New Jersey City men's basketball coach Charles Brown has been named the 2003-04 National Invitation Tournament (NIT)/Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Division III Coach of the Year. The 2003-04 selection marks Brown's third MBWA award in his 22-year career.

Brown last won the honor in 1992 when he shared the distinction, and also scored the award in 1990.

It is the third post-season coaching award bestowed upon Brown, who was previously named the Atlantic Region Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches for the second time in his career. On February 26, he was also named NJAC Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career.

Brown will be honored at the 71^st Met Basketball NIT/Haggerty Awards dinner on April 21 in Pegasus West at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ.

Brown guided the Gothic Knights to a 22-7 record, an unprecedented 11^th NJAC Men’s Basketball Championship, a first round bye in the NCAA Division III Tournament, a win in the second round, and a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16. He owns a career record of 426-189, is the fourth winningest coach in New Jersey college basketball history, and is just six victories shy of moving into second place in state history at all levels of the collegiate game.

Brown previously claimed NJAC Coach of the Year honors in 1994-95, 1989-90, 1988-90, and 1985-86.  He was named the Kodak Division III National Coach of the Year in 1986. That same year, the Newark Star Ledger tabbed him as the All-State Coach of the Year.  On January 25, he was inducted into the New Jersey Sports Writers' Association Hall of Fame and presented its Coaching Legends Award.

Brown became the all-time winningest coach in conference history on January 30, 1999 when he won the 222^nd game of his career in league play, passing his former collegiate head coach at then-Jersey City State, Ollie Gelston. He currently owns a 277-110 ledger in 387 NJAC games.

In 22 seasons at his alma mater, Brown has averaged more than 19 wins per season, winning 20 or more on seven occasions, including the 22-7 mark of the 2003-04 club. He has never had a losing season and has never missed the post-season. Brown has guided 11 teams to the NCAA Division III Tournament (1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004), and reached the Division III Final Four in 1986 and 1992.