The Herald-Sun
March 8, 2010
DURHAM — Chuck Brown, head football coach at Rogers-Herr Middle School, celebrated his 100th victory in 2009.
He works with a staff of five to seven coaches and has been coaching football for 17 years. He has been at Rogers-Herr since 2005.
Brown grew up in Durham playing sports. He also spent a few years in Michigan while his father was working on his master’s degree.
After relocating to North Carolina, he attended and graduated from Hillside High School. At Hillside, he did not have an interest in playing football. He wanted to play baseball, but the coaches saw different potential.
He ended up having a stellar football career at Hillside. He played for all four years in high school. He started out on the soccer team his senior year, but his coach felt he was a bigger asset for the football team. He set records in that season. He received numerous awards and recognitions such as: all-conference defensive back, led the team in rushing, scoring and interceptions, and the Golden Helmet for most valuable player.
Over the years, Brown continued to grow and develop in another part of the game, coaching. Being a coach became his passion, more so than playing. In 1997, Don Jones, Durham Eagles youth football commissioner, gave Brown an opportunity to coach the Durham Eagles. Coach Brown felt it an honor and a privilege to be a part of such an amazing program. He coached the Durham Eagles for 11 years. Shortly after, he was given the opportunity to be the head football coach for Rogers-Herr Middle School Rams.
The Rams had a six-year losing record when he became a part of their program. Teaching was his main goal and focus, not winning or losing. He felt the kids needed knowledge, and middle school football was a stepping-stone and should be used as a teaching tool to develop extraordinary athletes.
To his surprise, he actually coached many of the kids of his previous Durham Eagles players.
According to Brown, “all the kids showed a desire for the game, and were willing to do whatever it took to learn.”
When Coach Brown captured his 100th win he said the best part of coaching and winning that game was when all the kids ran on the field and hugged him; at that moment he said he knew that he was a part of something incredible.
So how did Coach Brown make it to his 100th win in such a short time?
He enjoys teaching the game.
Teaching football is Coach Brown’s main focus. Academics are also very important.
As he puts it: "If you are going to give 100 percent on the field, you are going to give 100 percent in the classroom.”
Coincidentally, his mother was a teacher.
She was his biggest influence, and never accepted anything less than 100 percent effort. This principle has stayed with him throughout his journey.
As Coach Brown has stated, “Winning is always a perk of good teaching!”
Coach Brown was honored at the team’s end of season football banquet held at the Golden Corral restaurant and said he was very humbled by the honor.