Bill Brown. Photo: Contributed
One of our most recognizable names, voices and faces, Bill Brown is a true New Canaan institution. A town treasure who has positively impacted generations of students from the last days of Center School in the early 1980’s right up to the present, Brown is also one of the most prolific coaches in New Canaan High School history, having guided the Rams to four FCIAC titles, 12 FCIAC East and 1o state championships in his 17 seasons at the helm of the Varsity boys golf team.
Born in Norwalk and raised in New Canaan on Parade Hill Road—a veritable breeding ground for great athletes in town—Brown was the youngest of four boys who all played sports at New Canaan High School. It was in the mentoring of younger athletes where Brown found his niche, as the NCHS Class of 1978 grad began coaching PONY League baseball while still in high school.
Brown (top row, 3rd from right) was a valuable assistant for head coach Mark ‘2-5-0’ Rearick for years at NCHS. Credit: Terry Dinan
Brown coached Pop Warner Football in the early 80’s, where he helped develop many future New Canaan Rams gridiron stars. He also coached Babe Ruth baseball for fourteen years, winning several town championships with the Cardinals—titles which are on display near the Lodge at Mead Park.
Brown began his high school coaching career in 1983 as the head coach of the NCHS freshman baseball team. He also coached JV girls basketball and freshman football. In 1990, Brown became the assistant Varsity baseball coach, serving as the right-hand man to legendary Rams skipper Mark ‘2-5-0’ Rearick from 1990-99.
Bill Brown (far right) with his 2014 CIAC Championship team. Source: Facebook
Since becoming the Varsity boys golf coach in 2000, Brown has accumulated a record of 255-42-2 in 17 seasons. A longtime equipment manager for the football team, he also serves as an announcer for Rams home basketball games and is a backup for “The Voice of the Rams” Bob Vanderheyden at home football games.
Brown never misses a single youth football game at Dunning Stadium behind the PA microphone, where his humor, guidance and dedication to young athletes continue well into a fifth decade.
The New Canaan Alumni Athletic Association/New Canaan Old Timers Association will hold its annual picnic on Sunday, September 18 at Waveny House.
This year’s event will feature eight honorees: Bill Brown, Kara Devlin Yonker, Paul Devlin, Cari Hills, Mario Lopez, Jeff Mellick, Bob Schott and Andy Towers.
The celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a continental breakfast, beverages and lunch. The cost is $50 for adults, $20 for students. Children under 14 are admitted for free.
Checks may be made payable to New Canaan Old Timers and mailed to P.O. Box 1642, New Canaan, CT 06840. Tickets also available at the door.
Proceeds from the event go toward the Vin Iovino Scholarship, named for the former NCHS athletic director and presented to selected senior athletes at the annual sports picnic and award ceremony held at the end of every school year.
There should be a field in town named after Bill Brown. From Waveny Camp, to youth baseball camp at Mead Park and all the way through high school Bill was there my entire sporting life in New Canaan and I am so glad he was. Now, all these years later he still greets me at NCHS sporting events with a smile and a joke about how bad his beloved Reds are. So happy he is being honored as he is truly a town treasure.