June 24, 2008

Upper Iowa University named Mike Brown as the Interim Head Women's Basketball Coach for the 2008-09 season today. The Polk City, Iowa native will move up from his assistant coach position to lead the Peacock program into the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, or NSIC, in 2008-09.

"We are pleased to have Mike Brown take over as the Interim Head Women's Basketball Coach. He has a wealth of experience as a head coach. He also possesses the knowledge of this basketball program and has three years of experience in the Northern Sun Conference. He has proven to be a loyal, hard working member of our coaching staff," said Gil Cloud, Upper Iowa Director of Athletics.

For the last three years, Brown has served as the assistant women's basketball coach under Ben Conrad. His responsibilities have included recruiting, on-the-floor coaching of the guards, film exchange, and academic monitoring.

Former Peacock head coach Ben Conrad said, "Coach Brown is one of the most loyal people I know. He's a tireless worker, a fierce competitor and has a tremendous rapport with our players. He has been an integral part of our building process over the past few years at UIU."

Prior to coming to Upper Iowa, Brown served as the head women's basketball coach at Iowa Central Community College from 1999-2005, compiling a 115-78 record over that time. The 1999-2000 Iowa Central team won the Region XI Tournament Championship, played in the National Tournament, and finished the season ranked eighth in the country. Brown has coached four All-Americans, dozens of all-conference performers and numerous academic all-region players. Before taking over the helm, Brown served as the assistant coach at Iowa Central from 1997-99.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to take over the women's basketball program as the Interim Head Coach here at Upper Iowa. I want to thank Gil Cloud for giving me this opportunity. I'd also really like to thank Ben Conrad for everything he has done for me, the program, and the university. We are close to turning this thing around. I'm very excited to continue what we've started here," said Brown.

Brown earned his Bachelors Degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Drake University in 1996.