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AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts Athletic Director John McCutcheon announced on Friday morning that Don Brown is resigning his position as the head football coach at UMass. Brown will be taking a job as the defensive coordinator at the University of Maryland. A national search for Brown's successor is immediately underway. Brown went 43-19 in his five seasons leading the Minutemen to two NCAA Tournaments including the 2006 NCAA title game.

"We want to thank Don Brown for his contributions to the University of Massachusetts and the athletic department as the head coach of the Minutemen," said McCutcheon. "He has prepared us for great success in the future. We wish him good luck in his new endeavors. A national search for his successor is already underway."

Brown led UMass to its best five-year span in program history as the Minutemen finished with 43 wins in his tenure. In 2006 and 2007, he led UMass to a 23-5 overall record including a 14-0 mark at home as the Minutemen earned NCAA Tournament berths in both seasons winning consecutive conference titles. Brown led UMass is five NCAA Tournament wins as head coach. He was also the defensive coordinator in Amherst in 1998 and 1999 as UMass captured the '98 NCAA FCS Championship.

"I am extremely proud of my time at UMass," said Brown. "During the five-year period we experienced tremendous success as a football family. I am proud of the fact that our senior class was the winningest in the history of UMass football.

"I want to thank Chancellor Robert Holub and Athletic Director John McCutcheon for their outstanding leadership for the football program and the entire athletic department. I am proud of the fact that I have been a part of every NCAA playoff victory at UMass since 1998. I will always hold a special place in my heart for the University of Massachusetts."

http://umassathletics.cstv.com/sports/m ... 09aaa.html

Waiting for reactions from the Colonel

WOW. Didn't see THAT one coming.

dbackjon wrote:Waiting for reactions from the Colonel

I didn't know anything, but the fact he "inquired" about the Yale job means this doesn't surprise me...

Funny, I was on the official site earlier, and nothing...Nice catch jon...

Col Hogan wrote:

dbackjon wrote:Waiting for reactions from the Colonel

I didn't know anything, but the fact he "inquired" about the Yale job means this doesn't surprise me...

Funny, I was on the official site earlier, and nothing...Nice catch jon...

So any first thoughts as to replacements?

dbackjon wrote:

Col Hogan wrote: I didn't know anything, but the fact he "inquired" about the Yale job means this doesn't surprise me...

Funny, I was on the official site earlier, and nothing...Nice catch jon...

So any first thoughts as to replacements?

I don't...but I'll check UMass74's blog when I get home...can't see it from work...

The Daily Hampshire Gazette web site has a one line story that says he's leaving, and more details to follow...

Col Hogan wrote:

dbackjon wrote: So any first thoughts as to replacements?

I don't...but I'll check UMass74's blog when I get home...can't see it from work...

Need to get him to post here

dbackjon wrote:

Col Hogan wrote: I don't...but I'll check UMass74's blog when I get home...can't see it from work...

Need to get him to post here

Working it...

I bet the new guy comes from within this far into recruiting season. Ouch!

The Daily Hampshire Gazette web site just got some more info up...really not much new from the official University release, except this tidbit...

UMass will begin its search for his replacement immediately. There's incentive to get find a replacement quickly as National Letter of Intent Signing Day is Feb. 4. The announcement broke with several recruits on campus for a visit.

http://www.gazettenet.com/node/218197

We're hosed.....

Ouch - with several recruits on campus...not good timing

Wow! Was this a money thing?

lots of 1aa coaches will accept a bcs conf team's offer without hesitation.

BlackFalkin wrote:lots of 1aa coaches will accept a bcs conf team's offer without hesitation.

Most of us would accept a job offer that double or tripled our pay without hesitation.

Apprently UMass has pissed off the University of Maryland by announcing Coach Brown was leaving BEFORE Maryland made its announcement....

Awwwwwwwww

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ ... nator.html

Can't blame UMass. Fvck the Twerps

Newest thing from this morning's news is the "O" coordinator will run recruiting for now, and no interim head coach will be appointed...

http://www.gazettenet.com/2009/01/10/br ... ving-umass

Several players, meanwhile, are endorsing the offensice coordinator for the head coach position...this article also has a good list of other possible candidates

http://www.gazettenet.com/print/218202

Fordham coach Tom Masella was a defensive coordinator under former UMass coach Mark Whipple in 2003. Masella was a candidate to succeed Whipple before UMass chose Brown.

Masella was successful at Central Connecticut State University before taking the head coaching job at Fordham. He led the Rams to a Patriot League title in 2007 and lost to UMass in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Masella enjoyed western Massachusetts so much that he continued to live in Belchertown during his tenure at Central Connecticut.

Longtime Maine head coach Jack Cosgrove figures to be in the mix as well. Cosgrove, a Sharon native, is well respected in the coaching community and despite being a Maine alumnus, has shown a willingness to look at other jobs. He interviewed at Rhode Island last year and was a candidate at Towson in December after Maine advanced to the FCS playoffs.

Head coaches Dick Biddle (Colgate), Tom Gilmore (Holy Cross) and Phil Estes (Brown) could also be attractive candidates.

Murray State coach Matt Griffin, a New Hampshire alumnus and Turners Falls native, could also be a dark horse.

Boston College assistant head coach Jack Bicknell Jr., a former head coach at Louisiana Tech could be considered.

And If BC does not hire defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani for its vacant head-coaching job, UMass would likely be interested if Spaziani would consider an FCS school.


Interesting list...

dbackjon wrote:Fordham coach Tom Masella was a defensive coordinator under former UMass coach Mark Whipple in 2003. Masella was a candidate to succeed Whipple before UMass chose Brown.

Masella was successful at Central Connecticut State University before taking the head coaching job at Fordham. He led the Rams to a Patriot League title in 2007 and lost to UMass in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Masella enjoyed western Massachusetts so much that he continued to live in Belchertown during his tenure at Central Connecticut.

Longtime Maine head coach Jack Cosgrove figures to be in the mix as well. Cosgrove, a Sharon native, is well respected in the coaching community and despite being a Maine alumnus, has shown a willingness to look at other jobs. He interviewed at Rhode Island last year and was a candidate at Towson in December after Maine advanced to the FCS playoffs.

Head coaches Dick Biddle (Colgate), Tom Gilmore (Holy Cross) and Phil Estes (Brown) could also be attractive candidates.

Murray State coach Matt Griffin, a New Hampshire alumnus and Turners Falls native, could also be a dark horse.

Boston College assistant head coach Jack Bicknell Jr., a former head coach at Louisiana Tech could be considered.

And If BC does not hire defensive coordinator Frank Spaziani for its vacant head-coaching job, UMass would likely be interested if Spaziani would consider an FCS school.


Interesting list...

I'll add one more...former head coach Mark Whipple himself...

Now, this is just from message board chatter...but Whipple, currently the QB coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, might be lured back...

His son is currently on the UMass roster as a QB...I saw him play his only action last season when he came in during a blow-out win over Bryant...he was fourth on the depth chart last season...

Could Whipple be lured back to coach up his son???

For those who are not familiar with Coach Whipple, he was the head coach in 1998 when UMass won the National Championship...

Whipple would be interesting...

dbackjon wrote:Fordham coach Tom Masella was a defensive coordinator under former UMass coach Mark Whipple in 2003. Masella was a candidate to succeed Whipple before UMass chose Brown.

Masella was successful at Central Connecticut State University before taking the head coaching job at Fordham. He led the Rams to a Patriot League title in 2007 and lost to UMass in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Masella enjoyed western Massachusetts so much that he continued to live in Belchertown

Belchertown was a cool little place....would love living in that area....

Appaholic wrote:

dbackjon wrote:Fordham coach Tom Masella was a defensive coordinator under former UMass coach Mark Whipple in 2003. Masella was a candidate to succeed Whipple before UMass chose Brown.

Masella was successful at Central Connecticut State University before taking the head coaching job at Fordham. He led the Rams to a Patriot League title in 2007 and lost to UMass in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Masella enjoyed western Massachusetts so much that he continued to live in Belchertown

Belchertown was a cool little place....would love living in that area....

Yep...nice little town...

dbackjon wrote:

BlackFalkin wrote:lots of 1aa coaches will accept a bcs conf team's offer without hesitation.

Most of us would accept a job offer that double or tripled our pay without hesitation.

Towson recently signed UCONNs OC, a formr Towson alum, who said "if it were any other I-A school, no way"
My former teammate made me very proud.

He turned down bigger money, to come home.

This hurts UMass hard.

Another name pops up...again, message board traffic...nothing official

Rob Talley, former UMass assistant. Current head coach at Stonehill College. African-American. Rob was also a former assistant for the SF 49ers

http://www.stonehillskyhawks.com/sports ... nt_Release