WILLIAM & MARY ATHLETICS

William & Mary defensive coordinator Vincent Brown, who led the Tribe to one of the top units in FCS, has been appointed head coach at North Carolina A&T.

Vincent Brown is North Carolina A&T’s new football coach.

Brown, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Division I FCS William & Mary the last four years, replaces Sam Washington, who was let go last month after a 7-4 season and a second-place finish in the Big South Conference. The Aggies move to the Colonial Athletic Association in June.

Under Brown’s direction, William & Mary (11-2), which shared the 2022 Colonial title and advanced to the national quarterfinals, led the nation in fumble recoveries (15) and its 25 turnovers forced was sixth in the country.

“Our goal as a football program is to be excellent and operate within the core values of the university,” Brown said in a statement. “We want to excel in the classroom, community and on the field, consistently competing for championships. The program will be run with passion, purpose and integrity so the faculty, staff, students and alumni can shout ‘Aggie Pride’ and know that we will represent them well.”

William & Mary was the sixth-best third-down defense in FCS, allowing 31.5% conversions in 2022. The Tribe's defense was the CAA’s best in third-down defense, fumbles recovered, red zone defense and turnovers gained and produced the conference’s defensive player of the year in sophomore linebacker John Pius and defensive rookie of the year in defensive back Jalen Jones.

Four Tribe defenders earned CAA first-team all-conference while three were named to the second team.

“When going down the list of things we were looking for in a head coach as North Carolina A&T football enters the Colonial Athletic Association, Vincent Brown checked all the boxes,” A&T athletics director Earl Hilton said. “He will be an excellent fit for our university, our athletics department and the young men he leads. Coach Brown has a significant familiarity and understanding of what it takes to win in the Colonial. He has an extensive and proud history with HBCUs and played and coached on the NFL level.

“North Carolina A&T football has always been about greatness and competing for championships. We expect that winning tradition will continue with Coach Brown's experience."

Brown, who played collegiately at Mississippi Valley State, was a three-time All-Pro Linebacker with the New England Patriots (1991-93) before retiring in 1995. In addition to William & Mary, his Division I collegiate coaching stops include Howard (2017-18), Connecticut (2014-16), Virginia (2010-13) and Richmond (2008-09). He also has NFL coaching experience with the Dallas Cowboys as inside linebackers coach in 2006.

Brown earned Kodak All-America recognition as a Mississippi Valley State senior in 1987 and second team Associated Press All-American as a junior. He was a three-time all-SWAC pick and set a school record for career tackles (570) and led the Delta Devils in that category his final three seasons.

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