As a freshman on the Utah women's soccer team in 2019, Courtney Brown helped lead the Utes to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
A lot has happened in her life since then. She navigated the COVID-19 era as a student-athlete, went through a coaching change, got married, and earned her bachelor's degree in accounting. That's a pretty good list of accomplishments to check off.
However, Brown has two more goals she wants to achieve before she leaves campus in five months: Earn her master's degree in accounting and get the Utes back to the post-season.
"We expect to be a very good team this year," Brown said. "We only loose a couple of players who started for us last year and we added a lot of very talented freshmen. We have talked a lot about getting to the NCAA Tournament. But we have our sights set on more than that. We want to the be the best team Utah's ever had. The Utes had a run to the Sweet 16 in 2016 and that's the best our program has ever done. That's where we want to get and maybe beyond this year."
A Utah native who grew up in West Haven, the former Courtney Talbot was very familiar with Utah's program when she was looking into colleges. Her father, who earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Colorado State, went to BYU for his undergraduate degree. Courtney was planning to do the same. However, she changed her mind as she neared the end of the recruiting process.
"All along through high school, my plan was to go to BYU. But when I went to the campus for my last visit it just didn't feel right," Brown recalled. "I just felt so much more at ease at Utah. Rich Manning was the head coach. Scott Halaz, who is still with us as assistant coach, was on the staff then as well. It just clicked for me with the coaches. I loved the feel of the campus. So, I decided to come here."
The midfielder earned a major role with the team in year one as Brown started 17 games and logged the most minutes of any freshman on the team. The Utes won eight games with four draws and earned the opportunity to play No. 12 Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
"Without, my scholarship, I couldn't have done all of this. There are so many great things about getting to play college athletics at the Division I level. I've had a great career and a tremendous experience. And because of my extra year, now I can leave here with my master's degree, which will get me ready to take the CPA exam."
With a 2020 fall season that was moved to the spring of 2021 due to COVID-19 and a downward turn in the program that led to a coaching change, things were a bit tumultuous for Brown during that stretch. But she quickly embraced what new head coach Hideki Nakada wanted to do with the program heading into the 2021 season.
"Rich and Hideki have very different styles," Brown explained. "But Scott Halaz staying on really helped the transition for me and a lot of the rest of the team. Once we got through that process I have really enjoyed Hideki's style of play. We play with much more forwardness and we are very aggressive."
Brown started all 36 games in 2020 and 2021, leading the team in points both seasons. She was second in points while making 17 starts last season. During her career, she had contributed 11 goals and 33 points.
She earned her bachelor's degree in accounting last December and elected to take advantage of her super senior year that was granted to college student-athletes due COVID-19. She is on track to earn a master's in accounting this December.
"I am beyond grateful for being on scholarship here," Brown said. "There's not a lot of time outside of my athletics commitments and classes to get a job. Without, my scholarship, I couldn't have done all of this. There are so many great things about getting to play college athletics at the Division I level. I've had a great career and a tremendous experience. And because of my extra year, now I can leave here with my master's degree, which will get me ready to take the CPA exam."
Contributions from Crimson Club members not only cover scholarships, but they have also funded student-athlete facilities like the Burbidge Family Athletics Academic Center and the Sorenson High Performance Center.
"I have never heard friends at other schools say the things that I say about our facilities and our support staff. Having the ability to train, get strong and prevent injuries is so critical to your body. We also have a great sports medicine facility to help you heal. Our trainer Tom Iriye and our strength coach Cody Lockling are absolutely the best. And I have spent so many hours in the Burbidge Center. It is so close to everything. It's a great place to go during the day and focus on school work and watch my lecture videos."
Brown will declare for the women's professional draft in 2024 and see what opportunities are there. Once she is through playing soccer, she plans to move into the business world and become a CFO.
"Utah has put me in position to make it all possible," Brown said.
Before then, she is excited to enjoy her final year of collegiate soccer.
"This is close-knit group that is more intimate than other years," Brown explained. "We have a strong senior class with a lot of personality that is really driving the boat. We have leaders who can direct and drive things on our own without the coaches having to force it. Everyone seems ready to make this the best year our program has ever had."
