Christopher Brown

Dr. Christopher Brown is the Founder of Brown Athletics Consulting and a trusted advisor to colleges, conferences, and athletics departments navigating complex NCAA compliance, eligibility, and infractions matters.

He brings experience across the NCAA national office, Division I conference leadership, and institutional athletics administration. As a former Associate Director at the NCAA, he worked on high-profile compliance cases, eligibility reviews, and legislative development across Division I, Division II, and Division III. This experience provides deep expertise in NCAA rules interpretation, enforcement processes, and institutional compliance systems.

Brown later served as Associate Commissioner for Governance and Compliance at the Mountain West Conference, where he led conference-level compliance operations, NCAA governance issues, and institutional coordination. He also served as Commissioner of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, where he oversaw conference governance, compliance, and strategic initiatives for member institutions.

Through Brown Athletics Consulting, he advises institutions and conferences on NCAA compliance reviews, investigations and infractions matters, eligibility certification, financial aid strategy, and governance. His work spans Division I, II, and III, with particular depth in Division II and Division III compliance and a focus on practical, high-impact solutions.

He holds a Ph.D. in Sport Management from the University of Kansas, a Master of Science from Austin Peay State University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado State University.

Julie Owen

Dr. Julie Owen is a senior NCAA compliance and athletics administrator with more than 20 years of experience in college athletics, including over 18 years in NCAA compliance roles across multiple institutions, conferences, and a conference office at both the Power 4 and Group of 6 levels. She specializes in NCAA compliance, NIL and revenue share strategy, and athletics governance, making her a key resource for institutions navigating today’s rapidly evolving college athletics landscape.

Julie has extensive expertise in developing and implementing NCAA compliance policies and procedures, with a strong background in initial eligibility certification, progress-toward-degree requirements, and complex waiver processes. Her experience includes preparing legislative relief waivers and student-athlete reinstatement requests, as well as leading comprehensive rules education and compliance monitoring systems for athletics departments.

She is highly experienced in Academic Progress Rate (APR) management, including data reporting, adjustments, waiver submissions, and navigating NCAA audits. Her work ensures institutions remain compliant while optimizing academic outcomes and maintaining eligibility standards for student-athletes.

Julie also brings significant experience in the evolving Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and revenue share environment following the House settlement. She has drafted and negotiated revenue share agreements, managed cap allocations, and worked closely with agents, attorneys, and institutional leadership to implement compliant and strategic NIL and revenue distribution models. Her background includes oversight of third-party NIL agreements and management of institutional processes within NIL Go.

Well-connected across the Division I athletics landscape, Julie has established relationships at the institutional, conference, and national levels. She has direct experience working through NCAA investigations and the Committee on Infractions process, providing institutions with trusted guidance during high-stakes compliance matters.

Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Colorado College, an MBA and Master of Sport Administration from Ohio University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Mississippi. Her combination of legal training, executive-level experience, and NCAA compliance expertise positions her as a leading authority in college athletics compliance consulting.

Joanne Little

Joanne brings more than 30 years of experience in college athletics, with a distinguished career at Union College in New York, a unique multidivisional institution competing primarily in NCAA Division III with select Division I programs. With over two decades in athletics administration and service as Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Compliance Coordinator, and Senior Woman Administrator since 2005, Joanne offers deep expertise in NCAA compliance, Division III governance, and institutional athletics operations.

As Compliance Coordinator, Joanne oversaw all aspects of NCAA compliance for 26 varsity sports, including Division I and Division III programs. Her responsibilities included managing NCAA compliance systems, rules education, and institutional reporting, as well as completing required NCAA reports such as the Academic Performance Program (APP), Sports Sponsorship and Demographics reporting, Division III Self-Study Guide, and collaborating on NCAA financial reporting, including EADA and Division III financial aid submissions. She also led NCAA Division I compliance reviews for Union Athletics, demonstrating her ability to navigate both Division I and Division III regulatory environments.

In her role as a senior athletics administrator, Joanne contributed extensively to athletics leadership and campus-wide initiatives, including gender equity and Title IX compliance, strategic planning, hazing prevention, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programming. She served as a key liaison to academics and admissions, supporting student-athlete success and institutional enrollment strategies, and played a leadership role in hiring processes across the athletics department.

Joanne also served as a part-time Commissioner for the Liberty League, further strengthening her experience in conference governance and NCAA compliance oversight. Her work at the conference level complements her institutional background and enhances her ability to advise on both campus and conference compliance structures.

Beyond athletics, Joanne has held significant campus leadership roles, including serving as a longtime Title IX Deputy Coordinator, where she functioned as an investigator, intake liaison, and student advocate during adjudication processes. She also contributed to institutional governance through service on strategic planning committees, Middle States reaccreditation efforts, and enrollment management initiatives.

Her career reflects a comprehensive understanding of the student-athlete experience, shaped by her background as a student-athlete, coach, and administrator. Joanne is widely respected for her commitment to fostering a positive, compliant, and student-centered athletics environment.

Joanne is an active member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC). She holds a Master of Science in Physical Education with a concentration in Sport Psychology from Ithaca College and a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Keene State College.