Coach of the Year Chan Brown of Parkview in Liliburn, Ga. (Photo: Christie Johnson)
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Coach of the Year:
Name: Chan Brown
School: Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
Key stats: Won his third state title in the past five seasons. His team finished 34-2 and won its final 26 games. He has been a coach at Parkview for 12 years, including the past 11 as a head coach with an overall record of 326-121. Turns 43 on June 24. He played baseball at Tucker, Ga., then Hillsborough Community College in Tampa and Georgia State. He is married to Teaneal Brown and they have two sons, Cade, 10, and Beckett, 7.
Biggest disappointment: Losing the two games. We didn’t feel like we should have lost either of them.
Favorite teacher: David Roman was my high school baseball and football coach and was also a teacher at Tucker. He is the reason I got into this job.
My reality TV competition: Naked and Afraid or some type of grilling reality show.
Three objects on a deserted island: A baseball because I always walk around with one. A machete (I learned that watching Naked and Afraid) and probably a pillow.
Mistake I’ve learned from: As a young coach, I put so much pressure on myself, and I think some of that pressure leaked onto my teams.
Cartoon character I’m like: Growing up, I always liked the Taz.
Put the first bat and glove in my hand: My dad.
The last time I forgot how many outs there were: It’s been at least 10 years.
My inspiration: Coach (Hugh) Buchanan was my mentor at Parkview. He was here for 28 years. He and Roy Massey, who is his 52nd year as a coach, helped groom me into what I am.
Defining moment this season: We won the Perfect Game Showdown in early March. At that point, we were 8-1, then lost our first region game to Brookwood. We had a team meeting and came up with the saying, ‘Be Special.’ We won our last 26 games.
Hidden talent: If I’m not on a baseball field, I’m in a deer stand.
If I had a time machine: I think I would go forward in time to see how my two boys grew up and see what kind of men they would turn out to be. That would define what kind of job me and my wife did as parents.