University of Massachusets Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2014
- Class:
- 2001
An Atlantic 10 Champion, ECAC Champion, NCAA Championship competitor and U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier, Billy Brown set the standard for UMass swimming.
As a freshman, Brown burst onto the scene by winning the ECAC Championship in the 200 breaststroke and placing third and fourth place in the 200 and 100 breaststroke events, respectively.
In the 1998-99 season, he placed second in the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the Atlantic 10 Championships while setting school records in those categories. He also placed fourth in the 400 individual medley at the A-10 Championships.
The Fullerton, California, native set school records in the 100 and 200 breaststroke when he became the A-10 champion in both events in the 1999-2000 season while placing second in the 400 individual medley. He qualified for the US Olympic Trials that year as well.
Brown was named the A-10 Championships Swimmer of the Meet in the 2000-01 season after placing first in the 200 breaststroke, first in the 400 individual medley and second in the 100 breaststroke. His 1:58.66 time in the 200 breaststroke was an NCAA qualifying mark as well as a school record. He placed 39th in the 100 meter breaststroke and 33rd in the 200 meter breaststroke at the NCAA Championships. To date, he is the only UMass men's swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Upon graduation, Brown held school records in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, 400 individual medley and 400 medley relay. He also established the Atlantic 10 record in the 200 breaststroke which stood for 14 years until being broken in 2014-15.
Brown was inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2014.
