Being part of the Little League® program as a volunteer coach is more than just a role, it is part of Gerren Brown’s identity. His passion for the program began with his son, who started his Little League career with Greenville (N.C.) LL. His coach, Todd Boyd, approached Brown after the team’s first practice and asked him if he’d be willing to help.
Despite his previous coaching experience primarily in basketball, Brown took the leap and signed up to volunteer. Little did he know at the time that by saying yes, he opened the door to years worth of making an impact as a baseball and softball coach and eventually reaching the biggest stage in youth sports – the 2025 Little League Softball® World Series in Greenville, North Carolina.
“At first, I had no interest in coaching the tournament team, but my wife Caitlin, who is a Little League Softball World Series graduate, told me all about the impact I could have. So, we decided to coach our daughter’s team together. When I took the lead as Manager, everyone thought it was easy, but it’s not,” said Brown. “At the beginning of the summer, we had a tough couple of practices, and I was probably very negative. It was really my daughter who knocked some sense back into me and told me I needed to change. From that moment on, it was all about positivity. It was all about making sure these girls had the best experience possible. That mindset and change of attitude not only affected me, but the entire team.”
Recognized as the February 2026 Little League Diamond Leader of the Month, Little League sat down with Brown for a Diamond Leader Discussion.
Why do you think it is important for coaches and volunteers to take the Little League Diamond Leader Training Program?
It takes a deep dive into the mental health of the players and what encouragement and positivity can do for them. I think as coaches, some get caught up in the winning aspect of it all, but that’s not what Little League is all about. At the end of the day, it’s about kids having fun. Going into this year, our goal as a team was to make the Little League Softball World Series, and I just kept reiterating to the girls to have fun regardless of how we did. That lesson was always at the forefront of my mind.
What lessons about emotional and mental well-being from the training do you focus on when coaching female athletes?
I have a mentor whose daughter is a softball coach at Liberty University. From his experience with his daughter, he would tell me that it’s hard to do, but if you can just remain positive and always find the good out of a situation, female athletes will hang onto that. If you’re negative and you tear them down, they’re not going to play well. One thing that I have on my play call and play sheet is a little reminder at the bottom of it. I always write out “smile” and “be positive” to always remind myself of that in the moment.
Why should someone volunteer as a Little League coach?
It’s such a great opportunity to give back. You are impacting these young athletes’ lives on a daily basis without even realizing it. I have had a couple of girls after our journey to the World Series who said, “You were the first person who believed in me.” I am not saying that her parents didn’t believe in her, because obviously they do, but sometimes someone needs that outside perspective. That, to me, is why someone should coach, because you could change one kid’s life. It’s that impactful.
The Little League Diamond Leader program, which was first piloted with nearly 1,000 Little League volunteers throughout the 2022 season, was created as part of the Susan Crown Exchange’s Million Coaches Challenge and developed in coordination with the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. Focused on ensuring children have a positive, well-rounded experience on and off the field, the Little League Diamond Leader Training Program is a FREE educational resource that provides coaches with an understanding of the impact that mental, social, and emotional well-being has in youth sports through detailed information, interactive scenarios, and a variety of additional resources. Learn more and become a Diamond Leader yourself by visiting LittleLeague.org/DiamondLeader.