Booker T Basketball Alum 'Comes Home' As New Head Coach

After Conley Phipps decided to call it a career at Booker T Washington, Eli Brown, who was coaching at Central High School, knew this was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.

Brown is a former Hornet and had been coaching for Central High School, but it was a dream to be the head coach. He is glad it is now a reality to be the bench boss. 

Booker T. Washington basketball players are buying into the belief that champions are made in the off season.

Brown said, "being out here in 90-degree weather shows that they are determined to work hard and not let the legacy of the program drop off."

The hardwood has been replaced by the gridiron for first year Booker T Washington head Coach Brown and it’s all business for the Hornets.

Kameron Parker, a BTW Junior guard said, "he is hard on us, he wants us to win and he doesn't expect anything but the hard[est] you can go."

Ijai Johnson, BTW Junior guard, said, "some players stopping, throwing up I just try and encourage them keep pushing, same with me, just try and push through it."

Brown replaced Conley Phipps who stepped down in April after leading Booker T to 3 state tournament berths, and a gold ball, in just 3 seasons.

Brown said Phipps has helped ease his transition back to Booker T.

"He has been very helpful very gracious and really someone I could go to, and text messaging, call him and meet with him. He has been good, he has been really good,” said Brown.