“Dedicated, passionate and determined” are how second baseman, junior Carlos Asuaje, described NSU’s head baseball coach, Greg Brown.
Brown is only the third head coach in the program’s 22-year history. The South Florida native is no stranger to the baseball world, having played, coached and scouted at various levels of the game.
This year, Brown will enter his fourth season leading the Sharks onto the field. He has seen immediate success since taking over the coaching job from Michael Mominey in June 2010. Mominey was both head baseball coach and NSU’s director of athletics for 10 years. Mominey hired Brown when he decided to focus on the director of athletics job.
Junior pitcher Zachary Wetcott said, “I was one of Coach Brown’s first signees. When Coach Brown came in, I met with him and I just really liked what his vision of the program was. He played a big role in getting me here.”
Since coming to NSU, Brown has accomplished a few firsts for the baseball program. In 2011, he led the team to their first South Regional Tournament; he repeated that feat in 2012. Coming into this season, the Sharks are nationally ranked in a preseason poll for the first time in program history, earning a number 19 ranking from the NCAA Division II polls. NSU was also selected to finish second in the conference behind last year’s conference champions, the University of Tampa.
According to Asuaje, Brown’s reaction to the pre-season rankings was neutral. “[The team was] talking about the preseason rankings and how it is the first time in program history. [Brown] said going into the season, it doesn’t really matter where you’re standing, the only poll that counts is the final one.”
According to his players, Brown is also concerned with performances off the field.
“Academics are a main focus of Coach Brown,” Westcott said. “He’s doing what he can off the field, so that you can be eligible on the field. He thinks we’re a student before an athlete. It goes a long way to have a coach who pushes you in the classroom.”
Brown has been around the game of baseball for many years. He played college baseball at Lynn University before signing as a free agent with the Florida Marlins. He later played with the Jupiter Hammerheads and the York Revolution.
Before taking the job at NSU, Brown worked for the Houston Astros as an area scout for South Florida and Puerto Rico. His responsibilities included evaluating, drafting and signing potential Major League Baseball players.
“I think he sees things that most coaches don’t pick up on in a player,” Westcott said. “I definitely think it adds to his ability to sign guys and recruit guys that we need.”
Brown’s players say that he has a highly balanced coaching style. He encourages each member of the team to grow not just as athletes, but as people.
“He’s definitely firm but fair,” Asuaje said. “He teaches and instructs with a very hands-on approach, and he goes about his business in a professional manner.”
