Fran Brown is in his second season as Rutgers’ secondary coach in 2021. A native of Camden, New Jersey, Brown was the first defensive assistant coach to join head coach Greg Schiano's staff.
• Rutgers gained 19 turnovers in 2020, most in a season since 2012, and 10 more than forced the previous season. That included at least one takeaway in eight games, multiple in four games and at least four two times. Helped the team establish a +5 turnover margin, its best in a Big Ten season.
• Saw four members of the secondary earn All-Big Ten honors. Cornerback Tre Avery (eight passes defended) earned third-team accolades, while safety Christian Izien (four interceptions, three fumble recoveries), safety Brendon White (40 tackles) and cornerback Avery Young (led Big Ten with three forced fumbles) all garnered honorable mention status.
• Spent the 2019 season at Temple, where he served as the co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach. Brown guided a defensive unit that ranked nationally in red zone defense (fourth), sacks (10th) defensive touchdowns (11th), tackles-for-loss (12th) and fumbles recovered (13th).
• Recruited or coached five players from the 2019 Owls’ defense that advanced to the NFL, including three draft picks: Harrison Hand (Minnesota Vikings, fifth round), Shaun Bradley (Philadelphia Eagles, sixth round), Chapelle Russell (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, seventh round), Sam Franklin (Carolina Panthers) and Isaiah Wright (Washington).
• Prior to his time at Temple, Brown coached at Baylor during the 2017 and 2018 season, serving as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach.
• Brown began his college coaching career with his first stint at Temple beginning in 2011 as the assistant director of internal operations. He became a graduate assistant the following season and was promoted to defensive backs coach from 2013-15. In 2016, Brown was named associate head coach and defensive backs coach for the Owls, before joining the Baylor staff.
• In 2015, Brown mentored sophomore cornerback Sean Chandler to a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection, recording four interceptions that season, including two that were returned for touchdowns. His 2014 cornerback unit led by Tavon Young who earned All-American Athletic Conference honors with four interceptions and a conference-best 153 return yards.
• The most dramatic improvement in Temple's defense in 2014 came in the passing game where the unit shaved off over 100 yards per game from the previous year. The unit allowed just 186.9 yards per game after allowing 298.6 the previous year. The Owls allowed just nine scoring passes after 24 in 2013.
• In 2014,
Rivals named Brown one of the top recruiters in the American Athletic Conference. He has built a reputation developing countless players for the next level, including former pupils P.J. Walker, Nate Hairston, Haason Reddick, Jullian Taylor, Sharif Finch, Jacob Martin and Ryquell Armstead.
• Brown received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Western Carolina University in 2006. He was named a team captain and earned first-team All-SoCon selection at cornerback for the Catamounts. Brown spent two seasons in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
• Brown was a three-time All-Conference quarterback at his hometown Camden High School, setting the school record with 47 touchdown passes.
Hometown: Camden, N.J.
Alma Mater: Western Carolina, 2006 (criminal justice)
Wife: Teara
Children: Sons, Fran Jr. and Brayden
2020-present: Rutgers (secondary)
2019: Temple (co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks)
2017-18: Baylor (assistant head coach/cornerbacks)
2016: Temple (associate head coach/defensive backs)
2013-15: Temple (defensive backs)
2012: Temple (graduate assistant)
2011: Temple (director of internal operations)
2010: Paul VI High School (defensive backs)
