Notre Dame’s Mike Brown Honors Ten-Year Anniversary of Football Camp That Has Inspired and Transformed Lives Across the Nation
When Mike Brown first launched his football camp a decade ago, his vision was simple—create an opportunity for young athletes to learn the game, develop discipline, and embrace the values of hard work, education, and character. Ten years later, that vision has grown into a nationally respected institution that has impacted thousands of lives both on and off the field. As Brown celebrates the tenth anniversary of his football camp, the Notre Dame assistant coach is reflective, proud, and—most importantly—determined to keep building.
The camp began as a small initiative in Brown’s hometown, sparked by his own experiences growing up with limited access to quality coaching and exposure. A former standout player himself, Brown knew what it meant to be a young athlete with big dreams but few resources. When he transitioned into coaching and eventually joined the staff at Notre Dame, he never forgot the roots of his journey. That connection to community and passion for mentorship birthed the first edition of what would become one of the premier youth football camps in the country.
The very first year, there were fewer than 100 campers. Most were local, with a handful of volunteers—former teammates, high school coaches, and college friends—coming together to support the mission. There were no frills. No national sponsors. Just a few fields, a bag of footballs, and a shared belief in what sports could offer young people beyond wins and stats.
Fast forward to today, and Mike Brown’s football camp is a national model. The number of participants has grown exponentially, with over 1,000 kids attending in 2024 alone. The coaching staff now includes not only former college and NFL players but also NCAA-certified trainers, nutritionists, and guest speakers from all walks of life—doctors, entrepreneurs, and educators. The scope of the camp has expanded beyond football drills to include leadership development, academic guidance, mental health support, and career preparation.
The anniversary event, held on Notre Dame’s campus, was part celebration and part recommitment to the future. It featured a full slate of activities—a youth football clinic, alumni player meet-and-greets, film sessions, and an evening banquet honoring key figures who helped the camp reach this milestone. Brown’s remarks at the event were humble and heartfelt.
“This camp has never been just about football,” Brown said. “Football is the hook, but the real goal is to teach kids how to win in life—how to overcome, how to lead, and how to believe in themselves even when no one else does.”
Among the many success stories highlighted during the anniversary celebration was that of Jalen Moore, a former camper who went on to play Division I football and now works as a teacher and coach in his hometown. Moore credits the camp with changing his life.
“I was just a kid with potential,” Moore recalled. “Coach Brown’s camp showed me what that potential could look like with the right effort and mindset. It gave me tools I still use every day—on the field and in the classroom.”
Parents, too, have noticed the difference. Tanya Harris, whose son has attended the camp for the past four years, said it helped her son grow in ways she didn’t expect.
“He came home after the first summer talking about goal-setting, hydration, and character,” Harris said with a laugh. “It’s more than football—it’s life prep disguised as sports.”
What sets Mike Brown’s camp apart is not just its curriculum or the caliber of its coaching. It’s the culture. Brown has created an environment that is simultaneously demanding and uplifting. Campers are held to high standards, both physically and mentally. But they’re also encouraged, celebrated, and poured into with intention. From team-building exercises to one-on-one mentorship sessions, every aspect of the camp is crafted to develop the whole person.
Even as the camp has expanded, Brown has remained hands-on. He’s on the field demonstrating drills, speaking in breakout sessions, and sitting in the bleachers with parents answering questions. His authenticity and accessibility are part of what makes the camp feel personal, no matter how big it gets.
“Coach Brown doesn’t just shake your hand and disappear,” said Kayden Walker, a rising senior who has attended the camp since middle school. “He checks in on you. He remembers your name. He wants to see you win—not just here, but long-term.”
Brown credits much of the camp’s growth and sustainability to the support he’s received from Notre Dame and the broader coaching community. The university has embraced the initiative as part of its mission to develop student-athletes who are leaders in society. Fellow coaches have volunteered their time and expertise, and former players routinely return to give back to the next generation.
“I’ve been blessed to be at a place like Notre Dame that understands football is bigger than a game,” Brown said. “It’s a tool—a powerful one—and we have a responsibility to use it wisely.”
The tenth anniversary also served as a launchpad for the next phase of the camp’s development. Brown announced the creation of a scholarship fund for underprivileged youth, ensuring that financial barriers will never prevent a young athlete from participating. He also introduced plans to build a permanent training facility in his hometown, a space that will serve not only as a year-round development center for athletes but also a community resource for education, wellness, and mentorship.
As the evening banquet concluded, Brown was presented with a commemorative plaque signed by hundreds of campers past and present. Many of them had traveled across the country to be there. The moment was emotional, and Brown took a pause before addressing the crowd.
“This isn’t my legacy,” he said, holding up the plaque. “You are. Every one of you that has come through this camp, every one of you who’s gone on to coach, to teach, to lead—to break cycles and set new standards—that’s the legacy. And we’re just getting started.”
In a world where youth sports can often become commercialized and overly focused on outcomes, Mike Brown’s football camp stands as a beacon of purpose. It’s a place where young athletes learn not just how to play the game, but how to face adversity, build confidence, and become leaders in their communities. The tenth anniversary is not just a celebration of the past, but a rallying cry for the future.
As Brown often tells his campers: “It’s not about where you start. It’s about who you become.” For the thousands who’ve passed through his camp over the past ten years, that message continues to resonate—on the field, in the classroom, and in life.
And with each passing year, Mike Brown’s commitment to that mission only grows stronger.
