Western Kentucky Lady Toppers forward Ivy Brown (23) shoots during WKU's 77-61 win over North Texas on Friday, March 9, 2018, at The Ford Center at The Star. (Austin Anthony / photo@bgdailynews.com)

Ivy Brown will still be on the local women’s basketball scene. The former Western Kentucky star has accepted a position as an assistant coach to Zach Simpson with the Greenwood High School girls’ basketball team.

Brown led the Lady Toppers to three Conference USA championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances during her playing career at WKU. She’ll join the Greenwood staff while student teaching at Richardsville Elementary and Warren East High School.

The Hodgenville native will graduate with her degree in physical education in December.

“I’m really excited,” Brown told the Daily News. “Coach (Greg) Collins and I talked about trying to get into coaching while I was student teaching and still here in Bowling Green. When Coach Simpson texted me and asked me to join his staff, I was excited I could still stay in Bowling Green and make an impact here.”

Brown made a tremendous impact in four years with WKU. The 6-foot-1 forward finished her career with 35 double-doubles, the sixth most in school history, and 1,508 points, 14th in the WKU record book. Her 986 career rebounds are seventh-most at WKU.

“I am extremely excited to be adding Ivy to our coaching staff,” Simpson said. “I have three fantastic assistant coaches and to be adding a fourth with her potential will make our staff even stronger. I feel she will be a positive role model for all of our players.

“Her basketball background speaks for itself and I look forward to working with her as we strive to achieve our goals for Lady Gator basketball.”

Brown was a prep star at LaRue County and was named Kentucky Miss Basketball following the 2013-14 season. She finished her high school career averaging 16.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

Brown and teammate Tashia Brown were invited to a professional scouting combine at the NCAA Women’s Final Four in April, but the former didn’t participate since she decided to go the coaching route instead of playing.

“Earlier in the season I thought maybe I would continue to play professionally, but as the season went on I decided a new chapter was what I needed to go with,” Ivy Brown said. “I love basketball and always wanted to be a part of it. I always thought coaching would be the next best thing outside of playing.

“I’ve had a lot of great coaches who have had a big impact on me. I want the opportunity to do the same with other kids.”{&end}