Feb. 4, 2011
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Maryland defensive coordinator Don Brown is headed to the University of Connecticut, the Huskies announced Friday.
Brown, a native of Spencer, Mass., spent the last two seasons at Maryland where he also oversaw the cornerbacks. He will serve as the UConn defensive coordinator.
The Terps ended the 2010 season ranked 38th in the FBS in points allowed (22.3 per game) and 39th in total defense (352.3 yards per game). Maryland was also tied for 18th in red-zone defense (74 percent) and ninth nationally in passing efficiency defense (107.4 rating).
"Don came to me this morning and said he wanted to get back home," Maryland head coach Randy Edsall said of the opportunity at UConn. "He's been down here two years without his family. He felt he needed to go back and be closer to them."
Brown has spent nearly his entire coaching career in New England.
He was the head coach of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst for five seasons (2004-08), leading the Minutemen to the 2006 FCS championship game.
Prior to his head-coaching stint at UMass, Brown led the Northeastern Huskies for four seasons (2000-03).
He led a total transformation of the Huskies' program. After taking over a team coming off a 2-9 record, with just two winning seasons in the previous 12 before his arrival, Brown led Northeastern to a 27-20 mark.
Brown, 55, was a defensive coordinator at UMass (1998-99), Brown (1996-97), Yale (1987-92), Dartmouth (1984-86) and Mansfield University (1983). He was also the head coach of Plymouth State (1993-95).
Edsall will begin a national search for a replacement.
