University of Connecticut Athletics
Taliek Brown Joins Men's Basketball Staff
7/3/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications
July 3, 2018
STORRS, Conn. - Taliek Brown, a captain of UConn's 2004 NCAA National Championship team, has joined Coach Dan Hurley's coaching staff as the men's basketball director of player development.
In his new position, Brown will have close interaction with the UConn student-athletes, building strong personal relationships with them, while initiating and participating in off-court activities that teach and develop life skills. He will also supervise the graduate assistants for the men's program.
"We're thrilled to welcome Taliek Brown back to UConn," Hurley said. "Obviously, his history with the program speaks for itself, but when you add that to his professional basketball career and life experiences since he left college, plus his upbeat, outgoing personality, and strong work ethic, it makes him ideal for this position. I'm really looking forward to him working with our student-athletes."
Brown, 36, will also have duties that include assisting the team academic counselor with scheduling and monitoring study halls and tutoring sessions, organizing and directing community service actions for the team, and managing alumni events and reunions.
"I am very excited that the next stage of my career will take place at UConn, where I have so many great memories," said Brown, who is still the all-time assists leader (722) in the history of the UConn program. "Coach Hurley and his staff have a great vision for the program and I am happy to become a part of it. I want to make sure the student-athletes have as good an experience at UConn as I had."
Brown, a native of Corona, N.Y., was a McDonald's All-American out of St. John's Prep (Astoria, N.Y.). He was a four-year starting point guard for the Huskies under Hall of Fame Coach Jim Calhoun and is the only player in UConn history to score at least 1,000 points (1,039, 47th all-time) and hand out at least 700 assists (722, 1st all-time). He played in 134 games for UConn (7th), averaging 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists (3rd).
During Brown's four years, the Huskies compiled an impressive 103-35 overall record, winning two Big East regular-season championships, two Big East Tournament titles, and making three NCAA Tournament appearances --- reaching the Elite Eight (2002), the Sweet 16 (2003), and winning the NCAA Championship (2004), with a combined 11-2 NCAA tourney record.
Brown, who earned his UConn degree in political science in 2013, was an Honorable Mention All-Big East Conference pick in 2003-04 and was named to the 2004 Big East All-Tournament Team.
After leaving UConn, Brown had a 10-year career as a professional player, playing in the CBA and USBL, as well as multiple foreign pro leagues, including franchises in Venezuela, Turkey, Poland, Mexico and Canada.
When his playing career ended, Brown spent time as an assistant coach at LaGuardia Community College (New York City) and as head coach at August Martin High School (New York City). He also oversaw the Teamfootprintz Basketball Training Program, in which he ran basketball clinics, trained professional players and mentored young adults in basketball and life skills.
Coach Hurley's immediate staff is now complete, including assistant coaches Kenya Hunter, Tom Moore and Kimani Young, director of basketball operations Eric Youncofski, director of scouting-video Tripp Doherty, director of human performance Sal Alosi, athletic trainer James Doran, and director of player development Taliek Brown.
