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Don Brown (American football coach)
Encyclopedia
Don Brown is an American college football
coach and former player. He is currently the defensive coordinator
at the University of Connecticut
, a position he has held since February 2011. Previously, he served as the head football coach at Plymouth State University
(1993–1995), Northeastern University (2000–2003), and the University of Massachusetts Amherst
(2004–2008), compiling a career college football
record of 95–45. Brown was also the interim head baseball coach at Yale University
in 1992, tallying a mark of 26–10.
where he attended David Prouty High School. He went on to play football as a running back
at Norwich University
. Brown graduated in 1977. In 1996, he earned a master's degree from Plymouth State University
.
, which won the Ivy League
conference title during his tenure, and then at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
. In 1984, he returned to Dartmouth as its defensive coordinator
. In 1987, he took the same position at Yale
.
, a Division III school, and he held that position for three seasons. During his last two years, he led the team to win the Freedom Football Conference
championship and advanced to the Division III playoffs. Brown was named the Freedom Conference Coach of the Year all three of his seasons at Plymouth State. In 1994, he was also named the American Football Coaches Association
District I Coach of the Year.
In 1996, he took over as the defensive coordinator at Brown University
, where he remained for two years. In his second season, Brown posted its best record (7–5) in 20 years and led the nation with a school record of 28 interceptions and ranked second in takeaways with 36. Opponents scored an average of 19.4 points per game.
In 1998, Brown moved to the University of Massachusetts Amherst
(UMass) as its defensive coordinator
. That year, UMass won the Division I-AA national championship, and in the following season, earned a share of the Atlantic 10 championship and secured another berth in the Division I-AA playoffs.
, seventh-ranked , and ninth-ranked . During 2005, Brown helped UMass to a 7–2 start and a final ranking of #19. That year, the Minutemen defeated fourth-ranked James Madison
and handed Delaware their worst home loss in two decades, 35–7.
In 2006, Brown led the Massachusetts to the Atlantic 10 conference championship and a finish as runners-up to the national championship. They ended the season ranked No. 2 with a 13–2 record. At home, he set a school record with a perfect 8–0 record in McGuirk Stadium
. That season, Brown was named the AFCA Region I Coach of the Year, Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, and New England Football Coach of the Year.
In 2007, UMass again won its conference, now as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association
. The team advanced to the semifinals and finished the season with a No. 6 final ranking.
announced the hiring of Brown as its defensive coordinator, which filled the vacancy created by the departure of Chris Cosh
. Maryland paid UMass a $25,000 buyout in accordance with the terms of Brown's contract. With a dearth of experience and talent, especially on the offensive line, Maryland suffered a 2–10 record during the 2009 season
. The loss of cornerback Nolan Carroll
due to a broken leg was cited as a serious detriment for the defense. The defense struggled to pressure opposing quarterback
s with the implementation of Brown's aggressive, blitz-oriented scheme. Maryland finished tied for last in the Atlantic Coast Conference
in scoring defense, allowing an average of 31.2 points per game, and caused just 12 turnovers and recorded 27 sacks
. The lower than expected figures were attributed to a lack of players suited to the defensive scheme.
With a year of experience in Brown's defense, and a stronger secondary, the unit was expected to improve during the 2010 season
. Maryland rebounded with a 9–4 record and a bowl game victory, with a markedly improved defense. The Washington Post
described Brown's scheme as "organized chaos" and "blitzing nearly 85 percent of the time." Highly touted junior safety Kenny Tate
emerged as a playmaker, and Brown praised his play at "virtually every position on the field" as "unbelievable". Brown was credited with preparing the team well for the 2010 Military Bowl, where Maryland beat the 12th-ranked offense of East Carolina
, 51–20. After the season, head coach Ralph Friedgen
was fired, and Brown stated a desire to remain at Maryland on the next coaching staff.
.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
coach and former player. He is currently the defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, a position he has held since February 2011. Previously, he served as the head football coach at Plymouth State University
Plymouth State University
Plymouth State University, formerly Plymouth State College, is a regional comprehensive university located in Plymouth, New Hampshire and part of the University System of New Hampshire....
(1993–1995), Northeastern University (2000–2003), and the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
(2004–2008), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 95–45. Brown was also the interim head baseball coach at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1992, tallying a mark of 26–10.
Early life and college
Brown was born in Spencer, MassachusettsSpencer, Massachusetts
Spencer is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,688 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Spencer, please see the article Spencer , Massachusetts....
where he attended David Prouty High School. He went on to play football as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
at Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
. Brown graduated in 1977. In 1996, he earned a master's degree from Plymouth State University
Plymouth State University
Plymouth State University, formerly Plymouth State College, is a regional comprehensive university located in Plymouth, New Hampshire and part of the University System of New Hampshire....
.
Early positions
Brown began his college coaching career as an assistant, first at DartmouthDartmouth Big Green football
The Dartmouth Big Green football team represents Dartmouth College in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League...
, which won the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
conference title during his tenure, and then at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is one of the fourteen state universities that are part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher...
. In 1984, he returned to Dartmouth as its defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
. In 1987, he took the same position at Yale
Yale Bulldogs football
The Yale Bulldogs football program represents Yale University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Yale's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1872...
.
Plymouth State
In 1993, Brown assumed his first head coaching job at Plymouth State UniversityPlymouth State University
Plymouth State University, formerly Plymouth State College, is a regional comprehensive university located in Plymouth, New Hampshire and part of the University System of New Hampshire....
, a Division III school, and he held that position for three seasons. During his last two years, he led the team to win the Freedom Football Conference
Freedom Football Conference
The Freedom Football Conference was a college athletic conference that competed in the NCAA's Division III. Member teams were located in New England and New York...
championship and advanced to the Division III playoffs. Brown was named the Freedom Conference Coach of the Year all three of his seasons at Plymouth State. In 1994, he was also named the American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
District I Coach of the Year.
In 1996, he took over as the defensive coordinator at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, where he remained for two years. In his second season, Brown posted its best record (7–5) in 20 years and led the nation with a school record of 28 interceptions and ranked second in takeaways with 36. Opponents scored an average of 19.4 points per game.
In 1998, Brown moved to the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
(UMass) as its defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
. That year, UMass won the Division I-AA national championship, and in the following season, earned a share of the Atlantic 10 championship and secured another berth in the Division I-AA playoffs.
Northeastern
From 2000 to 2003, Brown held his second head coaching job at Northeastern University. The season prior to his arrival, the Huskies finished with a 2–9 record. In 2000, Northeastern scored a 35–27 upset victory over Division I-A Connecticut. In 2002, he led Northeastern to an 11th-place final ranking, the school's highest-ever placement. The Huskies' ten wins were also the most in school history. That season, he was named Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year, New England Football Writers Coach of the Year, and American Football Coaches Association Region I Coach of the Year. In 2003, he led the Huskies to a third-place finish in the Atlantic 10, and the eight-win season matched the second-most in school history. Northeastern was also the only team to record a victory against the season's eventual Division I-AA champions, Delaware.Massachusetts
In 2004, Brown returned to UMass to take over as its head coach. During his tenure as head coach from 2004 to 2008, UMass posted the best five-year record in school history, 43–19. In his first year, he led the Minutemen to a 6–5 record, including victories over fourth-ranked ColgateColgate Raiders football
The Colgate Raiders football team represents Colgate University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Patriot League.-History:...
, seventh-ranked , and ninth-ranked . During 2005, Brown helped UMass to a 7–2 start and a final ranking of #19. That year, the Minutemen defeated fourth-ranked James Madison
James Madison Dukes football
The James Madison Dukes football team, founded in 1972, plays at Bridgeforth Stadium. Originally called JMU Stadium, it was renamed for William E. Bridgeforth in 1990. The JMU football team was rarely the centerpiece of JMU sports until the hiring of Mickey Matthews in 1999...
and handed Delaware their worst home loss in two decades, 35–7.
In 2006, Brown led the Massachusetts to the Atlantic 10 conference championship and a finish as runners-up to the national championship. They ended the season ranked No. 2 with a 13–2 record. At home, he set a school record with a perfect 8–0 record in McGuirk Stadium
Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium
Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium is a 17,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Hadley, Massachusetts on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. It was home to the UMass Minutemen football team through the 2011 season, and remains home to the UMass Minutewomen lacrosse team. The stadium is...
. That season, Brown was named the AFCA Region I Coach of the Year, Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year, and New England Football Coach of the Year.
In 2007, UMass again won its conference, now as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
. The team advanced to the semifinals and finished the season with a No. 6 final ranking.
Maryland
On January 9, 2009, the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
announced the hiring of Brown as its defensive coordinator, which filled the vacancy created by the departure of Chris Cosh
Chris Cosh
Chris Cosh , is an American football coach and currently holds the position of defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Kansas State University...
. Maryland paid UMass a $25,000 buyout in accordance with the terms of Brown's contract. With a dearth of experience and talent, especially on the offensive line, Maryland suffered a 2–10 record during the 2009 season
2009 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2009 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland during its 57th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Terrapins played in the Atlantic Division of the conference, and competed against all five divisional opponents, two Coastal Division opponents on a...
. The loss of cornerback Nolan Carroll
Nolan Carroll
Nolan Carroll, Jr. is an American football defensive back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins from the University of Maryland.-Early life:...
due to a broken leg was cited as a serious detriment for the defense. The defense struggled to pressure opposing quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
s with the implementation of Brown's aggressive, blitz-oriented scheme. Maryland finished tied for last in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
in scoring defense, allowing an average of 31.2 points per game, and caused just 12 turnovers and recorded 27 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. The lower than expected figures were attributed to a lack of players suited to the defensive scheme.
With a year of experience in Brown's defense, and a stronger secondary, the unit was expected to improve during the 2010 season
2010 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2010 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Terrapins' 58th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and its sixth within the framework of the ACC Atlantic Division...
. Maryland rebounded with a 9–4 record and a bowl game victory, with a markedly improved defense. The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
described Brown's scheme as "organized chaos" and "blitzing nearly 85 percent of the time." Highly touted junior safety Kenny Tate
Kenny Tate
Kenny Tate is an American football player. He plays college football as a safety for the Maryland Terrapins at the University of Maryland. He was recruited as a wide receiver, but as a true freshman in 2008, was converted to the safety position...
emerged as a playmaker, and Brown praised his play at "virtually every position on the field" as "unbelievable". Brown was credited with preparing the team well for the 2010 Military Bowl, where Maryland beat the 12th-ranked offense of East Carolina
2010 East Carolina Pirates football team
The 2010 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Pirates played their home games in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and were led by head coach Ruffin McNeill, a former Pirate football player and former Texas Tech defensive...
, 51–20. After the season, head coach Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen is an American football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Maryland from 2001 to 2010. Friedgen was previously an offensive coordinator at Maryland, Georgia Tech, and in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers...
was fired, and Brown stated a desire to remain at Maryland on the next coaching staff.
Connecticut
On February, 4, 2011 Brown was hired as the defensive coordinator at the University of ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
.