PHIL BROWN

Steve Virgen

During the early 1970s, Estancia High football was Rocky Balboa to

the Apollo Creed that was the Irvine League. Just as in the classic

boxing movie, Estancia virtually came from nowhere to shock the

opposition. Playing the role as, “Mickey,” the trainer was Coach Phil

Brown.

Brown guided the Eagles from 1969-72 when Estancia was a puny

school compared to Edison and Fountain Valley of the Irvine League.

Yet, that seemed to only inspire the Eagles, and Brown was there to

get the best out of his players.

“During those four years, oh golly,” Brown said, while

reminiscing. “Our best year was in 1970. We went to the CIF playoffs

and got to the second round. That team sticks out in my mind because

that was really a great group of kids.

“In those years we played Edison, which had about 5,000 students,”

Brown continued. “Fountain Valley also had 5,000. We had about 1,900

students and we were playing those big high schools. Those were neat

days. We played Edison at [Orange Coast College] and we would get

about 10,000 at the game. Those were really exciting times.”

The Eagles defeated Fountain Valley twice in four tries under

Brown. And, though Estancia never claimed victory over Edison, the

Eagles always played the Chargers tough.

“That was the thorn in my side,” Brown said. “We lost to them,

14-12, in 1970. My kids will be mad at me, but that’s what I

remember.”

Brown also remembered the strong will the Eagles displayed

throughout those four years.

“In that year of 1970, we had a right tackle that was 6-foot, 170

pounds,” Brown said. “Those kids were great kids. They had huge

hearts and no fear of their opponents.”

Brown constantly challenged his players and pushed them to the

limits. He taught them lessons that also went beyond the game.

“It was always much more than football,” Brown said. “It was about

character. We wanted them to be honest with themselves, with others,

and their coaches. It was always about striving to excel. We may not

have achieved that level, but that had to be the goal. I was a real

believer in the fundamentals and an old-fashioned guy. I wanted the

kids to be able to stare themselves in the mirror and not have any

regrets. We got a lot of mileage out of our kids. The kids really

gave their all.”

After his four years at Estancia, Brown went into the commercial

real estate business, but eventually went back into coaching, this

time at El Toro. He spent two years there and faced a personal

tragedy. His wife, Marsha, died of cancer.

“It was just a real sad time in my life,” Brown said. “I wanted to

get my [two] girls away. I got a job at a small college. But after a

year being gone, the girls weren’t doing very well and we moved

back.”

Brown coached for one year at Monmouth College in Illinois.

Brown, 62, now lives in St. Louis, Mo. working as a financial

consultant for A.G. Edwards. Remarried, he recently celebrated his

23rd anniversary with Janice. They have six grandchildren.

“Times are real good right now,” said Brown, the latest Daily

Pilot Sports Hall of Fame honoree.