Lucy Paine, Sports Editor
@lpainecourant
On Friday, August 9, the New Canaan community lost Girls Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Arthur Brown. His passing marked the end of a remarkable 40 plus year career as a Cross-Country and Track and Field coach including 15 years in New Canaan. He touched countless lives, inspired generations of athletes, and left an indelible mark on the world of sports and education at NCHS.
Next Friday, October 18, Coach Brown will be honored as one of the Class of 2024 honorees in the NCHS Athletic Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame dinner will take place at the Country Club of New Canaan.
Coach Brown’s legacy will forever live on, not only through the countless athletes he coached but also through his immense impact on anyone and everyone who knew him. His influence was recognized by winning the 2002 CHCAA Track Coach of the Year and being inducted into the FCIAC Hall of Fame in 2008. These awards exemplify his lasting contribution to the track and field community, acknowledging his profound impact on the sport and his athletes.
Girls Cross Country Captain Grace Driscoll, one of his former athletes, recalled Coach Brown’s extra effort in preparing his athletes for race days. “He would print out articles before every race about what food we had to eat, how much sleep we had to get, and every little detail to help us succeed,” Grace said. “This attention to detail and care for his athletes exemplified the kind of coach and person he was. He taught me the importance of family and welcomed us into his own,” she said.
Shawna Ferraro, another former athlete coached by Brown, echoed similar sentiments about her coach’s lasting influence. “I attribute many of my athletic successes in high school to the support of Coach Brown,” Shawna said. “Athletes and students who didn’t even run with Brown knew him and loved his spirit and humor.”
She recalled how he would often stay after practice to train athletes who wanted extra help before a meet. “Physically, I knew I was ready, but distance running is such a mental sport so Brown knew my confidence needed to be lifted going into this meet,” she said. “The track was empty but Brown and I still went outside in the pouring rain and he coached me through an extra workout to exert confidence.”
His commitment to coaching extended far beyond the hours he was paid. “He told me after the workout, “You’re ready, Shawna. No one works as hard as you; just run and don’t stop until you cross that line.” This same workout I ran the day after Brown passed, in honor of him.” Ferraro added. The athletes who got the honor of being coached by Brown know just how incredible of a coach he is.
Head Coach Jeffrey Brentson reflected on Coach Brown’s ability to make everyone feel valued. “Coach Brown always worked with every athlete, he put his all into every person he worked with for his entire career,” Brentson said.
A scholarship at New Canaan High School has also been established in his memory, ensuring that Coach Brown’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of students. The scholarship serves as a reminder of his deep commitment to education, as he was not only a coach but a teacher as well.
Marianne Cohen, a former colleague of Coach Brown’s and current New Canaan High School teacher said, “I never planned on being a teacher, but the reason I am is entirely because of Coach Brown. He knew each student individually, he knew their interests, he knew their dreams, and he cared about each and every one of them.”
To Coach Brown, coaching and teaching were more than just jobs, they were his calling, passion, and way of connecting with young people. His approach to coaching wasn’t just about perfecting a running technique or shaving seconds off a lap time. It was about shaping lives.
Micheal Arcano, a long-time colleague and close friend, shared stories of the many weekends they spent together attending college games. “Every weekend, we would go to college games to see the campus and help our students decide where they wanted to go,” he said. “Even in his final days, Coach Brown’s commitment to his athletes never wavered.” His dedication to his teams remained loyal right up until the end. “The night before he passed, he was texting his athletes their workout plans,” Mr. Arcano recalled. “I’m very blessed to have had Coach Brown in my life for over 50 years.”
Coach Brown’s life was filled with infinite joy and laughter. Mr. Arcano remembered how, no matter what the situation, Coach Brown’s spirit remained unbroken: “Even when he was in hospice the day before he passed, he was still laughing.”
It was his contagious joy for life that made him so special. Whether on the track, in the classroom, or spending time with his family, Coach Brown embraced life fully and shared that enthusiasm with everyone around him. “He enjoyed everything about life,” Mr. Arcano reflected. “He loved coaching. He loved teaching. He loved his family. And he loved his athletes.” That passion for life was evident in everything Coach Brown did. His athletes weren’t just runners to him; they were family, and he treated them with the same love, respect, and care he showed his children.
Coach Brown’s legacy is one of love, dedication, and passion for teaching and coaching. He didn’t just coach athletes; he coached people. Helping them become better runners, better students, and better human beings. “He tried to connect with us as people rather than just athletes, which made him stand out significantly from other coaches,” said Grace.
This deep connection is what made Coach Brown so special and why his memory will live on for years to come. As we gather to honor his memory at the Hall of Fame dinner in October, and as future generations of students benefit from the scholarship in his name, we are reminded of the profound impact one person can have on the world. Coach Arthur Brown may no longer be with us, but his spirit, his teachings, and his love for life will continue to inspire us all.
