Ben with the “Road to Omaha” statue.
By Dalton Lee, Baldwin Wallace ’11
Ben Brownlee, Bethany '03, has dedicated much of his life to collegiate athletics; from four years of swimming at Bethany College to building a career with various conferences and at the NCAA over the past 17 years, Brownlee made a name for himself within the industry. Before arriving on campus in Bethany, West Virginia, Brownlee had already developed a fondness for the university. He first fell in love with the campus as a freshman in high school and only deepened his connections over the next four years. His route to Phi Tau was similarly destined to be—he had friends who were already in the Phi chapter before stepping onto campus, so he patiently waited for his chance to join and turn friends into brothers. Brownlee revered his time as an undergraduate member of Phi Tau and remembers his favorite moments of brotherhood being the little things—eating lunch together, playing intramurals sports, and having a community to lean on following the passing of his father.
Ben at the NCAA Convention.
Following the completion of his degree, Brownlee began his career with the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, eventually moving to the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference where he worked his way up to the Acting Commissioner. Following that role, he spent two years with the Moutain East Conference and got the opportunity to start with the NCAA in 2015. For almost nine years, Brownlee was the Assistant Director of the NCAA, where his primary function was to lead and expand the background check and vetting process for officiating hopefuls. As the NCAA worked to create a new role—Associate Director of Officiating—Brownlee was the ideal candidate, having already fulfilled many of the daily responsibilities of the position. For the last six months, he has continued to improve upon and ensure that the NCAA gets the most dedicated and honest officials possible. As sports betting and gambling become legalized throughout the country and widely more accessible, this job is of the utmost importance, and it is pivotal to ensuring the success and authenticity of collegiate sports.
Ben and his wife.
Living in Indianapolis, Brownlee married his wife in 2018 and the couple now have twin daughters who are 4 and a son who is 2. Congratulations to a great Phi Tau man who is helping student athletes, spectators, and coaches have the most rewarding experience possible.