“Conquering It All”

story by NAKEISHA DAWSON-THOMPSON     photos by JOHN WOLLWERTH

Charles “CJ” Brown, born and raised in beautiful Beaufort, is no stranger to hard work. He received his early childhood education in Beaufort County School District and is a graduate of Battery Creek High School. Charles grew up in Dale, where his love for basketball was born. He began playing basketball at the early age of four. He recalls his father as his first coach and role model when it comes to his method of coaching and mentoring in the community. His parents, Charles Brown Sr. and Cynthia Bing, supported him athletically, academically, and emotionally. They attended every home and away game. Charles attributes the leadership skills he developed to the unwavering support from his parents.

Basketball was his life. Growing up, he played basketball for Beaufort County PALS, Whale Branch Middle School, and Battery Creek High School. During his junior year at Battery Creek High School (BCHS), the boys basketball team won the 3A Regional Championship and lost in double overtime in the lower state tournament, which helped to launch Charles’ college dreams and goals as a basketball player. After graduation, he went off to Voorhees College. While there, he met the love of his life, Ieesha, and attended a prestigious basketball camp overseas twice. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management with honors.

After college, Charles and Ieesha married and moved out west to California. Charles, growing up with deep family ties, embraced his new roles as husband and soon-to-be father. Their daughter, Kayleigh Grace Brown, was born with Trisomy 18 in 2017. Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome, is a condition that is caused by an error in cell division, known as meiotic disjunction. When this happens, instead of the usual pair, an extra chromosome 18 results (a triple) in the developing baby and disrupts the normal pattern of development in significant ways that can be life-threatening, even before birth. A Trisomy 18 error occurs in about 1 out of every 2500 pregnancies in the United States and 1 in 6000 live births.

With their strong faith and family support, Charles and Ieesha prepared themselves for the long road ahead in supporting their beautiful daughter. Kayleigh spent several months in the NICU after birth. Doctors told them she wouldn’t survive past one year. She is now two years old and continues to overcome every challenge. Charles smiles and says, “Kayleigh and her strength to live continues to beat all the odds stacked against her.” That is where the motto and name of his business “Conquer It All” originated. Kayleigh continues to inspire her parents to live and love while she conquers it all.

Charles uses all his life events to push him to higher levels of faith, compassion, and mentorship. All of these experiences give him a purpose that drives his techniques as a coach. Charles has many experiences as a basketball coach. He started coaching at the age of 17. Some of his past coaching jobs were: Student Assistant at Voorhees College, Head JV coach for Yucca Valley High School in California, Robert Smalls Middle School, Beaufort Sharks AAU, YMCA youth counselor, and an internship as a sports management major. The 2019-2020 basketball season put Charles is in his first year as the head coach of the Battery Creek High School boys’ varsity team. BCHSs season ended with three wins out of 17 games. He calls this season a rough one, but exclaims that he is proud of the students, and he is encouraged that the team will have a great season next school year. He has arranged summer basketball conditioning for his players and is confident this is just one of the many steps in the right direction for the team.

Charles is not only their coach; he leads from the front and by example. He has high standards for his players and is willing to go the extra mile and take it a step further than coaching. He offers himself as a mentor to every athlete and gets down to their level, so they aspire to be their best selves, on and off the court.

Conquer It All, LLC was created in 2019 after Charles realized that his mentorship, training, and leadership skills needed to be put to use formally. The name, inspired by his daughter, sums up Charles’ encouragement, on and off the court. He simply encourages everyone to conquer it all. The mission and vision of Conquer It All, LLC is to: empower, inspire, and motivate children to reach their maximum potential. His business offers the following services: leadership training, mentor training, personal training sessions, and resources to assist children with training and conditioning. Charles uses basketball to relate to students, especially student-athletes and those with a desire to play locally or professionally. He uses basketball to connect with the students.

Coach Charles is a certified personal trainer through National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). His goal is to give the children in Beaufort County the opportunity to prepare to play at the next level. Charles also offers one-on-one training for adults, including physical fitness sessions and basketball training.