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Brown’s run at STHS to end Saturday

Steve Yingling and Dave Price

Saturday will mark the end of the line for Rick Brown, who submitted his resignation as South Tahoe High head boys track and field coach last week.

A long-time coach in the community – he started out as an assistant with the Tahoe Steppers girls age group program in the spring of 1973 – Brown said he decided the time had come to step away.

“It’s very much been a fun ride. I always coached for the love of the sport and for the kids – to see the smiles on their faces when they improved,” Brown said. “I still love the sport and the kids, but the winds of change have blown my way and I just think it’s time for a change.”



He wasn’t considering resigning until after an incident midway through this season.

Brown says the STHS administration became upset with him after he informed the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association that Whittell standout Luke Forvilly had competed in six events in a Yerington meet.



STHS Athletic Administrator Jack Stafford declined to comment on the matter, but Stafford did say that Brown “did a good job. He’s really dedicated to track.

“His longevity has been good for us. It’s nice having a head coach in for seven years.”

Yerington officials felt they weren’t breaking any rules since team scores weren’t kept, but the NIAA told the school to discontinue the meet practice.

The seven-year STHS coach said he reported the incident because he didn’t want to see Forvilly hurt. Forvilly is a threat to win four events at the Nevada 2A state meet this weekend in Henderson.

“I’m a man of principle. I can’t stand by and see something that’s wrong and let it go,” Brown said. “I’m not ashamed of anything I’ve ever done in my coaching career.”

Brown, who also coached at STHS in 1978-79, has plenty of memories to take into his respite from coaching track and field. Sprinter Jake Hurwitz won back-to-back Northern Nevada zone titles in 1999 and 2000; his 4×400 relay team in 1996 set a school record in edging Reed at zone; and triple jumper Elliot Hubler captured a zone championship as well.

Another special moment came recently when David Schafer, a member of the ’96 relay team, talked up Brown at Cal Lutheran after his coach there was let go.

“That was a nice thing. One of my former athletes had enough respect for me to see if I could take over a collegiate program,” Brown said.

Brown knows he’ll be swept away by emotion come Saturday.

“It was emotional when I told the team that I’m not coming back. I’m sure it’ll be very emotional when I realize it’s all over,” he said. “I really do love these kids. They were the main reason I was in it. It was never for any personal gain that I could receive from it.”

But just because Brown is removing his track hat, don’t expect him to be spending more time at home. He still plans to coach basketball at South Tahoe Middle School and Little League baseball.

Stafford said the school doesn’t have Brown successor’s picked out yet. However, Stafford is hopeful that the school can secure a third coach for next season.


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