Vince Brown

Where do you start . . . in the fall of 1978 I was off to to UCI on track scholarship. Honestly hated it and because the coach left I left, I spent a year at Long Beach City College throwing the shot and had a pretty good year and got the opportunity to finish my college athletic career at the University of Alabama. What a great opportunity and experience, being around the fame Paul Bear Bryant and traveling the entire South Eastern Conference (SEC).

I returned in the fall of '82 as a science teacher, football, shot put and baseball coach to Mater Dei. I spent 3 years teaching and coaching at MD.

In the summer of '85, I got the Head Baseball Coaching job at Tustin High . . . had 7 GREAT years coaching and teaching at Tustin. It's about this time in my life that God took me on a roller coast ride . . .
1. Stepped down at Tustin
2. Was sent by my Principal to the Middle School
3. Out of some bitterness took the Head Job at Woodbridge High School (Irvine). Biggest issue they played in the same league as Tustin and finished last each year.
4. '93 was OC Coach of the Year as Woodbridge went from last to first and won the Sea View League in baseball.
5. '94 my middle school principal got the principal's job at Foothill and brought me along to take over as Baseball coach. A year later he made me the Athletic Director.

In the spring of '95 my brother Mark and his wife Linda asked me to go on a blind date. One year and a week later I married Cherie (nine days after my 36th birthday).

Now with three young boys I'm all over the map from Soccer, Basketball and Baseball practices and games. Cherie is a physical therapist that works in a specialized facility that deals with stroke and brain Injuries. This maybe why she has such patience with me!

In the fall of 2008 added a new adventure in my life as I've just taken the Head SOFTBALL job here at Foothill. I've never coached girls, did not have any sisters and have no daughters. I spent three years as the head coach and had three of the greatest years of my coaching career! I was blessed with talented and great players.

Fall of 2013 my oldest son Dillon became a freshmen at Foothill, my goal was to sit back and be a spectator for his high school years. Well God had other plans, in May the head baseball coach asked if I'd return as head coach and let him have family time. At the same time my principal of 12 years was retiring . . . summer of 2013 saw a new principal that hired me as head baseball coach but wanted to take the Athletic Department in a new direction. After 17 years I'm back teaching PE full time.

The 2014 baseball season was a blessing from God, no one could have imagined. The success of this great group of young men got me multiple honors and recognition. I was the OC Register and LA Times Baseball Coach of the Year, USA Today's State Baseball Coach of the Year . . . all this with a special group of young men and my oldest son. Truly special memories as we fell one game short of the CIF-SS Division 1 championship finishing runner-ups to Santa Margarita Catholic.

My son Dillon is a relief pitcher at Cal State Fullerton, he's living his dream and getting a great opportunity at Fullerton. Tommy will be a Redshirt Freshman football player at the University of Alabama, could never imagine that one of my boys would follow me to Alabama. Zach will be a freshman at Villa Park High School, he loves both Football and Baseball and I'm excited to see what God has planned for him!

Honestly . . . for 3 years I hate being at MD. I was shy and didn't really fit in, I was a football guy but was always hurt. Thanks to Sergio Bocci he got me into Track & Field and throwing the the Shot (could get hurt there!). Then whatever reason, I was talked into running for Senior Class President, I didn't think I had a chance but ran anyway.

It changed my entire experience at MD! What I've taken from my senior year experience is GET INVOLVED, I stress that with the students I teach, I stress it to the Parents in my programs. Once you've invested yourself into something it will take on an entirely different perspective!