Texas A&M football: 5 candidates who could replace Mike Elko
By Jeff Shull
Bryan Brown — Appalachian State
Bryan Brown is another guy who would be making very much a step up from his current position, and his history as a defensive backs coach for Appalachian State is appealing. I wouldn’t have believe it if I didn’t look it up, but the upset over Michigan in the Big House was 12 years ago now. That game put Appalachian State on the map, but 2018 was a great year for the Mountaineers.
In Brown’s first season as the defensive coordinator for head coach Scott Satterfield, the Mountaineers finished No. 4 in points per game (15.5) and No. 6 in yards per game allowed (288). They also finished No. 23 in turnovers forced and since the start of the 2015 season are No. 2 in interceptions with 56.
App State won the Sun Belt Conference and cake walked over Middle Tennessee State in the New Orleans Bowl.
Brown has ties to the SEC as well. He played four years at Ole Miss from 2003-2006 and would likely jump at the opportunity to coach in his former league. It might be your first instinct to scoff at a hire from a place like Appalachian State, but this is folly. Brown is an excellent coach and will get hired by a big program sooner rather than later.