ORONO – Ron Brown would probably not be a basketball coach and educator had he not gone to the University of Maine. Brown would probably not be alive if it wasn’t for the Maine Kidney Foundation.

Out of his desire to repay both institutions that have made such a difference in his life, Brown authored the book “Basketball 2000.” The well-known boys basketball coach at Machias High School announced Thursday he is donating all proceeds from sale of the book to be split equally between a UM athletic scholarship fund and the Maine Kidney Foundation.

“I would be remiss as a graduate of this school if I did not give something back,” said Brown, kicking off his book-sale charity effort at a press conference at the Dexter Lounge in Alfond Arena on the UM campus. “As a recipient of a kidney, I would be remiss if I did not give something back.”

What Brown intends to give back is nearly the entirety of the $16.95 buyers will shell out for the oversized, softcover collection of Brown’s theories on where the evolution of the sport is headed in the next century. The book is a manual for coaching, playing, and learning about basketball, spiced liberally with Brown’s philosophy on how the sport dovetails with life.

Because several donors absorbed the entire cost of publishing the book, it’s cover price is pure profit for the two charities. Only a few cents will go toward deferring the expenses of the book sellers.

Of the remaining money, fifty percent will go toward funding an endowed scholarship that will be awarded annually to the incoming UM freshman male or female basketball player from the state of Maine who has the highest high school grade point average.

Fifty percent will go to the Maine Kidney Foundation. Brown underwent a kidney transplant nearly two years ago after struggling with the disease for several years.

Both UM Athletic Director Mike Ploszek and Ray Beck, chairman of the Northern Maine Chapter of the Kidney Foundation, expressed their gratitude to Brown.

The book is available at all Goldsmith’s Sporting Goods stores and at Helen’s Restaurant gift shop in Machias.