PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
ROTARY SPEAKER … First-year Bryan City Schools Athletic Director Jason Brown spoke to the Bryan Rotary Club about new initiatives in the athletic department. A strategic vision for Bryan athletics has been established: “We are here to establish a sustainable system where our youth programs, school sports and community networks operate as one unified machine.” Culture matters and relationships matter, creating “One Town, One Team.” Brown emphasized that it is a student-first culture. Decisions should revolve around making the Golden Bear experience better for the kid wearing the jersey. The Whole-Athlete focus aligns physical training, mental preparation and academic eligibility. A Youth Athletics Council is being formed to include the schools, community youth organizations, the YMCA and Bryan Parks and Recreation. This group will bridge the gap between youth sports and school sports, working collaboratively to build a true development pipeline. It will align schedules and terminology, develop youth coaches, focus on player retention and discuss facility improvements. There also will be a Student-Athlete Leadership Council, with representatives from each sport, that will meet monthly to provide feedback on the athletic experience. The goal is to develop a student-athlete-run culture and promote player accountability. When players feel connected, they take true ownership of the program. Athletic promotion and recognition will include recognizing teammates of the week and highlighting dedicated coaches. Celebrating these successes builds community pride and showcases the hard work happening across the athletic venues. An Athletic Hall of Fame will be created in partnership with the Bryan Athletic Boosters, with an annual induction ceremony to honor Bryan’s athletic history and inspire the next generation of athletes. The new athletic initiatives are meant to support student-athletes and coaches, protect and grow the school’s athletic programs, and ensure that every student, parent, fan and alum feels a sense of ownership and pride in the programs. Pictured L to R are speaker Jason Brown and Rotary President Ty Otto.