Thomas Nelson basketball coach, mentor, 39, dies

Longtime Thomas Nelson Community College men's basketball coach Armand Brown, 39, died Saturday, family and colleagues confirmed.

“We're just very saddened about the news about Coach Brown,” said Chad Smith, Thomas Nelson's athletics coordinator. “He stayed a mentor and big brother to all the young men and women who played basketball at Thomas Nelson.”

Virginia State Police spokeswoman Michelle Anaya said Brown, who lived in Newport News, died after a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 64 early Saturday morning.

Brown was driving a Toyota Avalon when he lost control, overcorrected and veered off the road before hitting a tree, according to police. Anaya said Brown was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center, where he died. Alcohol was not a factor and he had been wearing his seat belt, she said.

Angela Jackson, Thomas Nelson's basketball operations assistant, said Brown served as head coach for the men's basketball team for more than a dozen years. He became associate head coach in 2017 because of an athletic organization transition, which he supported, Smith said.

Brown was a shooting guard on Hampton High's 1997 state championship team, which featured Peninsula legend Ronald Curry, and had an opportunity to play ball at East Carolina, but he stayed close to home for personal reasons. He played at Thomas Nelson for Jackson for two championship seasons before Jackson said she asked for his help coaching in 2001.

“He knew the game of basketball and he was passionate about teaching it,” Jackson said. “The kids — they come back every year just wanting to be around him.”

Brown, who went by the nickname “Ant,” was dedicated and went beyond coaching to mentor players on both the men's and women's basketball teams, Jackson said. She said Brown — along with his big heart and smile — cannot be replaced.

“He was just a wonderful young man. He became like a son to me,” Jackson said. “I'm just feeling like a part of me is gone.”

Brown's cousin Shaun Gaines, 39, said Brown was to celebrate his 40th birthday Monday. Gaines played basketball at Thomas Nelson with Brown and said he's more like his brother. He said Brown took care of his daughter and also many more youth as basketball simply gave him the avenue to mentor.

“He's a great friend, a great person, a great man,” Gaines said. “It's a sad day. We're all going to miss a part of us.”

Counseling will be available to current students, Smith said. Bozick can be reached by phone at 757-247-4741. The Daily Press archives contributed to this story.