DES MOINES, IOWA -- Drake Athletics Director Dave Blank today named Brian Brown as the 11th director of the Drake Relays. Brown, who has served the last five years as assistant track and field coach at Drake, succeeds Mark Kostek, who was named by Blank two weeks ago as the Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs and the Drake Relays. As the Relays Director, Brown will report to Kostek.
"We are very fortunate to have someone on our current staff with the right qualifications to keep the Drake Relays at the level of national prominence," said Blank. "As a former world-class performer himself, and having served on the track and field staff here, including participating in the operations of the Drake Relays during his five years at Drake, Brian understands what is necessary to continue and enhance the strong tradition of the Drake Relays."
Brown, a native of New Iberia, La., will assume control of the track and field extravaganza that saw a record 116 events held during the 95th running of the Drake Relays last year.
"I am very appreciative of Dave Blank for giving me this wonderful opportunity," said Brown. "Also, I am excited about the opportunity to learn from and work with Mark Kostek.
"While I look forward to becoming an integral part of strengthening and enhancing this already great track and field event, I realize that the Drake Relays is not about one individual. The collaborative efforts of various committees, volunteers, officials and community partnerships are the key to the continued success of the Drake Relays."
"I applaud Dave's (Blank) decision to select Brian Brown as the director of the Drake Relays," said Kostek who had served as Drake Relays director since the fall of 2000. "During the past five years Brian has worked behind the scenes in the operations of the Drake Relays. I found him to be very knowledgeable, innovative in his thinking and highly energetic in his work. It is without reservation that I believe the Drake Relays baton is being handed off to the right person."
Brown was ranked seven times in the top ten U.S. high jump list during his distinguished career, climaxed by being ranked No. 2 in the U.S. in 1997 and 1998 and as well as No. 9 in the world in 1998.
While competing for Northwestern (La.) State, Brown won the 1989 U.S. Outdoor Championships and the 1990 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. He owns a personal best of 7 feet 8 inches in 1990 and was the bronze medalist at the 1998 Goodwill Games.
Brown, who owns the stadium record and the Drake Relays special invitational high jump record of 7-7 in 1997, won the 1997 Milrose Games and was second in the 1998 U.S. Indoor Track and Field Championships and third at the 1998 U.S. Outdoor Championships.
Brown received a master's degree from the University of Missouri and is completing a doctoral degree, also from Missouri. He served two years as a compliance coordinator with the Missouri Athletic Department.
Brian is married to Drake head track and field coach Natasha Kaiser-Brown, who is a member of the Drake Relays Athletes Hall of Fame.
"As a former participant in the Drake Relays, I have had the good fortune to experience the tremendous excitement and atmosphere that is created within the Des Moines community during this event. Along with my wife (Natasha Kaiser-Brown), the Drake Relays and Drake University has a very fond place in our hearts," added Brown.
