Craig Brown joined the UCF staff as the program's director of operations in August 2012. Brown is no stranger to the Knights, having served as an assistant coach at UCF from 2000-10.
In his current role, Brown helps monitor the academic progress of student-athletes, organizes team travel, manages the program's budget, coordinates community service initiatives and directs summer youth camps.
Prior to returning to UCF, Brown worked as a broadcaster, handling color commentary duties for the Gator Radio Network, Bright House Sports Network and ESPN3.
In 2012-13, his first year back at UCF, the Knights recorded 20 victories and had two players - Isaiah Sykes (first team) and Keith Clanton (second team) - earn All-Conference USA honors. Both Sykes and Clanton received NABC All-District 11 First Team honors, marking the first time in program history that two Knights were named to the all-district squad.
Following the 2012-13 campaign five members of the team were recognized for their work in the classroom with spots on the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.
Last season, 2013-14, Sykes was named to the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team, and earned The American Academic honor roll accolades.
As an assistant at UCF, Brown helped the Knights claim two conference championship titles, one regular-season league crown and make a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. UCF posted four 20-victory campaigns with Brown on the staff, and he helped coach 10 student-athletes who garnered all-conference recognition.
A former star shooting guard on the collegiate level at Florida, Brown served as a mentor for Jermaine Taylor, who earned All-America honors and the C-USA Player of the Year award in 2008-09 when he ranked third nationally in scoring at 26.2 points per game. He was selected by Washington with the 32nd overall pick in the 2009 National Basketball Association Draft.
As the team captain on the 1993-94 Gator squad that went 29-8 and advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history, Brown averaged 14.8 points per game and was an All-Southeastern Conference selection under head coach Lon Kruger. He also garnered a spot on the SEC All-Tournament Team. Brown was named the most outstanding player at the NCAA Tournament East Regional
Brown started 104 contests during his four-year career. One of the top shooters in Florida history, Brown ended his stint in Gainesville as the Gators' all-time leader in 3-point field goals made (186). In 1993-94, he drained 89 treys to set the Florida single-season record. Brown was a member of the 1991 United States Junior World Championship Team that claimed the gold medal at the event in Canada. He also participated in the 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival.
Following his collegiate career, he played for Harrisburg and Mexico City of the Continental Basketball Association. He was selected in the first round of the 1994 CBA Draft by Harrisburg. Brown also played professionally overseas in Brazil, China, Hong Kong and France. After earning a bachelor's of science degree in exercise and sport science in 1995, he served as Florida's video coordinator and administrative assistant during the 1995-96 campaign.
(updated 9/12/14)