Aldine ISD P.E. Coach Ashton Brown to Join Prairie View A&M Sports Hall of Fame

Goodman Elementary School Head P.E. Coach Ashton Brown, an Aldine ISD alum, will be inducted into Prairie View A&M University’s Sports Hall of Fame in October 2026 as a member of the 2005 men’s cross-country team.

Goodman Elementary School Head P.E. Coach Ashton Brown, an Eisenhower High School graduate and Aldine ISD educator, will be inducted into Prairie View A&M University’s Sports Hall of Fame in October as a member of the 2005 men’s cross-country team.

For Brown, the upcoming honor is more than a celebration of athletic accomplishments from two decades ago. It is an opportunity to reconnect with teammates, remember the coaches who helped shape his life, and reflect on a journey that ultimately brought him back home to Aldine.

His first reaction?

“Wow, 20 years ago? I’m getting old!”

The honor, however, quickly brought back memories of the brotherhood he shared with his teammates and the hard work that helped make the team special.

Brown graduated from Eisenhower High School in 2003, where he competed at the state level for two years and earned All-Greater Houston honors. He continued his athletic career at Prairie View A&M and graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. He later earned a master’s degree in educational administration in 2009.

One of Brown’s favorite Prairie View memories involves a 12-mile Sunday run on the back roads, with then-coach Clifton Gillard following the runners in his green pickup truck.

“I loved running, but that day I somehow ended up riding in the back of the truck!” Brown recalled with a laugh.

Coach Gillard, whom Brown describes as a father figure and a major reason he chose Prairie View A&M, has since passed away, making those memories even more meaningful.

“My teammates and I worked hard, and those experiences built a bond and discipline I still carry today,” Brown said.

From Athlete to Aldine ISD Educator

Brown initially began college as a business major with a minor in communication. But as he reflected on his interests and his future, he realized his passion was working with children.

That realization eventually led him to education.

Brown began his Aldine ISD career at Thomas Gray Elementary School in 2008 as a P.E. assistant, working under Coach Gerome Wiltz, whom he credits as an important mentor. He has spent the past 15 years at Goodman Elementary, where he has found his purpose in helping students grow both physically and personally.

“Our students come from different backgrounds and face different challenges, and what I enjoy most is being able to support them, encourage them, and watch them grow,” Brown said. “Seeing a student gain confidence, learn something new, or realize they are capable of more than they thought is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.”

Brown often returns to a question posed by Aldine ISD P.E. Coordinator Kenneth Hernández: “What is your why?”

“My ‘why’ is to mentor, guide young minds, and help students learn to value themselves mentally and physically,” Brown said.

For Brown, that purpose is especially meaningful because he understands the impact a coach or mentor can have on a young person.

“There have been times when I considered leaving education to pursue some of my other passions, but my students always remind me why I am here,” he said. “Realizing that I can be that person for a child reminds me that I am here for a reason.”

A Journey Back Home

Brown hopes his students can see his journey as an example of what is possible.

“I hope my students see that where you start does not determine how far you can go,” he said.

The lessons he learned through athletics — commitment, hard work, discipline, perseverance and dedication — continue to guide him as an educator. He also wants his students to carry them beyond the gym.

Brown is proud to be an Aldine ISD graduate and now an Aldine educator.

“I want every student who walks through my gym to know that they are cared for, valued, and have the potential to do great things,” he said.

And if he could offer advice to the young Ashton Brown he was at Eisenhower, he would keep it simple: Stay true to yourself, keep moving forward, and trust the journey.

His journey has taken him from the halls of Eisenhower High School to the cross-country trails of Prairie View A&M, and ultimately back to the district that helped shape him — where he now spends his days helping the next generation discover just how far they can go.