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Post a commentOne of South Jersey’s most legendary coaches gets his own field
Washington Township Public Schools will honor former coach Tom Brown for his successful leadership of the high school’s football program.
In a ceremony later this month, Washington Township High School’s football field will be named Tom Brown Field to commemorate the legacy of coach Brown this autumn.
The district-wide dedication ceremony for the field is scheduled for Nov. 25. The ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. before Washington Township High School football team’s game against Eastern High School at 6 p.m.
Coach Brown, who was a high school math teacher and coach in the district for over 20 years, died at age 61 in 2006.
Brown headed the boys’ football team through seven conference championships and three Group IV championships in 1987, 1992 and 1995. USA Today ranked Brown’s team eighth in the country in 1992.
Brown was inducted as a member of the South Jersey Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996 and was named the TD Club of Southern New Jersey’s Coach of the Year in 1993.
In addition to coaching, Brown started a football booster club at the district called the 5th Quarter Club. The club provides scholarships to team members and donates funding to the school for athletics. So far, scholarships totaling $500,000 have been awarded to athletes and $250,000 was donated to the school toward mainly weight and training room additions.
Athletic director Kevin Murphy said the dedication ceremony will feature speeches from district staff, the board of education, and football alumni in remembrance of coach Brown.
“It’s an opportunity for the players to remember the contributions of one of the greatest football coaches in South Jersey. It will be a nice way to remember him, and we are thankful to the Eastern community for taking part in the dedication ceremony,” Murphy said.
Murphy worked with Brown throughout his career and spoke of the influence that coach Brown had on students and the athletic program in Washington Township.
“He took boys and turned them into young men. He was a good coach, but his excellence went far beyond football strategies, it went towards education and helping students grow and develop and become good citizens,” Murphy said.
Murphy is happy to see the field named for the former coach as a way of preserving his memory at a venue where he had a profound influence on the district.
“His record is unparalleled in South Jersey. His achievements are best remembered by the impact he had on lives of the young men he coached,” Murphy said.
According to Murphy, the district’s board of education was in the forefront of the effort to recognize Brown for his efforts as a premier educator and coach.
“We are very thankful that board of education and superintendent have taken this step to remember the legacy of Tom Brown for future generations to remember the contributions he made to [the] school district and the kids in community,” Murphy said.
In a ceremony later this month, Washington Township High School’s football field will be named Tom Brown Field to commemorate the legacy of coach Brown this autumn.
The district-wide dedication ceremony for the field is scheduled for Nov. 25. The ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. before Washington Township High School football team’s game against Eastern High School at 6 p.m.
Coach Brown, who was a high school math teacher and coach in the district for over 20 years, died at age 61 in 2006.
Brown headed the boys’ football team through seven conference championships and three Group IV championships in 1987, 1992 and 1995. USA Today ranked Brown’s team eighth in the country in 1992.
Brown was inducted as a member of the South Jersey Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996 and was named the TD Club of Southern New Jersey’s Coach of the Year in 1993.
In addition to coaching, Brown started a football booster club at the district called the 5th Quarter Club. The club provides scholarships to team members and donates funding to the school for athletics. So far, scholarships totaling $500,000 have been awarded to athletes and $250,000 was donated to the school toward mainly weight and training room additions.
Athletic director Kevin Murphy said the dedication ceremony will feature speeches from district staff, the board of education, and football alumni in remembrance of coach Brown.
“It’s an opportunity for the players to remember the contributions of one of the greatest football coaches in South Jersey. It will be a nice way to remember him, and we are thankful to the Eastern community for taking part in the dedication ceremony,” Murphy said.
Murphy worked with Brown throughout his career and spoke of the influence that coach Brown had on students and the athletic program in Washington Township.
“He took boys and turned them into young men. He was a good coach, but his excellence went far beyond football strategies, it went towards education and helping students grow and develop and become good citizens,” Murphy said.
Murphy is happy to see the field named for the former coach as a way of preserving his memory at a venue where he had a profound influence on the district.
“His record is unparalleled in South Jersey. His achievements are best remembered by the impact he had on lives of the young men he coached,” Murphy said.
According to Murphy, the district’s board of education was in the forefront of the effort to recognize Brown for his efforts as a premier educator and coach.
“We are very thankful that board of education and superintendent have taken this step to remember the legacy of Tom Brown for future generations to remember the contributions he made to [the] school district and the kids in community,” Murphy said.
