Sean Brown - Men's Track & Field Coach

Sean Brown

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
browns3@uci.edu
Phone:
(949) 824 - 6080
Office:
102-IAB

Sean Brown enters his fourth year as an assistant coach with the UC Irvine track & field program in 2026-27. Brown, who works with the jumps, was previously the Anteaters’ pole vault coach in 2022.

Since Brown rejoined the staff in 2024, the UCI jumpers have produced one All-American, 12 NCAA West First Round qualifying marks, three Big West individual champions, and eight all-conference awards.

This past season, Brown and the jumps squad were key contributors to UC Irvine’s second-straight Big West Women’s Outdoor Track & Field team championship. Zharia Taylor led the way, winning gold in the high jump. On the men’s side, Kenechukwu Okonkwo secured the individual conference title in the triple jump. Okonkwo, Taylor, and Kailah McKenzie (Long Jump) qualified for the NCAA West First Round.

During the 2026 indoor campaign, the jumpers combined for 35.5 points to lead the ‘Eaters to the first MPSF Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship in program history.

In 2025, Brown’s student-athletes were once again integral to the Anteaters’ first Big West Women’s Outdoor Track & Field team title, scoring 23.5 points in just two events. UCI sent seven individuals to the NCAA West First Round in the men’s and women’s jumps. Zharia Taylor punched her ticket to the NCAA Championships in the high jump where she earned second-team All-America honors.

In 2024, Brown’s student-athletes delivered one individual conference title, three All-Big West awards, and two NCAA West First Round qualifying marks. He mentored Kailah McKenzie, who was named the 2024 Big West Women’s Freshman of the Year. McKenzie was the conference champion in the high jump and made her way onto the podium in the long jump where she finished third. McKenzie (High Jump) and Kenechukwu Okonkwo (Triple Jump) qualified for the NCAA regional meet.

During the 2024 indoor season, Reyna Johnson won the long jump at the MPSF Championships with a then school-record 5.97 meters (19-7). Jolie Robinson rose to No. 1 in the record books with a leap of 6.04m (19-9.75) in 2025. That same year, Kailah McKenzie established the third-best long jump in indoor school history at 5.93m (19-5.5). Overall, Brown has seen his student-athletes set 26 marks that rank among UCI’s top-10 (13 indoor, 13 outdoor).

Brown’s prior coaching experience was at his alma mater, Cal Poly, where in his first year as a grad assistant (1998), he coached Bianca Moran who became the Mustangs' first NCAA Champion in the women’s pole vault. In 1999, he coached Brad Pickett in his senior year. Pickett cleared 5.50m (18-0.5) and placed 10th at NCAA Championships.

Brown then moved to Los Angeles to work with then UCLA pole vault coach Anthony Curran, where Brown continued to train and compete, while also helping run Curran’s year-round pole vault club and clinics.

In 2005, Brown moved back to San Luis Obispo to compete for a final year, while also coaching Justin Norberg who vaulted a PR of 5.75m (18-10) and placed fourth at the USA Track & Field Championships.

In 2008, Brown returned to Cal Poly as the volunteer pole vault coach where he produced the Big West runner-up in the women’s pole vault, Christine Silva (3.90m/12-9.5), as well as the men’s Big West Champion, Conner Landry (5.05m/16-6.75).

In 2009, Brown continued to have success in the pole vault with Landry winning the Big West men’s pole vault title for the second year in a row, and Jenna Holmes (4.10m/13-5.25) winning the Big West title on the women’s side.

After the 2009 season, Brown focused on his career in multimedia and digital production before returning to coaching once again in 2022 as UCI's pole vault coach.

Brown was an All-American pole vaulter at Cal Poly where he graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy. He advanced to the NCAA Championships in both 1996 and 1997, where he placed eighth as an American (10th overall), earning him first-team All-America designation. After the 1997 season, he was named the Cal Poly Mustangs' Athlete of the Year. His collegiate-best of 5.66 meters (18-6.75) as a senior still ranks second in program history after holding the school record for 16 years. Brown was also a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in 1999 when he jumped a new personal best of 5.70m (18-8.75). Brown was a regular on the Cal Poly 4x100 relay team his senior year, while also competing in the 100m and 200m sprints.

Brown holds the following certifications:
• NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
• NASM Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT)
• NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM-PES)
• NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist (NASM-CES)
• USTFCCCA Certified Jumps Coach