Contact: Steve Levy Director of Athletic Communications 410.455.2197 slevy@umbc.edu Elyse Ashburn Director of Communications 410.455.2065 eashburn@umbc.edu Dr. Charles Brown has announced he will retire as Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation at UMBC as of June 30, 2013, completing a 24-year tenure that has elevated the Retrievers from a fledgling Division-I program to one that is competitive regionally and nationally in a range of sports. “Dr. Brown has done a masterful job of building a strong and balanced Division-I athletic program at UMBC, with special emphasis on both academic performance and healthy competition,” said Freeman Hrabowski, President of UMBC. “The entire UMBC community appreciates all that he has done to build an even stronger UMBC.” Over the past 15 years, UMBC teams have won 46 conference championships and made 29 appearances in NCAA Championship competition. For five consecutive years (1998-2003), UMBC was named the top overall program in the Northeast Conference, and it has consistently ranked as a top-four program in the America East Conference, since joining in 2003. During that same period, 36 Retriever athletes earned Academic All-America status and student-athletes had consistently high graduation rates. In addition to his work on behalf of student-athletes, Dr. Brown has promoted healthfulness and spirit throughout the UMBC community, from developing robust recreational programs to helping to create the UMBC Alma Mater. The Retriever program under his leadership also has been actively involved in the local community and was recognized by the NCAA for its commitment to service. Dr. Brown led a period of substantial growth for the athletics department, including the development of a club sport program and rapid enhancement of athletic and recreational facilities. Under his leadership, the Retriever Activities Center was redeveloped and the outdoor aquatic complex, Retriever Soccer Park and a national-class track and field complex were constructed. While growing the Retriever program, Dr. Brown also worked to raise UMBC’s profile regionally and nationally, including serving two terms as president of the Maryland Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and one term on the NCAA Division-I Championships/Competition Cabinet. He also helped bring a number of national championships to UMBC and to Baltimore, including the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championships in 1995; the Women's Lacrosse National Championships in 1998; and the Men's Lacrosse National Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2007. "I am thankful for the opportunity given to me by Dr. Hooker in 1989 and for the continued support of the administration to develop a first-class department that includes athletics, physical education and recreation,” Dr. Brown said. “It was a life’s dream of mine to be a Division-I athletic director and be at a campus. I’ve watched UMBC grow in so many ways and I am glad that we have been a part of the success of this university. I wish the program continued success in the future." Following his retirement as Director of Athletics, Dr. Brown will join the UMBC Division of Professional Studies, where he will work with others to explore opportunities related to Sports Management.