Cam Brown’s Journey: Leading Naperville North’s Soccer Legacy

Naperville North senior defender Cam Brown stepped onto the field for his first varsity start carrying more than just a new role. He had a deep sense of appreciation for the opportunity to play under coach Jim Konrad for the Huskies.

To wear this jersey and to be on this field where all these great players played, to have coach Konrad as my coach, is really just an honor, Brown expressed. We talk about legacy all the time and how we have to honor the jersey, wear it with pride knowing all the greats that wore this jersey and played on this field. It’s what I’ve been looking for, and it’s helped me grow as a player.

Brown is not only growing himself but also nurturing his younger teammates as Naperville North aims to defend their Class 3A state championship with a mostly new team. The Wisconsin-Platteville commit was elected captain by his peers, few of whom have prior varsity experience.

Coach Konrad commented, Obviously, it’s cool that the boys chose him as a captain. You saw that today the way he leads from the back — super vocal, a positive leader. But also we ask the boys to hold each other accountable. Cam does that in the right way. He’s a super classy kid, and his work ethic allows him to get on his teammates because he does the work too.

In the Huskies’ 1-1 draw against West Chicago, Brown demonstrated this work ethic by anchoring a back line that included fellow seniors Liam McKenna and twin brothers Luc and Alec Schwanebeck. Juniors like Ziden Elganzouri and sophomores such as Carter Joseph and Barrett Yeaman were also making their debuts.

Junior goalkeeper Misael Gonzalez praised Brown, saying, He’s a very good teammate, a very good captain. He helps me a lot in the back getting the defense organized. Even off the field, he’s such a good person. I could speak on and on about him.

Gonzalez admired Brown’s defensive skills, noting, I like the way he communicates with our back line, the way how he plays really hard. It feels like he wants to kill every single ball he goes through.

The team endured a challenging 3-2 penalty kick victory over St. Laurence in the 2025 state championship. Brown participated in the dramatic shootout that followed a game played in cold, wet weather, even scoring one of the crucial penalty kicks.

It was unreal — the weather, the atmosphere, just knowing all of our guys were tired, Brown recalled. Making those memories for my team was like a dream come true.

Repetition of such achievements is a difficult feat, but Brown eagerly meets the challenge. He prepared for his leadership role by consulting past captains Colin McMahon and Sam Hess. Brown said, They were great leaders for me, so if I was able to learn from them and put that into my team, it’s not much work on my end. It’s just translating it to this team and all these new players.

His efforts seem modest given his impactful leadership. The Huskies hold a motto of “Nothing without work,” contributing to their four state titles over ten years.

We talk about sweeping the shed, the All Blacks’ ‘Legacy’ book, Konrad explained, referring to New Zealand’s famous rugby team. The first chapter is about doing the little things that no one else wants to do. Cam is that kid that does all the little things the right way. When you do those things, your teammates notice, and it allows you to lead.

Brown excels in leadership while taking a defensive position. For him, being a captain as a center back is not just a role. It’s just an honor, he said.

This opportunity to make a lasting impression drives Brown, who is determined to uphold the program’s esteemed tradition. It’s a legacy, he added. We have a bunch of great guys come through this program — especially last year, we had a couple of Division I players — and to be able to step up and fill those places is an honor.

Reporter Matt Le Cren contributed to this article.