Brown University Men’s Sports Teams Struggle Under New Leadership

Providence, Rhode Island – Brown University’s varsity men’s sports teams have experienced a significant decline in performance under the leadership of Athletic Director M. Grace Calhoun, who took the helm in April 2021. Despite promises of improvement from university President Christina Paxson five years ago, the outcomes for Brown’s men’s sports have not only worsened but now leave the institution with the worst standings in the Ivy League, a stark contrast to past capabilities.

For the 2024-25 academic year, none of Brown’s six major men’s teams—football, soccer, hockey, basketball, baseball, and lacrosse—achieved a winning record in the Ivy League. This overall performance places Brown men’s teams at the bottom tier of the league, raising concerns among college sports enthusiasts and alumni alike.

The situation is particularly grim for the men’s lacrosse team, which wrapped up the season with an 0-6 record in the Ivy League, marking just the second occurrence of a winless conference season in its 40-year history. Additionally, Brown’s football team has not had a winning record since 2013, and the men’s basketball team has failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament for nearly four decades.

These struggles are compounded by significant organizational changes at the university. In May 2020, Brown announced cuts to eleven sports programs, transitioning several from varsity to club status, amid challenges posed by federal Title IX litigation and the COVID-19 pandemic. Following substantial backlash from former athletes and alumni, Paxson walked back on some of the proposed cuts, yet the commitment towards substantial improvement has been less evident in the results.

Calhoun’s hiring was part of a broader strategy to reverse the athletic decline. With a high annual compensation package that exceeds $1 million—specifically $1,064,933 as reported in the latest IRS filing—her salary is more than double that of her predecessor and significantly higher than many of her peers in comparable positions across the nation. Despite this investment, the on-field performance of Brown’s men’s teams has continued to falter.

The university’s cumulative winning percentage among its major men’s teams is now lower than that of Columbia University, which fields fewer men’s teams overall. All of Brown’s major men’s sports are currently classified as in a rebuilding phase, leading to questions about the effectiveness of the current athletic leadership and the strategic plans that are in place.

As the university navigates through these challenges, stakeholders are increasingly keen on seeing tangible improvements in Brown’s athletic performance. The implications of these struggles extend beyond just win-loss records; they affect student engagement, recruitment, and the overall university spirit. The upcoming seasons will be critical for Brown’s athletic programs, and Calhoun’s leadership will undoubtedly be under scrutiny as the school aims to rise from its position at the bottom of the Ivy League.

In conclusion, while the athletic director’s tenure is still new, the urgency for results has never been more pronounced. Brown University finds itself at a crossroads, and the actions taken in the next few years will likely impact its athletic reputation for years to come.