Taliek Brown has traveled the world playing basketball, from all over the United States to places like Turkey, Poland and Venezuela.

His destinations changed over the years but not his identity.

"Everywhere I go, all people ever say to me is, 'Taliek Brown from UConn,' " Brown said with a laugh.

Taliek Brown from UConn is returning home.

UConn announced Tuesday that Brown, a four-year starting point guard and team captain of the 2004 NCAA national championship team, has been hired as the men's basketball director of player development.

Brown, known for his huge competitive heart and big smile while at UConn, broke down and cried after getting the news.

"I said during that interview that I feel like a freshman again," Brown said during a phone conversation. "Besides going to the NBA, this is a dream job for me. ... UConn has been everything to me."

Brown's duties include working closely off the court with the players and building strong bonds with them, organizing activities that teach them life skills, setting up community service for the team and managing alumni events. He'll also assist the team academic counselor with scheduling and monitoring study halls and supervise the graduate assistants.

"We're thrilled to welcome Taliek Brown back to UConn," coach Dan Hurley said in a release. "Obviously, his history with the program speaks for itself, but when you add that to his professional basketball career and life experiences since he left college, plus his upbeat, outgoing personality, and strong work ethic, it makes him ideal for this position.

"I'm really looking forward to him working with our student-athletes."

Brown, 36, has his roots firmly planted in New York. A native of Corona, he earned McDonald's All-American honors at St. John's Prep in Astoria. After his 10-year professional playing career ended, he worked in New York City as an assistant coach at LaGuardia Community College and served as head coach at August Martin High School. He also was involved with the Teamfootprintz Basketball Training Program.

He holds the distinction of being the only UConn player to score at least 1,000 points and dish out at least 700 assists in his career. He ranka first all-time in assists (722) and appeared in 134 games while helping the Huskies win two Big East regular season and two Big East tournament titles as well as qualify for three NCAA trips, capturing the 2004 national title.

What UConn fans bring up the most to Brown is his 30-foot shot that against Pittsburgh in the second overtime that sealed victory in 2002 Big East tournament final.

"That just stuck with me throughout my career," said Brown, who returned to UConn to finish school, earning his undergraduate degree in 2013.

Brown has stayed connected with the program. He's dropped by campus and attended games. He's always wanted a job on the staff. A position finally opened when Kevin Freeman left to become an assistant at Penn State.

"I've been trying to get the job for a few years now since I came back and got my diploma," Brown said. "But timing is everything, so I knew I had to wait my time.

"I always keep in contact with the school and just kept a good rapport and always checked to see what was going on. Finally, my opportunity came and I've got take advantage of it now."

It should be a comfortable fit for Brown, who already has a good relationship with Tom Moore and Kimani Young, two assistants. Moore was an assistant coach on Jim Calhoun's staff during Brown's playing days.

And Brown has known Young for years. They grew up in the same neighborhood and lived in the same building.

"I grew up watching him," Brown said. "He was like my idol, the first person I had seen go to college and play on TV. I had UTEP shorts when he went to UTEP. I used to wear them to every game. Coach Young has always been around in my life and been a part of my life and always been like mentor to me.

"So I feel real comfortable with everything and feel at home. I'm very excited, but I'm nervous because it's the start of something new."

Brown is embracing the challenge of helping return UConn to the national spotlight.

"It's been hard for everybody," Brown said of the program's struggles. "There's always room for promise and it's still UConn and there's still a tradition. There's nowhere to go but up right now. I'm ready for the challenge."

g.keefe@theday.com