#40Strong

Kerrie Patterson-Brown was a four-year letterwinner—and three-year starter—for the A&M women’s basketball team from 1995-99, then went on to coach collegiately for several years, including a stint at Texas A&M. She now is opening a charter school named Legacy Collegiate Middle and High School In Careers In Health And Wellness in The Woodlands.

I was recruited from the Houston area as a premier player and A&M was close to home. The rich tradition was comforting to me. It was a good feeling being young and going to a new place knowing what to expect. I knew what I was getting involved in and I wouldn’t have gotten that going somewhere else. I made a good choice choosing A&M.

The experience was overwhelming; for everything. Sophomore year I got my first letter. From there it was a whirl-wind. I visited a lot of schools and then had to decide. My dad wanted me to go to A&M but my mom wanted me closer to home. In the end I decided A&M was the best place for me. I signed my letter of intent after that. There was more comfort there and I felt like that is where God wanted me. It was a good choice.

It was welcoming. My team was like a family and we are still in contact today. It was neat to establish family members that I could call on for anything. I wouldn’t have gotten that welcoming if I had gone anywhere else. We were all here for the same reason and truly believed in what the school stood for. A&M helped mold me into who I am today.

I woke up, went to practice or lifted weights, ate breakfast, and then went to class. We wrapped up the day with study hall and a team activity. Most of the people I met outside of my team were my classmates but I spent most of my time with my teammates. They were like my family and I would not trade that for anything. I still keep in contact with them because of what we did together.

I was involved in the Athletic Advisory Committee and Big 12 representative my junior year where I represented A&M for the conference. Other than that, basketball held most of my time. I also met my husband freshman year.

We won the last Southwest Conference Tournament. That was cool. But honestly all my memories are my favorite. I have so many memories and I have one for every situation in life. There isn’t a particular one that is my favorite. I have stories about everything. I can tell stories to my teams of what happened when I was a player. So all of my memories are my favorite.

I am opening a charter school right now called “Legacy Collegiate Middle and High School In Careers In Health And Wellness”. We focus on the athletic business world and teaching athletes that there is more to sports than being on the field. There is an athletics program, business program, and early college program. A&M also taught me the importance of a good team, following through as a leader, knowing what my intentions are, what a culture is and how you should represent yourself. I learned all of that from A&M. I truly dedicate who I am to the time I spent at A&M.

I was the captain my junior and senior year, held the record for assists in the big 12, and was named defensive player of the year my sophomore, junior, and senior year. My teammates looked to me as the one who was always solid. That meant a lot to me that my team relied on me and respected me on and off the court. That was a huge accomplishment in my mind and is worth noting to me.

It’s amazing. The campus is beautiful. All the advancements have been put in place and you wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. It’s cool looking back at women’s basketball and seeing what they have accomplished. They are winning championships and bringing acknowledgment to A&M. It’s amazing. It makes me proud to have worn the maroon uniform and be a part of the tradition. You always want to be better than the group before you and they have done a great job with that. I recently came back and talked to some players. It was neat getting to talk to them. They understood life and had the “it” factor. They are doing the things that we might not have done and that’s great. I’m impressed.

Cathy Capps. I now understand the importance of it too. Now as an adult it is an honor. When you see someone with a letterman jacket you can see the connection you have and that is something not many people can say they are a part of. Blood, sweat, and tears go into it and I can see more of the value in it today.

I do whatever Cathy needs. I’m trying to become part of the board and am excited about the opportunities that they provide. For now I am just waiting for my turn.