In January 2018, Bryan Brown was promoted to defensive coordinator.
Brown has served as App State's cornerbacks coach for the past six seasons, overseeing one of the nation's most successful and productive units.
Led by its "Legion of Boone" secondary, entering the 2018 season, App State ranks second nationally with 56 interceptions since the start of the 2015 season. Only San Diego State has more during that span, with 63.
Under Brown's tutelage, Mountaineer cornerbacks have an FBS-leading 30 picks since 2015. They have helped App rank in the top 25 nationally and top two in the Sun Belt each of the last three years in both passes intercepted and scoring defense.
Brown's cornerbacks combined to intercept 15 passes in 2015, another 10 in 2016, with both '16 corners earning first-team All-Sun Belt honors, and 10 in 2017. Clifton Duck repeated as a first-team pick, and Tae Hayes was a first-team pick by the PFF College Football site.
App finished 2016 with 20 interceptions, the sixth-most in the FBS, and was No. 11 nationally in pass efficiency defense.
Duck would earn FBS Freshman All-American honors and Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors to highlight the 2016 season. He was joined in the All-Sun Belt defensive backfield by senior corner Mondo Williams.
Additionally, at least one of Brown's pupils has ranked among the conference's top 10 in interceptions during each season of his tenure. Duck (first) and Hayes (tied for fifth) did that in 2017.
Both Duck (fourth) and Williams (seventh) finished in the top 10 in 2016, while Latrell Gibbs led the Sun Belt Conference in interceptions with seven total for 149 yards and two touchdowns in 2015. Gibbs' efforts garnered him recognition on the first team all-Sun Belt defensive team.
Also under Brown's tutelage, Demetrius McCray led the Southern Conference with four interceptions in 2012. McCray went on to join the National Football League as a seventh-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013.
Brown came to Appalachian State from Ole Miss, where he was a four-year letter winner on the gridiron as well as a member of the Rebels' basketball team before serving for two years on his alma mater's football staff (2010-11).
In 2011, he served as a graduate assistant coach at Ole Miss, working specifically with the Rebels' “spur” (nickel back) position. In that capacity, he was responsible for all practice planning and game planning for the spur position. Despite a 2-10 record in ‘11, Ole Miss ranked among the top 25 nationally in pass defense (194.4 ypg).
In 2010, he was an administrative assistant for defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix, assisting with all aspects of practice and game planning for the squad's cornerbacks.
Brown began his professional career in collegiate athletics at Rutgers in 2008, where he served in a player development role, responsible for not only helping with the Scarlet Knights' special teams but also assisting in academic support services for the program. Following the stint at Rutgers, he spent one season at Delta State (2009) as a graduate assistant coaching the Statesmen's cornerbacks.
A native of Corinth, Miss., Brown was a four-year letterwinner as a defensive back at Ole Miss from 2003-06. He made 70 tackles in his four-year career and returned one interception for a touchdown while also returning kickoffs and punts.
Brown earned a B.A. in sociology from Ole Miss in 2006. He and his wife, Courtney, have a daughter, Elle, and a son, Bryson.
BROWN AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2008: Rutgers (player development)
2009: Delta State (graduate assistant/cornerbacks)
2010: Ole Miss (defensive adminstative assistant)
2011: Ole Miss (graduate assistant/spurs)
2012-17: Appalachian State (cornerbacks)
2018-present: Appalachian State (defensive coordinator/cornerbacks)
Playing Experience
2003-06: Ole Miss (DB)
Alma Mater: Ole Miss, 2006
Hometown: Corinth, Miss.
Birthdate: Oct. 25, 1983
Wife: Courtney (Walker)
Daughter: Elle
Son: Bryson
Twitter: @CoachB_BROWN
