Trisha Brown, Massachuetts – 2025
With 35 years dedicated to advancing women’s athletics, Trisha Brown has profoundly influenced athletes and the broader sports community. Currently in her 24th year as head coach of the women’s basketball program at Stonehill College (MA), she also serves as Assistant Athletic Director for Staff Development, a position she has held since September, 2021. Brown has continued the program’s tradition of excellence at both the regional and national levels, guiding the Skyhawks through their transition to NCAA Division I while maintaining a culture of success and leadership within the athletic department.
Stonehill women’s basketball thrived as one of the premier programs in Division II under Brown’s leadership, where she amassed over 400 wins and ranked 30th among active DII coaches. During her tenure, Brown has led the Skyhawks to 21 postseason & 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, six NE-10 championships, and an Elite 8 appearance. Since its recent jump to Division I, Brown guided Stonehill to the NEC Tournament finals in their first year of eligibility and secured the program’s first bid to the WNIT.
Prior to her arrival at Stonehill, Brown helped lead Harvard to five Ivy League championship titles in her capacity as Assistant Coach under the legendary Kathy Delaney-Smith. A 1987 Harvard graduate and two-sport student-athlete (basketball and softball), she captained Harvard’s first Ivy League basketball championship team in 1985-86, and was named to Harvard’s Silver Anniversary Team for softball in recognition of her contributions to women’s athletics. Her athletic and coaching careers reflect a lifelong commitment to fostering excellence and leadership among women athletes.
Beyond coaching, Brown has been a tireless advocate for equity and inclusion in athletics. She serves on the Athletics Task Force for Social Justice/DEI and the Gender Equity Committee at Stonehill, mentoring hundreds of players and colleagues along the way. Her dedication to advancing girls’ and women’s sports is evident in every facet of her work, making Trisha Brown not only an exceptional coach but also a transformative leader whose impact will be felt for generations to come.