor track & field team MVP during all four years as a Cardinal and claimed back-to-back York College Male Athlete of the Year distinctions in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
In 2008, Brown took his talents to the Jamaican National Olympic Trials in Kingston, Jamaica and advanced to the 800m finals with an eighth-place showing in 1:53.79, which fell short of qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Brown was back at it again for another go at the Olympics in 2012. He competed again in the 800m at the Jamaican National Olympic Trials, where he placed seventh (1:54.16), 5.71 seconds shy of qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics.
In 2014, Brown captured a National Championship in both the 400 and 800-meter events at the USA Track & Field (USATF) National Indoor Masters Championships held at Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. Throughout his career, Brown has been recognized 24 times as a Masters All-American, including winning 11 national titles.
Brown has previously served as assistant track & field coach at Lehman College during the 2017-18 season, helping the Lightning gain CUNYAC recognition by producing a total of seven All-Stars, one Sportsmanship Award winner and three members named to the Sportsmanship Team.
Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, Brown moved to East New York, Brooklyn and was a class of 2001 graduate of Transit Tech High School. As a prep star at Transit Tech, Brown was cited six times on the High school list for track & field magazine rankings. Holding eight records that still stand today at Transit Tech, Brown was a three-time prep all-America selection. He was Transit Tech’s first individual all-America distinction in both indoors and outdoors 800-meter and 4x400-meter (indoor: 3:17.64; outdoor: 3:14.60) races in addition to being a 2001 New York State record holder in those events. During the 2001 season, Brown collected all-America honors in the indoor 800 meters (1:53.61), which was not only the PSAL’s second fastest time in that event, but cemented him in the Transit Tech record books as the program’s first individual all-American. As a senior, Brown contributed to the second fastest High School time in the outdoor 4x400 meters (3:13.64) since 1971. His standout season in 2001 also included an outstanding performance at New York State Scholastica track & field championship and state record for the 4x400 relay for 2001 outdoors. Brown also crossed the finish line in the 600 meters in 1:20.38 for the PSAL’s third-fastest time. In 2000, Brown clocked the second-fastest 4x800 meter (7:47.91) time in the East Coast for outdoors to earn 1999-2000 PSAL and All-City distinctions.
In 2011, Brown returned to Transit Tech to serve for one season as assistant coach.
