CHICAGO – UIC men's basketball head coach Luke Yaklich completed his coaching staff today by announcing that assistant coach Dee Brown will return for his fourth year with the Flames. Yaklich previously named Will Veasley (March 30) and Brock Erickson (April 1) to his bench to help lead the program.

"I am so excited about our UIC Flames basketball coaching staff," said Yaklich. "Brock, Dee and Will share many outstanding traits, but most importantly, they each have a genuine passion for teaching, coaching, recruiting and the individual growth and development of our players on and off the floor.

All three coaches bring unique winning experiences to our program," added Yaklich. "Their playing and coaching experiences will be an incredible asset to the development of our student-athletes and our basketball program."

Brown arrived at UIC prior to the 2017-18 campaign. He was instrumental in the development of three of the most decorated guards that have played at UIC. Tarkus Ferguson, Marcus Ottey and Godwin Boahen combined to play in 382 games with 297 starts, and each scored over 1,400 points over their four-year careers. Ferguson was a two-time All-Horizon League selection, while Ottey was a member of the conference's All-Defensive Team in 2020. Boahen was tabbed the Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year in 2018, the first in program history.

"I am very excited to have Dee join our coaching staff," said Yaklich. "His energy, passion and knowledge of the game will be instrumental for all of our players, but especially our point guards and guards. His love and passion for basketball in the state of Illinois and Chicago is evident at all times. He will be a tremendous mentor for our players. I'm excited for Dee to be able to impart his wisdom to our team on both ends of the court."

Brown played at the University of Illinois from 2002-06. He helped the Fighting Illini capture Big Ten championships in 2004 and 2005 and reach the national championship game of the NCAA Tournament in 2005. He was named Sporting News National Player of the Year, a consensus First Team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2005. Brown graduated as the winningest player in program history with 114 wins, and as the school's all-time leader in minutes (4,698) and starts (136).

The Maywood, Ill., native was selected by the Utah Jazz in the 2006 NBA Draft and he spent a total of nine seasons as a professional basketball player in the NBA and internationally. He was a two-time champion in Europe and named Player of the Year with PBC Lukoil Academic in Bulgaria in 2015.
 
As a local prep standout at Proviso East High School, Brown was named Mr. Basketball in Illinois and a McDonald's All-American in 2002.