For more than two decades, Levar Brown has been proving to himself exactly what he can and cannot do.Along the way, Brown likewise has proven a consistent, persistent influence in the lives of Chattanooga-area youth.Now, after more than 15 years as athletics director at Brainerd High School and another decade atop the basketball program, Brown is being honored for his lasting impact. He’s the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s first Distinguished Service Award winner for the 2023-24 academic year.“I don’t want to say my kids deserve it, because I don’t see myself as a prize, but there’s been a revolving door in the community I serve,” Brown said. “I felt for 20 years, 21 years now, that they needed some consistency. The thought of leaving the kids bothered me. I’m honestly now getting to the point where I feel comfortable enough to branch out and explore, but for the past 20 years I wanted to provide some level of consistency in this community.“I enjoy building relationships, and I know that is my God-given ability. I enjoy and love it and it’s why I did not want for a long time to come out of the classroom. I enjoy being involved, knowing kids’ names; I like celebrating our kids’ accomplishments on and off the court.”There is an indisputable cause for celebration with Brown’s mere presence on any court. A former standout-player at Tyner High School, Brown was forced to forgo his burgeoning basketball career midway through his senior year of high school.Doctors diagnosed Brown with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – an enlarged heart – and he was told his basketball career was over, among other elements of a stark diagnosis from his medical team.Brown proved his medical team wrong – and for a year, anyway, revived his basketball career when he earned a spot as a walk-on at MTSU.“At the time, doctors told me I had 10 years before I would need a transplant or some kind of procedure to remain living,” Brown said. “With God’s grace, I haven’t had any other issues. I’ve been able to play some basketball still after the fact, I even tried out and made the basketball team at MTSU just to see if I could do it. I was successful for one year.“And, actually, I have to this day no symptoms of it; I’m extremely thankful and blessed to still have a good ticker.”In addition to his roles atop the entire Brainerd athletics department as well as serving as boys’ head basketball coach, Brown also has continued his tutelage in the classroom – the business education major has taught accounting, computer applications, web design and now has shifted into entrepreneurship and personal finance.“I appreciate this honor,” Brown said. “I’m not one that typically likes being at the forefront of stuff like this“I just want to try to do all I can for our kids.”TSSAA proudly salutes Levar Brown for his contributions to student-athletes as a coach and an administrator.Originally published by the TSSAA.¶
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