Jan. 9, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland football program has hired Don Brown as defensive coordinator, head coach Ralph Friedgen announced Friday.

Brown comes to the Terrapins from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he served as head coach the last five years which included a trip to the 2006 NCAA FCS championship game.

During his tenure, UMass maintained one of the top defensive units in the nation. The Minutemen finished among the top 20 in total defense in three of his five seasons (third in 2005; 20th in 2006; 14th in 2007). They were also first nationally in scoring defense in 2005 and fifth in 2006.

Brown, who will oversee the cornerbacks at Maryland, has served as a head coach at three universities and been a defensive coordinator at four schools. He posted a 43-19 record (.694) at UMass, the best five-year span in program history.

He also spent four years (2000-03) at Northeastern, compiling a 27-20 mark (.574) and leading the Huskies to the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) playoffs. Prior to Brown's arrival, the team had just two winning seasons in the previous 12. In 2002, Northeastern posted its best record (10-3) in school history.

"We're excited to add a coach of Don's caliber to the staff," Friedgen said. "From many inquiries, we feel like Don can coach at any level, from the NFL on down, and at all levels, not only as a head coach but as a defensive coordinator."

Friedgen expects him to bring a hard-nosed style to the Terps defensive unit.

"He's going to be aggressive," Friedgen said. "He has a very aggressive philosophy, and he plays a different style defense than the norm. He's been successful against a lot of the new offenses that we're seeing, like the spread. He played against Navy and Georgia Southern, so he's faced a lot of the different styles we see, but he has a little different approach to it."

The fact Brown has overseen three football programs impressed Friedgen.

"He's been a head coach and understands the big picture," Friedgen said. "His input to the staff can affect us in a lot of good ways."

A native of Spencer, Mass., Brown has spent 11 years as a defensive coordinator, nine in the Ivy League and two at UMass. He was the defensive coordinator at UMass during the team's 1998 NCAA title run.

Despite moving on to a new chapter in his life, Brown enjoyed his time in Amherst, Mass.

"I am extremely proud of my time at UMass," Brown told the UMass Athletics Web site. "During the five-year period we experienced tremendous success as a football family."

Brown, 53, has also served as a head coach at Plymouth State (1993-95) where he posted a 25-6 mark (.806). He went on to become defensive coordinator at Brown for two seasons (1996-97) and then at UMass for two more (1998-99).

Prior to his time at Plymouth State he was the defensive coordinator at Dartmouth (1984-86) and Yale (1987-92).

He is a 1977 graduate of Norwich University where he starred at running back. He earned his master's degree from Plymouth State in 1996.

Along with the hiring of Brown, Friedgen also announced that Al Seamonson will coach the linebacking corps. Former defensive coordinator Chris Cosh coached inside linebackers and Seamsonson the outside backers the last three seasons. Kevin Lempa will be in charge of the safeties.