Brown leaves UMass for job at Maryland

DON BROWNCoach seeking a fresh challenge

Don Brown has spent nearly his entire life in New England, most of his 53 years devoted in some form to college football. He was born in Spencer, played running back at Norwich University in Vermont, and cut his coaching teeth at Dartmouth, Yale, and Plymouth State. For the last five years, he has led the University of Massachusetts to more victories than it earned during any five-year span. Brown had grown comfortable, and that was the problem.

Brown left New England behind yesterday when he resigned from UMass and was named defensive coordinator at the University of Maryland. UMass immediately began a national search for Brown's replacement, according to athletic director John McCutcheon. Brown left, he said, because he wanted a new experience and a fresh challenge.

"Well, it really isn't" hard to leave New England, said Brown, who compiled a 43-19 record at UMass. "Life is all about challenges. Sometimes, getting out of your comfort zone isn't a bad thing. This felt right."

Brown seemed intent on capitalizing on his success at UMass. He became a finalist for the head coaching position at Yale - since filled by Tom Williams - before he withdrew his name from consideration.

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen received several calls recommending Brown, whom he did not know well before last week. Friedgen called other coaching acquaintances familiar with Brown - including former UMass coach Mark Whipple, James Madison coach Mickey Matthews, and William & Mary coach Jimmye Laycock - all of whom vouched for Brown.

Friedgen interviewed Brown for four hours last weekend. They bonded, in part, over similar football philosophies. "It was such a good mesh," Brown said.

Friedgen said, "I was impressed with him as a person, and I thought he would fit in well with our staff. He's a very polished person."

Friedgen interviewed three other coaches, whittled from a field of roughly 12 candidates. He liked Brown's recruiting connections in the Northeast and Florida, and was impressed by Brown's attacking defensive schemes.

On Thursday night, Friedgen offered Brown the position, which had been opened when Chris Cosh departed to fill the same role at Kansas State. Brown contemplated the offer overnight. At 7:30 yesterday morning, he called McCutcheon and told him he was leaving.

"It's a bittersweet day," Brown said. "That's the bottom line. This game is all about relationships. Telling all the people at UMass, it's certainly not an easy process. It's been very emotional. At the same time, I look forward to this next opportunity."

McCutcheon did not expect the news, but he was not surprised, either. He thanked Brown and then began planning for how find his replacement.

"We're not naive about these processes and these transitions," McCutcheon said. "Don did a great job for us, we wish him the best of luck. And now someone else is going to get a great opportunity."

McCutcheon said he will conduct a "wide-open" search that may include both internal and external candidates. McCutcheon will form a small consulting committee, but said he will do "90 percent" of the work himself, traveling to interview candidates and interviewing them over the phone. He has no specific mold in mind for the next coach, only to find the best fit for UMass.

"We will look under every possible rock, over a fairly short time frame," McCutcheon said. "As we've done in the past, we'll move it along as quickly as we can. The most important thing is to get the right person. I'm fairly confident we'll be able to do that in a short time frame. Whether that's 10 days, two weeks, or three weeks, I couldn't say."

McCutcheon intimated some candidates had already expressed interest within hours of Brown's resignation.

"It's amazing how quickly these processes get started," McCutcheon said.

Brown's accomplishments likely enhanced the position's appeal. UMass advanced to the Division 1-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision) national title game in 2006, and returned to the quarterfinals in 2007, when it won the Colonial Athletic Association title. The Minutemen went 7-5 this past season.

"I think we have a very attractive opportunity," McCutcheon said. "The word gets out there very, very quickly, which is a good thing. You do want it to be known, so you can stimulate as much interest as you can."

The fates of UMass's current assistants will be decided by the next head coach, McCutcheon said.

Adam Kilgore can be reached at akilgore@globe.com