Ahen Kim, head coach of Brown Women’s Volleyball, is leading his team through a fractured era in the sport as some collegiate leagues continue to play while others, including the Ivy League, remain on the sidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As COVID-19 continues to leave its mark on collegiate athletics, teams at Brown must navigate another round of Quiet Period restrictions while also integrating first-years who were required to study remotely in the fall.

A federal judge approved a settlement between the University and a group of female student-athletes Tuesday to reinstate the women’s fencing and equestrian teams to varsity status following their demotion in May. 

Twelve members of the University’s men’s and women’s squash teams filed a lawsuit against the University in federal court Aug. 17, after the teams were among 11 that were demoted from varsity to club status in May as part of the Excellence in Brown Athletics Initiative.

Director of Athletic Communications Chris Humm announced his upcoming retirement after 32 years in the position. His retirement will take effect Dec. 31 and Brown has not yet started searching for a replacement. 

Alex Kasarov was named men’s tennis head coach Sept. 30 following former head coach Tim Gray’s departure after four years leading the program. Kasarov’s appointment took effect Nov. 2.  Kasarov spent two seasons as associate head coach at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

The Ivy League will cancel winter sports for the 2020-21 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to an official statement published Thursday. Spring sports will not begin until at least the end of February. 

Stephen Silas ’96 became the first Brown alum to become an NBA head coach after being hired by the Houston Rockets Oct. 30. Silas played in 84 career games for the Bears from 1992 to 1996, averaging nearly eight points per game as a senior and totalling 464 career points.

Grant Achilles, baseball’s 17th head coach since 1900, was hired as an assistant coach in 2012 and promoted to head coach midway through the 2014 season. Under his direction, Brown has earned 13 All-Ivy selection titles with multiple First Team honorees.

When Brown entered Phase 2 of its Healthy Brown reopening plan Oct. 5, student-athletes started in-person practices for the first time since the University shut down in March.