Official: Michigan Hires DC Don Brown
Straight out of football coach central casting.
It's officially official: Michigan formally announced the hiring of Boston College's Don Brown as defensive coordinator. From the press release:
University of Michigan J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh announced Monday (Dec. 21) the hiring of Don Brown as defensive coordinator. Brown will start his appointment with the program after the conclusion of the bowl season.
"We are very pleased and happy to announce that our top candidate and number one choice, Don Brown has accepted our offer to become defensive coordinator," said Harbaugh. "After a very thorough search and talking with those I respect the most in this game, including Jack Harbaugh, John Harbaugh, Bill Belichick, Bob Sutton, Vic Fangio and others, it led me to Don Brown. Everything he has touched has turned to gold. Just look at his track record as a head coach, defensive coordinator and even as a baseball coach. We are beyond excited to welcome this high character, high achieving individual to our program and university. Teaching and player development are synonymous with coaching and Don Brown epitomizes those qualities."
Brown spent the past three seasons coordinating the defense at Boston College (2013-15). His 2015 defense currently leads the nation in eight defensive categories -- total defense, rushing defense, scoring defense, red zone defense, first down defense, third down defense, fourth down defense and tackles-for-loss -- and lists second in pass defense and pass efficiency defense.
Brown was named the 2015 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year. He was nominated for the Broyles Award which honors the nation's top assistant in college football the past three seasons.
At BC, Brown directed one of the best defenses in the country, on par with Alabama's and Michigan's despite a massive talent gap between those programs. His hiring has received universal praise; we'll have more on that later this afternoon.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^
Just ask Clemson and Florida State what it's been like going against his defenses.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:16 PM ^
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December 21st, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
I got a laugh out of that second paragraph. For some reason it reminded me of some of the statements Trump has put out in recent months about himself. "Every thing he has touched has turned to gold."
December 21st, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^
it made me not think of the other candidates and I laughed
December 21st, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
December 21st, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
December 21st, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^
Seems that way, and I am happy because everyone who knows stuff is happy and Hail Harbaugh, but if he's so awesome why the hell was he at BC?
December 21st, 2015 at 12:45 PM ^
East Coast guy, P5 program. BC used to take some pride in football. He did his job. Addazio can't say the same
December 21st, 2015 at 12:20 PM ^
December 21st, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
Harbaugh will be handing off The Hardware to his MVP QB within 5 years...for the second time.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:21 PM ^
I wonder if the Harris family knows how awkward their endowment has made every football press release.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:26 PM ^
from every Athletic Department press release that shows up here.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:33 PM ^
December 21st, 2015 at 12:49 PM ^
You laugh but I think he emdowed the Cornerback's coaching position.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:37 PM ^
I was thinking this same thing. It's really quite laughable, and not in a good way.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:51 PM ^
There is something about that title that makes me want to read it as "the University of Michigan J. Ira and Nicki Harris (pause) Family Head Football Coach" instead of "the University of Michigan J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family (pause) Head Football Coach."
It could all be solved without needing to return any money to the Harrises by removing the word "Family."
December 21st, 2015 at 4:31 PM ^
That's a good start. After removing "family" they shoud remove Ira, Nicki, J and Harris.
I would be embarrassed to have my name used like that...even though it sounds better:
"The University of Michigan Elmer Fudd Head Football Coach."
To bad Brandon didn't pimp out the name to me first. I can afford it, I own a mansion and a yacht.
December 21st, 2015 at 5:14 PM ^
The 'J' must stand for JOKE because this loser got taken for a ride by Bernie Madoff:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20090205/NEWS01/200032910/j-ira-… Nicki isn't even a Michigan grad...she's a Colorado grad, and probably a Kordell Stewart fan.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:22 PM ^
December 21st, 2015 at 12:25 PM ^
December 21st, 2015 at 2:18 PM ^
December 21st, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^
Sometimes all that glitters is gold.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^
I apologize if this ground has already been covered but I've been looking at his history and don't see anything about him wearing a position coach hat as well at any of his previous stops. When he played football, he was a running back, fwiw. Anybody know what's going to happen with linebackers coach duties?
December 21st, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
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December 21st, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
December 21st, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^
He was also linebackers coach at BC, so that's what I would expect.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:53 PM ^
Strange that they didn't mention position coaching in any of the run-downs of his coaching history that I read. Guess I didn't dig deep enough
December 21st, 2015 at 12:24 PM ^
Welcome Coach Brown!!!
#BiggerAndBetter <--- Harbaugh's tweet
December 21st, 2015 at 12:25 PM ^
"Straight out of football coach central casting". haha. Spot on.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:26 PM ^
So we can call him "Doc"
GREAT SCOTT!
GO BLUE!!
December 21st, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^
I said yesterday that the hire was underwhelming. Can I retract my statement or is it too late?
December 21st, 2015 at 12:40 PM ^
Nope. Too late.
You will be forced to eat crow while watching Michigan's hyper-aggressive defense repeatedly pummel opposing offenses into submission. (Sounds like a terrible punishment, doesn't it?)
December 21st, 2015 at 3:21 PM ^
It tastes like chicken!
(obligatory)
December 21st, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^
That mustache tho
December 21st, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^
Consulted with Jack Harbaugh, John Harbaugh, Bill Belichick, Bob Sutton, Vic Fangio. Not that I doubt the veracity of this statement but where would Brown have come into contact with these guys? Maybe the implication is that that Brown's name is known broadly across top football/NFL coaching circles.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:33 PM ^
December 21st, 2015 at 12:53 PM ^
I love how he name drops Bill Belichick, and not even at the top of his list. Just another guy he gets his advice from.
And recruits would want to go anywhere else why?
December 21st, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
December 21st, 2015 at 1:24 PM ^
has a lot of experience in New England, so I'm sure he's run into Belickick. John Harbaugh (and Fangio), probably when Brown as at Maryland.
December 21st, 2015 at 1:33 PM ^
Brown could have crossed paths with any of these guys at coaching clinics. When analyzing players for the NFL draft, they could have talked to Brown about certain players he's coached to see what Brown's evaluation was.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
with this hire. Not the flashy big name but love the potential stability and continuity it brings to the program. In Jim I trust...
December 21st, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
FEAR THE 'STACHE
December 21st, 2015 at 12:30 PM ^
Harbuagh says that Brown was his first choice. Many on the Board yesterday concluded that Brown must have been Michigan's 3rd or 4th choice.
Honestly, I don't know, but I'll choose to believe JH over a bunch of anonymous internet posters.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:36 PM ^
Ditto
December 21st, 2015 at 12:48 PM ^
Some people struggle to understand that coaches can have their own particular timetables and that sometimes you have to wait to hire the guy you want. (We should have realized this after last year, when we fired Brady Hoke then waited four weeks to hire Harbaugh.)
After the season Brown just had, I see no reason to doubt that he was very high on Harbaugh's list.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:36 PM ^
Jim talked to some football gods to make this choice...thats awesome.
December 21st, 2015 at 12:36 PM ^
December 21st, 2015 at 12:37 PM ^
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