From teaching fourth- and fifth-grade students how to shoot a basketball to guiding the boys varsity tennis team to 16 state championships, Don Brown's achievements have been recognized at Cranbrook and across the state.

After receiving bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Wayne State University and spending several years in the Detroit Public Schools system, Brown joined Cranbrook in 1967 as the Physical Education Director at Brookside. Brown also directed the Lower School's tennis and fitness program.

In 1972, he took over the reigns of the boys' varsity tennis program at Cranbrook, marking the beginning of one of the most successful coaching careers in Michigan high school athletics history.

During his 30-year coaching tenure, Brown compiled a 282-44 overall match record, which included 24 regional championships. In 1996, he was voted National Tennis Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.

A member of the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame, Brown’s commitment to success and improvement for boys and girls of all ages will never be forgotten.