With just days to go until the start of the 97th Drake Relays, Brian Brown’s days can only be described as hectic – phone calls, meetings and some jittery nerves as renovation winds down at Drake Stadium. But in his first year as executive director of the event, Brown calls it “a dream come true.” A native of New Iberia, La., he grew up around sports, especially basketball, but was quickly recruited to compete as a high jumper after displaying his dunking abilities on the court. He went on to Southeastern Louisiana State and later Northwestern State in Louisiana to compete in basketball and track and field but later directed his focus to high jumping, which earned him numerous medals at national track and field events, as well as the Drake Relays’ special invitational high jump record of 7 feet 7 inches. He met his wife, Des Moines native Natasha Kaiser-Brown, while competing in Birmingham, England, and they married in 1992, 20 days after she captured an Olympic silver medal. Brown earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri and last year received a doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy analysis. They moved to Des Moines in 2000 when Kaiser-Brown became Drake’s head track and field coach, and Brown, a licensed minister in the Baptist faith since 1997, was named to his current post in February 2005. They have three children: Elexandria, “Elle,” 6; Quinton, “Q,” 4; and Kristian, “K Mike,” 3.

Were sports an important part of your childhood?  Basketball, primarily. I had two older brothers who were very talented in basketball, so they were role models for me. My first experience with track and field was not very successful. As a ninth-grader, I was the only individual on the team who ran hurdles, and they just needed someone to finish the race and get one point for the team. I was horrible, but as long as I finished the race, coach was proud because I got a point for the team. But I was out there because I wanted to be near my friends.

Did you have any hesitations about being a two-sport athlete in college?   I didn’t because it was a matter of my education getting paid for, and however that was going to happen, that was fine. I knew my parents couldn’t afford to send me to school, so it opened up some doors for me. If they needed me to play baseball, I was going to do that too as long as I had the chance to get my education. It was important.

Why give up basketball?   After my freshman year, (SLU) dropped the track and field program. I had a decision to make: whether or not I was going to stay and play basketball only or pursue track and field (at another university). I ended up transferring to Northwestern State (University in Louisiana). I had to sit out my first year in basketball, but because (SLU) dropped track, I was immediately eligible for track. In sitting out basketball and focusing on track, track really took off. I never went back to basketball.

When you started your collegiate track and field career, did you see yourself achieving the accomplishments you did during those years?   I didn’t at first, especially being at a smaller school in Louisiana. But when I observed other individuals on the track team at my school becoming all-Americans and having great success, I thought if they could do it from a small school, I could, too. I began to take the lid off of how far in the sport I could go. To be honest, I attribute a lot of the success I had as an individual to my relationship with Christ.

How did your relationship with Christ enter into your track and field career?   It was a gift and I tried to give back that gift by focusing and doing the best I could. So win, lose or draw, I tried to leave the competition area successful by knowing I did the best I could to give back to God that gift and glorify him by doing that.

Did you always envision yourself becoming a coach?   I knew I wanted to give back, and this was an opportunity to do that. Any time you’re fortunate enough to gain some experience, it’s always good to give back that experience, and coaching is a way to do that. As a young minister, I also see coaching as a ministry of sorts where you can help to impact, in a positive way, young people, not only developing athletes that can be successful on the playing field, but individuals that can be successful in life.

Why enter the ministry?   In the Baptist faith, there was an anointing and calling where it wasn’t something I chose. It was something I felt was a strong responsibility that God was putting in my life to pursue this particular vocation. I’ve accepted that as part of my life.

Why pursue a career in a university setting?  College is an opportunity to grow up and develop, and I wanted to work in that environment, particularly with young people – to see them come in as freshmen and leave as seniors.

Have you enjoyed the experience of preparing for the 97th Drake Relays?   I love the job, I love the challenge, I love track and field, so I’m working every day in an environment I really care about and I’m still able to give back and still able to impact young people’s lives. It’s a dream come true.