Kie Brown

My Graduate Story

My name is Kie Brown, and I graduated from the University of Birmingham with a Sport Coaching MSc.

Today, I work as an FE Sport Lecturer at South Staffordshire College, Coach Developer at The Football Association and Academy Coach at Aston Villa Football Club.

I launched KJ Football Academy in 2023 in memory of my son who was born sleeping. We offer football opportunities for both genders as well as varied abilities and ages. I'm also currently an academy coach at Aston Villa FC which involves coaching an Academy age group team for their games as well as plan, deliver and evaluate training sessions. Additionally, I work as a Coach Developer at the Football Association.

A Day in my Life

Weekdays mainly consist of planning, delivering and reviewing creative and innovative teaching and learning material to enhance the personal and professional development of 16-19 year olds. After my lecturing commitments I would plan, deliver and review a training session for my U10s squad. My weekends typically consist of a training session on Saturday and a game against another academy on a Sunday.

My Birmingham Experience

The learning experience in my course provided a strong foundation in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, helping me feel well-prepared for my professional endeavours. The combination of hands-on projects, real-world applications, and in-depth discussions allowed me to develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Additionally, the opportunity to collaborate with peers and lecturers helped me refine my personal and professional skills. Overall, the course not only taught me the subject matter but also gave me valuable experience in how to apply it in a professional context.

Birmingham's Impact

At the University of Birmingham, I developed expert knowledge and skills that allowed me to gain in-depth understanding of coaching methodologies, sports psychology, nutrition, performance analysis, and more, equipping me with a comprehensive toolkit to improve my practitioner techniques.

My course included hands-on experience through fieldwork, allowing me to apply what you learnt in real-world coaching environments. This helped to refine skills and make me more adaptable to different coaching situations.

Lastly, I was able to connect with other coaches, professors, and industry professionals, building a strong network that open doors to career opportunities, collaborations, and mentorship.

My Achievements

The biggest achievement of my studies was when my dissertation was graded publishable!

Advice for Students

My advice for fresh graduates looking to start their career would be:

• To start NOW. Realise your dream and maximise your potential.
• To be comfortable being UNCOMFORTABLE. Growth and development is greatly enhanced during uncomfortable situations.