06/03/2026
“The Brown alumni network runs deep.”
After working as a coach at the Junior Celtics Academy over the summer last year, former men’s basketball player Aaron Cooley ’25 had to make a decision: continue his basketball career overseas or pursue an opportunity working with the NBA.
“I chose the NBA,” Cooley shared in Brown Admission’s latest spotlight.
Today, the modern culture and media concentrator is an assistant video coordinator for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I was connected with alumni who helped make my jump into the real world easier,” he said.
At Brown, Cooley learned to step outside of his comfort zone and take advantage of the many resources available, one of which enabled him to travel abroad with other student-athletes to engage in international competition and community service. During his junior year, he began making short films with the student-run film production club Brown Motion Pictures and Brown Original Series. He eventually had a film shown at the Avon on Thayer Street. And the rest is history.
“What shaped me most were the people who challenged me to take full advantage of every opportunity,” said Cooley, who credits the Brown network for allowing him to “experience the world.”
*This post is based on and excerpted from Brown Admission’s series.
