Coach Trisha Brown’s legacy and Stonehill’s leap to Division I

By Jordan Harrington

Trisha Brown waited nine years for the perfect head coaching job.  

After graduating from Harvard University as a two-sport student-athlete, and serving as its assistant women’s basketball coach, she learned there was an opening at Stonehill College.  

The longtime Stonehill Women’s basketball coach, Paula Sullivan, was leaving and this was Brown’s shot at becoming the next head coach.  

"I felt like I was very prepared to step into a head coach role because of my experience at Harvard," Brown said.  

Photo Credit: Stonehill Athletics

She applied for the job and the rest is Stonehill sports history. 

"I never thought this job would ever open up, and when it did, I applied right away,” Brown said. 

Today, she is the head coach and assistant athletic director for staff development.  

For over two decades, Brown has been the heart of Stonehill College’s women’s basketball program, shaping not only a passionate team but what many consider a strong community made from tradition and excellence.  

Brown said she embraced the strong foundation of women’s basketball laid by former head coaches Sullivan and Kelly Hart.  

"The most special part of this program is that it is a family before anything else," she said. "It’s more than just a program or a team… it’s the tradition, the history, and the community involvement that make it unique." 

Brown said her coaching philosophy focuses on consistency and culture, making sure her team embodies similar values year after year. 

 "We recruit kids that are unselfish, have a great work ethic, and believe in putting their team first," she said. "That’s really the foundation for success." 

Among her countless proud moments as a head coach, one that stands out the most is taking her team to the Elite Eight in 2018, an unfulfilled goal the women’s basketball program chased for years.  

"Winning that regional final at home was an amazing experience," she said. "The gym was packed, and the energy was electric… it was something truly special." 

Her time at Harvard University played a crucial role in her development to become a memorable head coach. 

 "A lot of head coaches will keep assistants in a box, but I had a hand in everything… like recruiting, player development, and even fundraising," Brown said. "That experience I gained was priceless." 

She said she is thankful to the exceptional mentor who provided valuable hands-on experience in every aspect of coaching.  

Sullivan, the former head coach at Stonehill, is one of Brown’s biggest role models. 

 "She showed how special Stonehill home basketball is," Brown said. "Even though it was her program, she let me be me. She was always supportive, always encouraging during my time with her." 

Brown said leading the program into the transition from Division II to Division I, was one of the biggest challenges she faced.  

"Having that jump to Division I… the size and physicality of the game… was something we weren’t fully prepared for roster-wise," she said. "But we focused on getting better every day, and our players stayed committed to the process." 

Despite her struggles early into the transition, Brown stayed optimistic, realizing that moving into Division I required patience and perseverance. 

 "We weren’t getting many wins early on, but the players stayed focused," she said. "By year three, we saw real progress in our team, and that’s been really rewarding." 

Brown said recruiting was another important factor in the transition to Division I.  

"The name of the game at any level is recruiting," Brown said. "Stonehill is a beautiful college with great academics, a strong alumni network, and incredible resources. If I can get a recruit on campus, I feel good about our chances." 

Brown credits several players in the first years of the transition to Division I help the team grown into what it is. 

"I will be forever grateful to those who were part of the first years of this transition, players like Emily Bramanti, Sophie Glidden, and Mia Kelly," she said. "They had so much pride in being part of history. They weren’t just playing basketball… they were building something special for years to come." 

The team finished the 2024-2025 season with a 17-16 overall record and an 11-5 mark in Northeast Conference play. It was the Skyhawks’ third campaign at the Division I level and a major step forward, improving their win total by 13 games from the previous season. 

As Brown continues to lead Stonehill through a new chapter, Brown said she is committed to keeping the program’s core values while facing the challenges of Division I competition head-on.  

"At the end of the day, it’s about the people… our players, our alumni, our community," Brown said. "That’s what makes this program so special, and that’s why I love coaching here, so a huge thank you to the Stonehill community for the support that has been off the charts."