UMass parts ways with head coach Don Brown

The UMass Minutemen have decided to make a change within the football program, announcing that they’re parting ways with head coach Don Brown. Offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery will serve as the team’s interim head coach.

This comes after UMass lost an overtime game to Liberty on Saturday, falling to 2-8 on the season. Both of those wins are over FCS opponents.

UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford announced the change in a statement.

“I am extremely grateful to Coach Brown for returning to UMass three years ago to help us build back a program he once coached to a national title game,” Bamford said. “Don should have immense pride in the outstanding contributions he has made to advance Massachusetts Football during his three stops in Amherst. Upon his return in 2021, we shared a common goal to help UMass football attain conference membership, something that was realized last spring. Largely due to his renowned coaching reputation, Don legitimized our FBS program and Massachusetts football has taken positive steps forward since his return. We are structurally positioned to accomplish our competitive goals as we move into a new league and a new college athletics landscape in 2025.”

Don Brown took over the UMass program in 2022 for his second stint as the Minutemen’s head coach. He inherited a team that won just two games in the previous three seasons. He was just 6-26 in that second stint as he attempted to rebuild the program.

In his first stint in Amherst, Brown had a 43-19 record in five seasons from 2004-2008. That stint saw him take UMass to the FCS National Championship, losing a close game to Appalachian State. His final record at UMass was 49-45. He also spent time as the Northeastern head coach and the Plymouth State head coach.

Following his first stint at UMass, Don Brown made the decision to jump to FBS as a coordinator. He spent time on staff at Maryland, UConn, Boston College, Michigan, and Arizona. That time at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh is largely what he’s known for as a coordinator. Over the years, the Massachusetts native has made himself an icon of football in New England, even with the recent struggles he’s had at UMass.

Now, UMass will begin its search for a new head coach. That new coach will be taking over a difficult job at a time of change in college sports.

In the final two weeks of the season, UMass will travel to Athens to play the Georgia Bulldogs. After that, the Minutemen will finish the season at home against rival UConn.