First of a two-part story
While on the UCLA campus during a reporting trip in late January, we ran into a Black man standing outside the school’s tennis courts. After asking for directions to Pauley Pavilion, he introduced himself.
UCLA Associate Head Women’s Tennis Coach Rance Brown joined the Bruins coaching staff in 1996, and was promoted to his present position in 2008. He has been an integral part of two national championships (2008, 2014), four runners-up finishes (2004, 2007, 2012, 2015), and made the NCAAs in each of his 26 previous seasons at Westwood.
Brown also is a two-time national assistant coach of the year (2000, 2012) and five-time Southwest Region assistant coach of the year (1999, 2000, 2007, 2010, 2012).
Under his tutelage, two Bruins tennis players won NCAA singles titles (Kari Phebus and Tian Fangran), and his players have also won three NCAA doubles titles. A total of 34 All-Americans have worn UCLA uniforms during his tenure.
Brown also is among a stagnant list of Black assistant women’s tennis coaches. According to the latest NCAA racial demographics, he is among 29 Black male assistants in all three divisions (3%), a number that has been dwindling for over a decade — the all-time high is 33 in 2016.
On Sunday, April 6, there will be at least one Black coach on both squads when Brown’s UCLA squad hosts the visiting Minnesota Golden Gophers, coached by Lois Arterberry, one of 14 Black head coaches (2%).
“We now have [one] at Arizona State,” Brown pointed out of Jamea Jackson, who was hired last June. “She came from Princeton,” where she was HC for two seasons, he added.
Admittedly, “The diversity is changing slowly by slowly,” said Brown. “Fifty percent of the teams have an African American girl [playing]. I’ve seen four African American girls at one time on a squad of eight.”
Sophomore Ahmani Guichard is the only Black player on this year’s UCLA team.
Known also as an excellent recruiter, Brown said, “I’m proud to say there probably have been more African American girls in this program in the last two decades than any other university in the country.”
After our chance meeting and agreeing to a brief interview, Brown reiterated how proud he is as a Bruin coach.
“Being able to walk on a campus like this,” he concluded, “UCLA is one of the few universities that have five buildings named after African American gentlemen. To be part of this great university, to be part of this great legacy of African American athletes and coaches, I am truly blessed.”
Next week – a diversity showdown of sorts on the Minnesota campus
Sports careers conference
The USA Basketball Foundation has awarded 12 future leaders in sport full scholarships, including travel, hotel accommodations and conference registration fees valued at $3,000 each to attend the April 3 USA Basketball Women in the Game conference at this year’s Women Final Four in Tampa, Florida.
Delaware State sophomore Mahogany Cottingham is among the 12 attendees. “I want to work in sports,” she told the MSR at the MEAC tournament last month.
Over 300 women applied for the USA Basketball scholarships, and Cottingham said she wasn’t sure that she would get one of them. “This is a great opportunity,” she said, “and a way to represent my school and our team. I’m excited for it.”
Women in the Game is a professional development conference for high school and college students and young professionals looking or seeking a career in sports.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.