When the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League boys tennis season begins Tuesday, a longtime, ultra-successful and well-respected mantor will be missing on Aptos High’s sidelines. Sam Brown, who helped lead the Mariners to unprecedented dominance over his 14-year tenure, announced his retirement in September.

Watsonville’s Damien Pierce was been named the Mariners’ new head coach earlier this month.

Brown began his coaching career at Aptos in 2011 and served 11 seasons as an assistant to legendary coach Rich Taylor, who led the program to eight league titles.

“Rich’s teaching and mentoring were essential building blocks in my development as a coach during those years.” Brown said.

Together, Taylor and Brown led Aptos to multiple SCCAL championships from 2016-2021, which also included trips to the Central Coast Section team playoffs in each of those years.

“Rich and I flourished as partners from 2011 through 2021,” Brown said.

Prior to the ’22 season, Taylor suffered a medical setback and Brown took over the program.

“Our mission was simple; work really hard, compete with pride and be incredibly supportive of our teammates,” Brown said.

The program didn’t skip a beat under Brown’s leadership. The Mariners won three consecutive SCCAL titles from 2022-’24 and amassed a 30-1 record in league during that span.

Koosha Safari, who won SCCAL singles titles from 2022-24, raved about his former coach.

“Sam taught much more than just tennis to the team,” Safari said. “He taught us how to be disciplined and to work hard. He always put the team first.”

Mark Dorfman, who became the SCCAL commissioner after serving as Aptos’s athletic director, hired Brown.

“Sam was unfailingly positive, helpful, resourceful and generous with his support,” Dorfman said. “Most importantly, he always put the best interests of his student-athletes first and foremost. Aptos High and the SCCAL will certainly miss him.”

To put the Mariners’ tennis dominance, which included a 62-match league winning streak, in perspective with Brown at the helm and as Taylor’s assistant, from 2016-24, Aptos won six SCCAL titles outright, shared two co-titles and made eight CCS team appearances, not to mention numerous Mariners who qualified for singles and doubles spots in the CCS playoffs.

In addition to serving as head coach, Brown also served as SCCAL representative and was a fixture at a variety of CCS related events.

Michael Mancuso, director of administration for CCS, was not shy when it came to thanking Brown for his efforts in promoting boys tennis.

“Sam has been a longtime, well-respected member of the CCS boys tennis committee and the knowledge, insight and level of professionalism he’s brought to the CCS seeding and postseason meetings has been invaluable,” Mancuso said. “Sam has been an incredible ambassador, not only for the game of tennis and the student-athletes at Aptos High School, but for the SCCAL and the CCS as well. We wish Sam the best in retirement.”

Matt O’Brien, head coach at San Lorenzo Valley for both the boys and girls’ teams, was appreciate for Brown’s dedication to the sport.

“As a coach, he consistently brought a competitive team to the league,” O’Brien said. “As the league rep, Sam fearlessly led us through multiple smooth seasons.”

Brown won’t completely disappear from Aptos’ tennis scene. His wife, Tammi, is head coach of the Mariners’ girls tennis team and Brown will continue to serve as her assistant.

As rewarding as his coaching experience was with the boys’ program, Brown knew it was time to step down.

“Helping the boys to develop, grow and have great high school team experiences has been an honor and a privilege,” he said. “It has been an amazing 14 years; the most rewarding job I have ever had. It’s time for me to take a break, physically and mentally to recharge. I will recharge, refresh, travel a bit and make the most of every day.”