After playing college football at the University of Southern Mississippi, Rob Brown chose a 10-year career with the Canadian Football League; first as an Edmonton Eskimo and then as a member of the Montreal Alouettes.
When Rob retired from the CFL, he moved back to Edmonton and became a member of the Edmonton Police Service in 2009. In 2013, Rob joined Eastglen Composite High School as their School Resource Officer (SRO). His impacts at Eastglen were felt immediately when he became the assistant coach of the Eastglen Blue Devils football team. Rob took his role seriously; starting by incorporating an off season workout program for existing players to keep their interests piqued and to get them into shape for the upcoming season. He used his alumni connections with the Edmonton Eskimos to show them the drive necessary to become successful.
Rob soon realized the team was struggling, both financially and with poor equipment. Blue Devils Coach Kent Anderson was considering cutting the team if things didn’t improve.
Rob worked behind the scenes and asked his alumni connections to provide some much needed used equipment for the Blue Devils. This led to NISSAN Canada contacting Rob with some amazing news.
Each year NISSAN searches for 21 high schools across Canada that need a helping hand, and Eastglen was one of two Alberta schools chosen. NISSAN generously provided funding for the team, new uniforms and equipment, and renovated the team’s locker room. This was all thanks to Rob; his efforts truly changed the lives of these students. NISSAN also provided the team with an all-expenses paid trip to the 2014 Grey Cup in Vancouver.
As coach Kent Anderson said in his interview with the Edmonton Examiner, it hasn’t just changed the team, it’s changed the school: “The kids start to get to know the football players, they wear jerseys on game day, and they come out. It has been really positive for our school in general.”
Thanks to Rob’s outstanding efforts to track down better equipment for his school’s football team, he supported his school in more ways than even he probably imagined.
Sgt. Ray Wood, SRO Unit, nominated Cst. Brown and adds, “The SRO Unit is indeed lucky to have Cst. Rob Brown residing in our city. This American-Canadian’s great actions show the phenomenal things we can do as a police service in our community.”
Congratulations, Cst. Rob Brown.
