LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / December 16, 2000

A life-changing experience forever altered Charles Brown’s outlook oncoaching and on his life. In many ways, it contributed to his parish recreationteams chalking up six football and two basketball championships under hisguidance.”Since I came an inch away from losing my life, I’ve put everything in God’shands,” Brown said.While working at a shipping company in 1991, Brown was operating a fork liftand was backing up with a container full of lettuce when a pothole was struckand the cab of his forklift banged him around like a trapped pinball.”Only two of 10 might walk away from an accident like mine,” Browncommented. The result was to break several bones and nearly kill him. Thelong-term result was a lifetime of pain, but a realization that God still had apurpose in his life.Brown, 44, of St. Rose, has lived in St. Charles Parish for most of his life. Heplayed fullback and middle linebacker at Destrehan High, where he graduatedin 1976. From there, he went into various trades, but not before marryinghis wife, Claire, whom he met at the University of New Orleans where theymet in a biology class. She is now employed at Kenner Regional MedicalCenter.Since then, they’ve had three sons – Christopher, 19, Gerald, 12 and Marcus,10. “The children have really blessed me, and they helped me to grow up.”He admits that for a time, “I put my family through a lot,” due to hisconstant pain. “I was hurting so bad, that to drop a piece of paper would setme off.”However, between his coaching, the love of his family and his trust in God’swill in his life, Brown feels his life is solidly on track.Brown is considered the most successful coach for the St. Charles ParishDepartment of Parks and Recreation, with six consecutive football parishtitles and two basketball titles, all since 1995.”The children idolize him,” Director Larry Matson noted.Brown’s attitude toward coaching, however, is to be fair to all children, whileinspiring them to look inside and be what they are capable of being.He cites the current New Orleans Saints as an example of a team which hascome together as a team, not a collection of individually-motivated “stars.””I don’t care how good a person is, if they can’t fit within a team, they haveto look at themselves to be a better team player.”Brown added, “The biggest thing is knowing who you are.”Along the way, he’s idolized by the children and respected by the parents.”Children can sense if you’re going to be fair with them,” he said.He’s equally proud of all his teams, and he maintains a scrapbook of all theirachievements. He asked to include the names of every single player in thisstory, to share in the spotlight. “I don’t want to be in the light alone,” headded.He admits there are some more goals in his coaching life. A recent LouisianaHigh School Athletic Association rule change which could allow him to be anassistant coach in a school without being a classroom teacher has himhopeful.”I would live to sit down and talk with Chipper Simon,” Brown said ofDestrehan High’s principal, who also coached him one year.His other dream is to coach the 12-year-old All-Star team for the parish.”However it comes out in the future, though, I need to carry myself withinthe Lord.”Back to Top

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