Casey Brown: Defining success

Make no mistake – Brown may have gained perspective, but she still wants to win. 

“I’m a competitor too, as the head coach of this program,” she explains. “We obviously want to compete for championships every year. We want to win games.”

It’s clear, though, that she wants to do it her way. In taking over from Feldman - who spent 27 years at the helm of the Terriers and was equal part boss, mentor and friend - Brown became only the second head coach in the program’s history.

Despite being BU through and through, and hoping to continue so much of what she’s known the Terriers to be over the course of her association with them, Brown says the program will soon bear her hallmark.

“You’re naturally just going to be yourself. That’s all I know how to do,” she said. “There will obviously be little things that I make my own and put my stamp on.”

At the foundation of Brown’s way is her approach of ‘person over player’.

“The way I try to focus on leading is having strong relationships with all of our players, getting to know them,” she says.

“When you do that, you can establish a good relationship and level of trust. We value all of our players and want to hear from them. 

“I think we do a good job of trying to meet them on their level, meet frequently and have open lines of communication.

“I think what’s really cool is there’s a real buy-in and a real collective to what we’re trying to chase. The humility of this group is that no person is bigger than this program. 

“That’s been a lot of the tradition, as well. I think there is a lot of unity in what we are trying to do, which is cool, but they all have their own personalities and they all bring something.

“I think when you can foster an environment that has high standards and high aspirations, but also where players feel empowered to connect and talk and share, that’s how we get stronger, ultimately.” 

Those high standards and aspirations are being shaped and committed to now, as BU work through their pre-season, which Brown says is about coming together, having a strong identity and creating some of the frameworks for the program’s aspirations for the season.

She said: “The overarching goal is to fulfil our potential. That’s the challenge for our coaches: we want to continue to make this group, individually and collectively, better every single day.

“It’s not a perfect, linear process but that’s ultimately what we’re trying to achieve. 

“Of course we have aspirations to win a championship. It’s okay to be able to say that in the locker room and as a group I think they’re really motivated to do that.

“The girls have a real hunger and desire to chase that. But we know we’re very process-oriented. We don’t overlook anyone and we ultimately try to focus on each session and each opportunity to grow as a group.”

This link between both individual engagement and success, and team engagement and success, is one that Brown clearly works hard on.

“People are competitors and all want to start or be in the field. That’s not a reality, because it’s a Division 1 soccer program.

 

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Casey on the importance of ‘30,000-foot’ reflection time

“What’s really unique about the college season is you spend a lot of time thinking [about] why you’re doing what you’re doing.

“I spend much more time now reflecting than ever. I think that is such an important process to coaching and trying to get better.

“It is so easy to lose yourself in the rhythm of a season. Let’s say I’m in ‘game mode’ – I’m preparing for a game, I’m planning for a game, I’m recovering and then I’m already thinking about the next one. It’s so easy to get into that cycle. 

“But I really try to find and plan times where I get more reflection time. There’s a lot of zooming out and ‘30,000-foot perspective’ reflection time that I try to have.

“You obviously do have to be in the weeds, too, to be able to pick out pieces that you continue to grow your team with. 

“A hugely important part of the process is staying fresh and questioning things that you do.

“It’s reflecting, and just trying to grow each week, each season, each year.”

 

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“All we can do is provide an environment where we’re giving transparency and respect, where players feel supported and in a space where they can continue to get better. 

“We coach up every single player. Whether you’re a starter or a player that might contribute in different ways on the practice field or on game day, we’re going to help try to move your needle further and grow you in areas.

“If we make each player stronger, it’s making the whole group better.”

And when her players win individual accolades, like the ones she was used to getting as a player – last season, six Terriers garnered All-Patriot League honors, tied for most in the league – Brown is really conscious of drawing that line back to the team.

“The way I view it is, if we’re getting recognized for individual honors, that means our team’s doing something well, because our team needs to do well for those individual honors to happen,” she explains.

“We always make time to properly acknowledge those individuals. It’s something to be proud of. Those are great honors and accolades to be able to share with everyone.

“We always make a point within the locker room, when we reach those accolades or milestones, of acknowledging them and celebrating them. 

“Then, once we celebrate it, we know it’s also not all-defining and those individual players know it’s not all-defining. We continue to move forward.”

Brown wants her players to be recognised for their achievements off the pitch too. 

In each of her coaching roles, her teams have excelled academically – most recently, for the past three semesters, her BU team has had the highest GPA [grade point average] in the athletics department.

 

“We coach up every single player. We’re going to try to move your needle further...”

She also wants them to make a significant difference to the community. At Holy Cross, for example, Brown instituted a community service program that resulted in the most service hours of all Division I women’s soccer programs.

“I view my role as so much more than a soccer coach just doing Xs and Os in their office,” Brown explains. 

“The reason why I love being in this game, being a Division 1 women’s soccer coach and working with 18- to 22-year-olds, is I love helping young women become the best version of themselves.

“I really try to make sure we prioritize having an environment, a culture and a program that helps these young women. 

“It stands for so much more than just their soccer, but helps them grow as communicators, as leaders that care about the environment and community around them, that want to excel, and take pride in how they do in the classroom.

“Those things all matter to me and to the players that make up our program. We really try to walk the talk and not just be a hashtag.

“We make sure these players are practicing and valuing things in those different spaces – academically, first and foremost, but also in the community.”

Success is, according to Brown: a process, a journey, trying to become better every day, off the field and on it. The championships, victories and awards? Buy into all of the above, and they’ll come. 

 

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“Players respect it, it really resonates” – Casey on the importance of showing your vulnerability as a coach

“You’re a human being. As a leader, if you can be honest about stuff, show vulnerabilities, take accountability and stand up in moments when you don’t quite get it right, or wanted something to come across differently, and you own it, I think players respect that.

“I think you are being more authentic if you can portray that level of accountability and vulnerability and, honestly, just be a human being. I think that really resonates. 

“More than ever, people really care about what you’re about and what you show as a person. I know that goes a long way.

“It’s important to be mindful that you’re not always going to get it right 10 times out of 10. Finding the level of trust [your players] have in you, but also [show] humility and vulnerability when appropriate, because that’s part of it too.”

 

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