Tag: Gary Brown

Franklin Names Brown As New Athletic Director

Gary Brown

By HockomockSports.com Staff

Franklin has hired Gary Brown as its next athletic director, bringing in a familiar Hockomock League name from King Philip.

Brown, a Franklin resident, has spent the last nine years as the athletic director at King Philip, where he helped oversee one of the league’s most successful athletic departments. During his tenure, the Warriors added Unified Basketball, Unified Track and Field, and boys volleyball.

Before taking over at King Philip, Brown spent nine years in the athletics department at Harvard, including time as Associate Director of Athletics. He also had stops with MIT men’s soccer and the Bay State Games.

Press release from Franklin Public Schools:

Franklin Public Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gary Brown as the next Athletic Director at Franklin High School.

Mr. Brown brings nearly two decades of experience in athletic administration at both the high school and collegiate levels. For the last nine years, he has served as the Athletic Director at King Philip Regional High School and is widely respected throughout the Hockomock League for his leadership, collaborative approach, and commitment to student-athletes. Before committing his time to high school athletics, Gary served as the Athletic Director at Harvard University for several years, where he was directly responsible for organizing and supporting their program, which earned multiple NCAA Division 1 national championships during his tenure. He has proven success in overseeing large athletic departments, policy development and adherence, organizing major sporting events, and developing comprehensive student leadership programs

Throughout the interview process, Mr. Brown distinguished himself through his clear vision for educational athletics, his emphasis on relationship-building, and his student-centered philosophy. His belief in “Education Through Athletics” reflects a strong commitment to using athletics as an extension of the educational experience, helping students develop teamwork, accountability, leadership, sportsmanship, and resilience

The selection process included four focus group sessions involving members of the Franklin High School administrative team, student-athletes, FHS coaches, and Franklin Public Schools District administrators and directors. Feedback from all groups consistently highlighted Mr. Brown’s strong communication skills, positive leadership style, and ability to connect with students, staff, and families

As a respected and experienced Athletic Director within the Hockomock League, Mr. Brown’s familiarity with the league, its schools, the Town of Franklin, and its traditions will help ensure a smooth transition into the role. His experience and commitment will further strengthen and elevate our highly successful athletic program. His experience overseeing comprehensive athletic programs, mentoring coaches, managing budgets and events, and fostering inclusive athletic communities makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead Franklin High School Athletics into the future.

We are excited to welcome Mr. Brown to Franklin High School and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our student-athletes, coaches, and school community. He will assume this position after July 1, 2026. As part of his entry plan, Mr. Brown will be directly communicating with various groups within our athletic community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Maria Weber

Principal, Franklin High School

Franklin has hired Gary Brown as its next athletic director, bringing in a familiar Hockomock League name from King Philip.

Brown, a Franklin resident, has spent the last nine years as the athletic director at King Philip, where he helped oversee one of the league’s most successful athletic departments. During his tenure, the Warriors added Unified Basketball, Unified Track and Field, and boys volleyball.

Before taking over at King Philip, Brown spent nine years in the athletics department at Harvard, including time as Associate Director of Athletics. He also had stops with MIT men’s soccer and the Bay State Games. Franklin has hired Gary Brown as its next athletic director, bringing in a familiar Hockomock League name from King Philip.

Brown, a Franklin resident, has spent the last nine years as the athletic director at King Philip, where he helped oversee one of the league’s most successful athletic departments. During his tenure, the Warriors added Unified Basketball, Unified Track and Field, and boys volleyball.

Before taking over at King Philip, Brown spent nine years in the athletics department at Harvard, including time as Associate Director of Athletics. He also had stops with MIT men’s soccer and the Bay State Games. Franklin has hired Gary Brown as its next athletic director, bringing in a familiar Hockomock League name from King Philip.

Brown, a Franklin resident, has spent the last nine years as the athletic director at King Philip, where he helped oversee one of the league’s most successful athletic departments. During his tenure, the Warriors added Unified Basketball, Unified Track and Field, and boys volleyball.

Before taking over at King Philip, Brown spent nine years in the athletics department at Harvard, including time as Associate Director of Athletics. He also had stops with MIT men’s soccer and the Bay State Games.

New King Philip AD Brown Excited To Get Started

Gary BrownByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
 
WRENTHAM, Mass. – Gary Brown is trading in his Harvard crimson for Warrior green and yellow.

Brown, who was hired as the new King Philip athletic director in March, officially takes over for a retiring Steve Schairer on July 1st.

The 42-year-old Franklin resident spent the last nine years in the athletics department at Harvard, most recently as Associate Director of Athletics. Prior to that, Brown was an assistant coach for MIT’s men’s soccer team for four years.

Now, Brown is looking forward to getting back to the high school level, and King Philip looks to be the perfect fit.

“I was looking for a school that really valued academics and athletics, and academics is the priority,” Brown said. “I was relatively selective, I wanted a place that had a balance of academic and athletics, and had an administrative that put the students first. I connected very well with administration, the teachers and the coaches that were apart of the interview process.

“Every time I went there, it just felt so right.”

Prior to his work at the collegiate level, Brown – a Millis High graduate and Springfield College alum – spent eight years as the director of operations for the Bay State games. He handled all aspects of the tournament, including the hiring of coaches, coordinating officials and medical personnel, as well as handling the booking and set up of facilities for the Bay State games.

“To me, athletics are an extension of the classroom,” Brown said. “It’s about the life lessons that sports can teach you. And how you deal with adversity and how thats translates into life later on.

“At the college level, you have established young adults. I wanted to have a larger impact on student development and teaching life lessons. I think athletics can really help shape individuals, and I’m very excited to be apart of the KP community.”

Schairer is retiring after holding the AD position for a decade at King Philip. In the past six years, King Philip has won six state titles – softball with three and boys swimming, girls track and football each won one. A new turf field was also installed on the campus of King Philip just over a year ago.

“Steve Schairer has been unbelievably helpful during the transition period,” Brown said. “I’m familiar with the Hockomock League and how competitive it is. I’ve already attended an AD meeting and I’m looking forward to working with all of them.”