Dee Brown named Director of Player Development and Alumni Relations

[Dan]

@deebrown11 is back with the @IlliniMBB program, as Director of Player Development and Alumni Relations. #Illini

Illinois legend Dee Brown is returning to the Fighting Illini basketball program, serving for Head Coach John Groce as the program's first-ever Director of Player Development and Alumni Relations. Brown's new role comes on the heels of a successful year-long stint in the UI's Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) as Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics.

Brown's duties with the Illini will include scheduling and coordinating all student-athlete life skills enhancement opportunities and community service participation, providing off-the-court guidance to players during their collegiate careers and beyond, coordinating video materials, contributing to on-campus recruiting-related activities and directing correspondence with high school coaches, and representing the program at various public and alumni events.

In addition, Brown also will lead alumni relations for the program, focusing on increased communication and engagement with previous players along with planning and coordinating Illini basketball alumni events in concert with the Varsity "I" Association.

http://www.fightingillini.com/news/...n-joins-fighting-illini-basketball-staff.aspx

 

[drillini]

Congratulations Dee! Great news. :congrats:

 

[FeelYourPaign]

Can't think of a better guy to be mentoring our guys.
Wonderful news.
Of course, pretty much all Dee Brown news is wonderful news.

 

[JoseyWales83]

This should help recruiting a lot...Congrats Dee!!!

 

[spillini]

Glad they recognized the need to create a custom role to capitalize on all that Dee brings to the table.

 

[SalukiIllini]

Huge.

 

[Joel Goodson]

Glad they recognized the need to create a custom role to capitalize on all that Dee brings to the table.

+1 Most definitely. Carving out a role within the program is very, very good. If an assistant coaching position opens up, he's probably the guy.

 

[BWBW]

:rock:

Dee!

 

[KnoxIllini2]

I am viewing this as an audition for assistant coach. I hope it works out!

 

[ILL in IA]

Anyone notice what day of the week this got announced on?

 

[Jules]

Will Dee be able to sit the bench during games?

 

[Deleted member 3875]

What's allowable as far as recruiting is concerned?

 

[Second and Chalmers]

What's allowable as far as recruiting is concerned?

Nothing off campus, anything on campus, I believe.

 

[brosox]

Anyone notice what day of the week this got announced on?

Is your point that the announcement was made today to give good news for the program when we might be getting bad news coming out of the Kendrick Nunn court hearing that is also scheduled for today?

 

[Trakis]

Nothing off campus, anything on campus, I believe.

How do we know recruits haven't already been meeting him when they come to campus for visits? Love Dee, but I don't totally buy into the "this will be huge for recruiting" idea.

 

[Second and Chalmers]

How do we know recruits haven't already been meeting him when they come to campus for visits?

We don't. I'd be surprised if they hadn't.

 

[Illini B-Ball Fan]

This is a great step as a first-ever position with multiple, important job duties that should improve the life of each current player while on and off campus, assist in recruiting new-players-to be, break down communication barriers with high school coaches, and help keep former alumni involved with the overall Illini basketball program. Congratulations Dee!!

 

[ILL in IA]

Is your point that the announcement was made today to give good news for the program when we might be getting bad news coming out of the Kendrick Nunn court hearing that is also scheduled for today?

It was originally made as a joke from last month on the "good news should come down on Wednesday" from the insiders. After the fact I saw the Nunn news and think its 100% done that way.

 

[Joel Goodson]

How do we know recruits haven't already been meeting him when they come to campus for visits? Love Dee, but I don't totally buy into the "this will be huge for recruiting" idea.

Huge is an overstatement. It will help though. Could pay huge dividends down the road.

 

[Orangetool]

This is a great i DEE ya !



Sorry

 

[Adnarel]

This is some well-timed good news. Maybe they had it in the wings to temper the Nunn stuff?

 

[riffraff]

The players needs some mentoring in off court behavior. If only this had come sooner.

 

[KrushCow31]

This is great as Dee will be a good tool for the organization to use. However, I think some of you vastly overestimate how much recruits care about the career of Dee in the year 2016.

 

[Adnarel]

This is great as Dee will be a good tool for the organization to use. However, I think some of you vastly overestimate how much recruits care about the career of Dee in the year 2016.

Even if this is true, Dee is an unequivocally positive and high-energy guy. He should be able to engage with college students regardless of their lack of Illinois history knowledge.

 

[IlliniDent]

This is great as Dee will be a good tool for the organization to use. However, I think some of you vastly overestimate how much recruits care about the career of Dee in the year 2016.

Yea doesn't have much to do with his career as much as his personality and enthusiasm.