GRANTS, N.M. – After 20 years on the sidelines, in the locker room, and impacting the lives of countless student-athletes, a defining era of Grants High School football came to an end following the 2025 season. Longtime coach Steve Brown officially stepped down earlier this year leaving behind a legacy rooted not just in wins and losses, but in “relationships, mentorship, and opportunity.”
Brown’s journey with the Pirates began in 2006 under then head coach Tom Camplain, where he started as a wide receivers coach.
Brown said of those early days, “It was clear that coaching was more than just a role, it was a calling.”
Over the next two decades, Brown would serve in nearly every capacity imaginable, coaching offensive line, defensive line, quarterbacks and linebackers, while also taking on leadership roles as Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach.
Throughout his career, Brown worked under several head coaches, each chapter adding to his experience and perspective. Brown coached under Tom Camplain in 2006 and 2007, Butch Branson in 2008, Dale Hooper from 2009 to 2012, Nic Williams in 2013, and Rio Thompson from 2014 to 2020—where he served in crucial role as an assistant coach.
After stepping away from coaching for two seasons, Brown returned in 2023 to take the helm as Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator—a role he held until his departure.
While his résumé reflected a wide range of responsibilities, Brown would say his impact is best measured in the lives he helped shape.
Over the years, he played a role in guiding 30+ studentathletes to college football programs across the country, from New Mexico’s in-state schools to programs in California, Arizona and as far away as Kansas, Indiana, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Brown said, “For a small program like Grants, that shows our kids what’s possible,” Brown said. “If they commit and work hard in the classroom and on the field, nothing is unachievable.”
That belief became a cornerstone of his coaching program—one Brown hopes will endure long after his departure.
Beyond the milestones and accolades, it’s the memories that stand out most. From his time as part of the “Tri-Pod” junior varsity coaching staff alongside Isaac Gamboa and Zach Gutierrez, to later sharing the sidelines with his nephew Sammy Brown, the journey was filled with meaningful moments.
There were long road trips, including countless hours in a Suburban traveling to away games and coaching clinics, where conversations ranged from game plans to life lessons.
“The laughs, the struggles, the tough losses and the great wins—we shared it all,” said Brown as he reflected.
But perhaps the most lasting connections came after the final whistle.
Former players, long removed from the program, still reach out to talk about football or seek guidance in their lives. For Brown, those conversations are among the most meaningful parts of his career.
“It’s amazing to see these young men grow, build families, and even step into coaching themselves,” Brown said. “I just hope something I shared with them stuck and that they’re passing it on.”
Brown has always viewed coaching as more than a profession.
“Coaching is truly a calling,” said Brown. “Our kids need mentors and role models now more than ever. I always told them I’d be there for them—not just on the field, but off it too.”
As he steps away, Brown expressed deep gratitude for the administrators who supported him and the community who supported him throughout his career.
To his players, past and present, his message is simple, “Thank you for trusting me and allowing me to be a small part of your lives. Truthfully, you probably taught me more than I ever taught you,” said Brown.
Though his time as head coach has come to an end, Brown’s connection to Grants Pirate Football remains unbreakable.
“I will forever bleed Black and Red.”