The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

btubbs@tribuneemedia.net

WHILE he continues to work with his collegiate athletes as head coach at Clayton State University, Bahamian Olympian Chris “Fireman” Brown is making his contribution to the training regimen for some professional athletes.

One of note is Tyler Goodson, running back for the Atlanta Falcons, who has credited Brown's "fire training" to the success of his off-season preparation for the 2026/27 National Football League.

Fox Sports' Jen Hale reported that Goodson enlisted the services of Brown in Georgia to help him improve on his "sprinting moves and his struggling to be faster on the field," based on his mantra that "if you have slow feet, you won't eat."

The 47-year-old Brown, now in his seventh year as the Laker coach at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia, said he first met the 25-year-old Goodson when he was in high school and he saw his potential and he encouraged his parents to put in the investment in him.

"Over the years, he continued to put in the work and relied on God and he knew that on and off the field when nobody is watching, he has to make the sacrifice to get better," Brown said. "We continued to develop our relationship and during the offseason, I was working on his speed and his technique and his form and so strengthening up his mental capacity."

Brown, known for providing inspirational messages to those whom he comes in contact with, said he had to work on Goodson's mental aspect because he didn't want everything else to go down the drain.

"He continued to see progress and he continued to believe in it," Brown pointed out. "Once he got the opportunity to go out there and make a name for himself with the potential he had, it was no surprise. He continued to believe and to trust the process and the training we did."

Brown said the Falcons were able to see the improvement of Goodson from the work he put in behind the scenes and has propelled his pro career.

"It means a lot to me because he trusted me with his career," Brown pointed out. "He's an NFL player and so it's an honour to witness and to watch him go out there and execute what we did in the offseason."

As a sport outside of track and field, Brown said he was just delighted to be part of Goodson's journey and hopefully he can continue to develop into one of the top NFL players this season.

In the meantime, Brown said his phone has been ringing off the hook with inquiries from other track and field athletes as well as professionals from other sports to get into a training regimen with him.

"If it's the will of the Lord to train others, so be it," Brown stated. "But I have a few others that are in college, whom I am working with and a few other pros who were before and while I was working with Tyler.

"So it's a new chapter for me and I'm excited to see where the journey leads for me and hopefully if they can see the fruits of his labour, they want to come over and get some of the fire too. They can come along and join the team and get some of that fire power."

At Clayton State University as a coach following his collegiate career at Norfolk State University that ended in 2014, Brown is eager to see what unfolds for the Lakers team that includes fellow Bahamian sprinter Roy'Janae Brown, a junior who transferred from Ottawa.

"We finished third in both the men and women outdoor championships last year and had both the male and female athlete of the year in the conference," Brown said.

"We stand a great chance of coming up in the top two, if not just winning it. As long as everybody stays healthy, keeps their head on and stays focused and trusts the process, then we should be fine."

Brown, a 400 metre specialist who ran on just about every men's 4 x 400m relay team that won an international medal, said after the Lakers lost their men's 4 x 400m relay title, finishing third, they are looking forward to regaining their top position next year.

"I'm looking forward to getting back on top of the podium for the men's 4 x 4 and looking for great success in the classroom as well. I'm hoping that my team can get between a 3.0 and 4.0 this season and just be great leaders in setting the trend that we're looking for from our student-athletes."

Brown's Lakers squad will begin competing on December 5 at the Birmingham Indoor Icebreaker before the start of the new year at the KMS Invitational on January 18, both at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

The highlight of the indoor season will be the Peach Belt Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on February 23.

The outdoor season begins on March 7 at the Savannah State Eye Opener at the Savannah State University and concludes with the Peach Belt Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships May 1-2 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.