Laron Brown III was named as the associate head track & field coach for sprints, jumps and hurdles at Drake in August of 2022.
Brown comes to Drake from his alma mater, Kent State University, where he was an assistant coach since October of 2018.
In addition to working with the sprinters and hurdlers at Kent State, Brown also worked with the middle distance runners. Brown previously spent two years on staff at Michigan, serving as a program assistant and recruiting coordinator. His efforts landed the Wolverines’ 2018 recruiting class a No. 6 national ranking from MileSplit.
Prior to his stop at Michigan, Brown was an assistant coach at Capital University, in Bexley, Ohio where he guided three all-conference performers in his lone season. Brown began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Kent State during the 2015 season.
“Laron is simply the entire package,” Drake track & field and cross country head coach Jay Koloseus said. “In recent years he has built a reputation as a top hurdles and sprints coach in the Mid American Conference. Priot to that was recruiting coordinator and director of operations at Michigan’s dominant power five program. Coming from a family of successful athletes and being a decorated track star in his own right, he entirely knows what it takes to be great. Laron is more than capable of leading a program, so I am truly grateful to have him by my side as we aim to take on the best in the NCAA.”
A three-year letter winner and two-year captain for the Golden Flashes, the Dayton, Ohio native earned multiple All-MAC honors. Brown was a part of the 4x400 relay team that snagged first at the 2013 MAC Outdoor Championships. In 2014, he anchored the 4x400 relay team that set the school record at the Tennessee Relays and led off for the 4x100 relay team that qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary round.
Brown graduated from Kent State in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in political science with a specialty in international relations before earning his master's degree in communication studies from Kent State in 2021.
“I am so excited for the opportunity to become a Drake Bulldog,” Brown said. “I can’t wait to help lead the student-athletes of an outstanding track & field/cross country program. I would like to thank Jay Koloseus for his belief in me to serve as the associate head coach of Drake track & field. With tremendous support surrounding the program from Blake Boldon and Stephanie Sledge, I am confident that we can and will achieve record breaking championship heights. I look forward to proudly representing Drake University.”
What they’re saying about Coach Brown
“I am very pleased to see Laron take the next step in his career as the associate head coach for the Drake Bulldogs. Laron’s skill set will be a perfect fit to lead the sprints and hurdles at Drake University. Best of Luck and congratulations to Coach Brown and Drake.”- Bill Lawson, Kent State University director of track & field (retired)
