Friends of Basketball

Brett Brown

Year Inducted: 1990

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:
Paris High School
LaSalle-Peru High School

Biography: Brett Brown could easily qualify for three categories in the Hall of Fame. Brown learned basketball as a player for Illinois coaching legend Ernie Eveland at Paris High School. Brown played in the last 16-team format state tournament in 1955 with Paris. Brown played collegiate basketball at Indiana State University. Brown served 13 years as basketball coach, one at Clinton, Iowa, and 12 at Paris. His teams compiled an 80 percent winning mark at 278-78 while winning 12 tournament championships and four conference titles. The 1971 Paris club won 30 straight games and played in the last one class basketball tournament in Illinois before falling to Danville. Brown served nearly 25 years as an athletic director, the first six at Paris while coaching and the remainder at LaSalle-Peru High School. During those years, Brown has organized and directed many holiday tournaments as well as regional and sectional. He has been recognized on numerous occasions for his coaching and administrative accomplishments and has always been a tremendous supporter of basketball in Illinois. Truly Brown has earned his Friend of Basketball tag.  Brett Brown died on May 14, 2021 at the age of 72.