New coach, familiar face: Brown already has coached some Warriors

Ryan Brown is new to Sterling High School, but he already is familiar with a few Golden Warriors.

Brown, who is expected to be approved as Sterling’s boys basketball coach and physical education teacher at tonight’s school board meeting, also coaches the Illinois Magic/Future Stars AAU team. The players he’s coached include 2009 Sterling grads Josh Feldthouse and Niko Rivera, and seniors-to-be Alec Monaghan and Marcos Rivera.

“I was pretty excited he got the job,” Niko Rivera said of the former Annawan coach. “He’s a good coach, he’s fun to be around. The kids will like him, and he’ll fit right in in Sterling.”

Rivera and Feldthouse played for Brown’s teams for two years, traveling to places such as Las Vegas and Minneapolis with the Magic. Both will play college basketball, Rivera at Sauk Valley Community College and Feldthouse at Culver-Stockton College in Missouri.

Rivera said Brown likes a fast pace and is easy to get along with, reminding Rivera of Sterling sophomore coach Jim Preston.

“He’s really laid back,” Rivera said. “He’ll get along with all of the guys. I first got to know him as a coach, but he’s become a really good friend.”

Rivera’s favorite memory with Brown occurred at a summer tournament in Minneapolis.

“He was driving us to the Mall of America,” Rivera remembered. “Josh was in the car, and ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ by Fergie came on the radio.

“Josh hates that song, and Coach Brown kept egging him on about it until Josh had to get out of the car. That’s the kind of guy he is – he always keeps us loose.”

Brown led Annawan to fourth place at the Class 1A state tournament in March. His move from the 125-student school and the West Prairie Trail Conference is a big one, but Rivera is sure Brown can handle it.

“It will be interesting, but he’ll do fine,” Rivera said. “His style of play will work anywhere.”

Brown FYI

• Coached Annawan to fourth place in Class 1A in 2009.

• Coaches Illinois Magic AAU team, which has included Sterling players Josh Feldthouse, Alec Monaghan,  Marcos Rivera, Niko Rivera.

• 96-80 overall, including 79-44 in 4 years at Annawan

• Will be recommended by athletic department at tonight’s Board of Education meeting.