Michael Hoecht ’20, Brown football’s team captain in the 2019 season, spent the 2020 NFL season on the practice squad of the Los Angeles Rams after going undrafted. He looks to earn his way onto the playing field in his sophomore campaign after building on a year of practice against NFL competition. 

 The University’s sports teams are facing unprecedented challenges in recruiting in light of the NCAA’s decision to limit in-person contact between coaches and prospective athletes. 

Last week, The Herald spotlighted Black coaches and athletes who played foundational roles in building today’s Brown athletics program. This week, two modern-day Black athletes who had success on the field at Brown and have gone on to have impressive careers outside of sports will be featured.

While today’s Brown Athletics program displays diversity among its coaches and athletes, this has not always been the case. Throughout the history of Brown Athletics, trailblazing Black athletes and coaches have battled racism and adversity to earn athletic achievements while helping to build a more equitable program.

Director of Athletics Jack Hayes will leave his position at the University, effective Feb. 5, to become a senior adviser to Bruin Sports Capital and “pursue new opportunities,” according to a Friday press release.

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.

Brown student-athlete and former golfer Amanda Levy ’23 recently published an op-ed titled “The Hidden Attack on Gender Equity in College Athletics” on the website Business of College Sports.

The Ivy League canceled all fall athletic competition, according to an announcement released Wednesday afternoon. Winter sports will not begin until after Jan. 1. 

Monique LeBlanc was named the new head coach of the women’s basketball team Friday. LeBlanc comes to Brown after spending nine years as the head coach at Merrimack College and before that, three seasons as assistant coach at Bucknell University.

Heather Marini became the first female coach in Division 1 Football after Brown announced March 16 that she had been promoted to the Bears’ quarterbacks coach.