By Andrew Kean CEO and Founder, FirstPoint USA
When I founded FirstPoint USA in Glasgow back in 2001, the international collegiate sports recruitment landscape looked vastly different. Back then, the idea of bridging the gap between international student-athletes and prestigious US institutions was a novel concept, built on a simple belief: that sports and education, combined, possess a unique power to transform young lives.
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, looking back at that small Scottish start-up while standing alongside some of the world's most iconic institutions is a moment of immense pride. Today, the scale of our ambition takes a historic leap forward.
I am incredibly proud to announce a groundbreaking, multi-year partnership between FirstPoint USA and Brown University Athletics.
This collaboration represents a definitive "first" in the collegiate sports landscape: the first time an NCAA Division I university has appointed an international sports recruiting agency as its official recruitment partner. For FirstPoint USA, this is not just a major milestone; it is a validation of two and a half decades dedicated to building trust, authority, and unmatched reputation for creating life-changing opportunities for young athletes.
A Historic First-of-Its-Kind Model
Facilitated by Brown Bears Sports Properties, this exclusive agreement sets a new benchmark for how universities approach global talent acquisition.
As part of this historic alliance, FirstPoint USA will become the Exclusive Recruiting Agency of Brown Athletics. Furthermore, we are deeply honoured to become the first-ever jersey patch sponsor in Bears history, proudly placing the FirstPoint brand on the sleeves of Brown University’s championship-winning men’s rugby uniforms—a program that has remarkably secured two national championships in the last four years.
To pull back the curtain on what it takes to become an Ivy League student-athlete, FirstPoint will also serve as the presenting sponsor of a brand-new, original content series premiering across Brown Athletics’ social media channels this fall. This series will provide families and prospective athletes with an authentic look at the dedication required to compete at the highest level.
"Brown represents everything we value in US collegiate sport: academic excellence, athletic ambition, integrity, and a genuine commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes. For FirstPoint USA, this partnership is a significant milestone. It aligns our international and domestic recruitment expertise with one of the most prestigious university brands in the world and provides us with a powerful platform to help talented student-athletes and families better understand the opportunities available through college sport."
Delivering a Data-Driven Competitive Advantage
In high-performance collegiate sports, the margins between winning an Ivy League conference title or a national success are razor-thin. True competitive advantage stems from expanding your scouting parameters beyond traditional borders.
Our partnership will prioritise support for Brown Athletics’ Olympic sports—such as soccer, rugby, track and field, swimming, and field hockey. FirstPoint will equip coaches with proprietary data, global and domestic talent identification, and detailed performance insights drawn from our operations in over 40 countries.
By equipping coaches with global intelligence, we are elevating the recruiting profile and competitive positioning of Brown’s athletic programs. We are dedicated to advancing the division as a whole, helping coaches identify the next generation of Brown Bears who will champion the university’s legacy both in the classroom and on the field.
The Next 25 Years: Trust, Credibility, and Shared Vision
For other universities, prospective partners, and international schools watching this space, this partnership demonstrates where the future of sports recruitment is headed. It is no longer enough to wait for talent to find you; you must actively cultivate an intentional, compliant, and elite global network.
Our alignment with an Ivy League institution cements FirstPoint’s position as the undisputed market leader. It builds upon an established, world-class ecosystem of partnerships we’ve proudly fostered with:
- Elite European Football: Arsenal FC and Fulham FC.
- Major League Soccer (MLS): Philadelphia Union and Columbus Crew.
- Governing Bodies & Premier Events: The United Soccer League (USL) and the world-renowned Rosslyn Park National School 7s.
At our core, we want to remain at the absolute forefront of collegiate sports recruitment. Having witnessed firsthand what securing a place at an Ivy League university can do for a young person’s life—whether they pursue a professional career in sport or an elite academic route—we take our responsibility as guardians of that journey very seriously.
To the parents who trust us with their children’s futures, to the schools who partner with us to guide their pupils, and to the universities looking to redefine their recruitment strategies: the future of global sports recruiting has arrived. We are thrilled to have Brown University on board for this next chapter, and we cannot wait to see what we achieve together.
