Brown Named AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Boston College football defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Don Brown was named the 2015 Assistant Coach of the Year for the Football Bowl Subdivision by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the organization announced on Tuesday. The third-year assistant guided the Eagles to the top-ranked defense in the nation.

Brown completed his 34th year of collegiate coaching – his 19^th as a defensive coordinator – and has been at The Heights for the last three years. He led the BC defense to the no. 1 spot in the nation for total defense, allowing just 254.4 yards/game. The Eagles also ranked first in yards per play (4.07), touchdowns allowed (19), rushing yards per carry (2.4), tackles for loss (115) and tied for the least third-down conversions allowed (42) during the regular season. BC ranked second for rushing yards allowed (83.3 yards/game), eighth for passing yards allowed (171.2 yards/game), second for first downs allowed (13.8 per game), fourth in points allowed (15.3 points/game) and second in third-down conversions (24.1).

In Brown's three years at The Heights, the Eagles have vastly improved their numbers of sacks and tackles for loss. In 2012, BC recorded six sacks – last in the nation – and 45 tackles for a loss of 147 yards. In just one year, the number jumped 600 percent to 36 sacks and 200 percent to 88 tackles for a loss of 371 yards. Over a three-year span, BC is averaging 34 sacks and 97 tackles for a loss.

Brown is a longtime member of the AFCA and has served on the AFCA Rules Committee and Division III All-America Team Selection committee, as well as published articles in the AFCA Summer Manual. He has worked with charitable organizations such as the National Bone Marrow Donor Program and participated in events such as the 2014 Cycle for Survival Event, which is an annual event dedicated to raising money for cancer patients and families

The Spencer, Mass., native was also named the FBS Assistant Coach of the Year by the Greater Boston Gridiron Club and earned his third Broyles Award nomination, presented to the top assistant coach in the country by the Rotary Club of Little Rock.

The AFCA awards one assistant coach from the five divisions of college football for their dedication to their teams and communities. Each year, staff representatives from NCAA and NAIA football-playing schools are asked to nominate an assistant for consideration. From those nominations, a winner is selected by the AFCA Public Relations Committee. Criteria for the award are not limited to on-field coaching ability or the success of the team and players. Service to the community through charitable work and other volunteer activities, participation in AFCA activities and events, participation in other professional organizations and impact on student-athletes are all taken into account in the selection process.

Villanova's Mark Ferrante (FCS), Colorado Mesa's Ben Martin (Division II), Washington (Mo.) University's Jim Ryan (Division III) and Lindsey Wilson College's Mike Gutelius (NAIA) were the other coaches chosen for the honors.

Brown Named AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year

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