Metropolitan State University of Denver students pursuing sports management and sports journalism careers are receiving support to follow their passion, thanks to the Irv Brown Champions and Kroenke Sports Charities, whose gifts established the Irv Brown Endowment, commemorating the life and legacy of Colorado icon Irv Brown.
Brown’s extraordinary career began as an all-start student-athlete at North High School in Denver. The 1997 Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and 2012 Roadrunners Athletics Hall of Fame inductee went on to become the first MSU Denver baseball coach from 1968-69, a baseball coach at the University of Colorado for nine years, a referee and a Denver radio broadcaster for 40 years. Brown also generously mentored many people throughout the years, including Mark McIntosh, founder and CEO of Victory Productions.
“Irv had an incredible career,” said McIntosh, Irv Brown Champions. He says Brown was “all about the ‘business side of sports” – a side with room for anyone who loves sports, not just athletes. “Sports is a multi-billion-dollar industry needing skilled and educated people at all levels – high school, college, Olympic and professional – to do anything from marketing and journalism to coaching and physical training, and everything in between.”
The Irv Brown Endowment offers MSU Denver students a path to explore what the business side of sports has to offer. In 2024, the endowment will fund the launch of the annual Irv Brown Sport Management Conference and the Irv Brown Endowed Scholarship. The spring conference will allow students to network with and learn from professionals. The first scholarships will be awarded to Sport Management or Journalism & Media Production majors that fall.
“This program is a testament to Irv’s legacy and his passion for using sports as a platform for education and teamwork,” said Deb Dowling, vice president of community relations, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. “We are honored to support the endowment and thrilled future sports journalists will have the opportunity to learn about Irv and the rich fabric of sports at MSU Denver.”
McIntosh is optimistic that the endowment will engage students who like sports but don’t play, saying that MSU Denver is positioned as a beacon for those interested in joining the growing industry.
“Sports transcend borders and give everyone something to rally around,” said McIntosh. “We hope MSU Denver students will be inspired to follow in Irv’s footsteps as a coach, administrator, broadcaster and official.”
Follow this link to make a gift supporting the Irv Brown Endowment. For more information, contact Mark McIntosh, founder and CEO of Victory Productions.