Her Story
About Coretta
Coretta Brown served as Head Coach and General Manager of the Savannah Steele in the Upshot League, a new professional women's basketball league in its inaugural season. She brings nearly two decades of experience in collegiate basketball coaching, having worked as an assistant coach at multiple institutions including Eastern Kentucky University, Georgia Southern University, the University of West Alabama, and Thomas University where she spearheaded their NAIA program, and Tennessee Tech. Earlier in her career, she held an administrative role at Georgia Tech after interning with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, and she played professionally with the Chicago Sky their inaugural season as well as three seasons with the Indiana Fever. Brown has earned certifications through the WeCoach program, the NBA Coaching Development Program, and the NBA Future Basketball Operations Stars program, experiences that have broadened her perspective on coaching and basketball operations.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Coretta
01What do you attribute your success to?
Faith is the foundation. I had a scripture that I would write on my tennis shoes when I played at North Carolina, Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I've always been the wild dreamer, the baby of the family, always the little razzle-dazzle of the group with overachieving goals for myself.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
*It's not just about how smart you are, but can you read the room? Emotional intelligence is a major key.
*Visibility and network matter.
*Promotions go to the best storyteller. Craft your narrative and control your brand, or someone else will. And they will not get it right.
*Build your own growth plan and lead yourself.
*Increase your discipline or lower your desires.
*Set boundaries. You are not a robot. Even God rested on the Sabbath.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be a sponge. I look at myself as a lifetime learner, constantly evolving. You have to be willing to learn and grow because you can't buy a car with an 8-track in it anymore. Be open to learning new things and changing with the times.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunity right now is the interest in and of Women's Basketball. The marketing has finally caught up to the talent being displayed.
The challenge is converting unprecedented growth into sustainable infrastructure, player development, and business models.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The 3Fs: Faith, Family, and Friends.
Faith, the confident assurance n God and His promises, coupled with a deep conviction about things that cannot be physically seen. It has and continues to be the foundation of my life.
Family is everything to me. I'm the youngest of four and my parents have been married 50+ years. I feel extremely blessed to have been brought into this world with three automatic best friends (my siblings).
Friends and connections are the foundation of everything. We meet so many people in our lives journey. Some for seasons and some who become family. I'm grateful for the lessons from them all.
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