Fran Brown reveals his recruiting pitch to Syracuse recruits

There are some schools that end up being easier to recruit to than others. Among Power Four schools, Syracuse can be a difficult program to convince recruits to come to, but that’s a challenge that head coach Fran Brown is ready to take on.

In a recent appearance on The Triple Option, Brown shared his recruiting pitch at Syracuse. In particular, he emphasized that the focus is on the relationship that he builds with his players.

“We recruit,” Fran Brown said. “Ain’t no other head coach recruit like me. I don’t want to be like, man, I’m just going to recruit you. I’m gonna come and talk to you. Like, I’m gonna hang with you. When you come here, you’re gonna spend time with me. I’m the guy who’s going to talk to you.”

Some head coaches take a more laid-back approach to recruiting or focus on connections between players and position coaches. However, for Brown, the focus is on his own relationship because that’s the relationship that he can promise to athletes.

“I tell them, listen, I can’t tell you this receivers coach is staying, I can’t tell you that the DB coach is staying, I can’t tell you none of that. I can tell you I’m gonna be here. I’m the head football coach. I could tell you the offense is going to be ran the way that we run it,” Brown said. “Because that’s the offense that I installed and that’s how we’re gonna play with me and Coach [Jeff] Nixon. I can tell you the defense, now we switched it up because I kind of learned the offense. The defense is going to be the defense.”

In the most recent complete recruiting cycle, the Class of 2025, Syracuse had the 48th-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. That compares to the Class of 2023, the final season for the previous staff when Syracuse had the 75th-ranked recruiting class.

“So, I can tell you that you’re going to come play for a head coach that’s going to get you coaching with your faith. I’m going to get you locked in on your family to understand what family is more. So, you’re going to actually love the people that you’ve been with your whole life and appreciate them more while you’re here,” Brown said. “Academically, that’s just a no-brainer. I’ve got guys getting 45 credits a year. Everybody has to take 15 credits each semester. Everyone has to take a mini master class, everyone takes two classes summer session one, and depending on your mental capacity of what you can handle coming in because we finish up on like August 7th, and we’ve already started camp, depending on what you can handle you’ll take two more credits. So, I’m guaranteeing you your bachelor’s degree in three years.”

A lot of this is based on Fran Brown’s personal experience. He was in their shoes once and now has that experience. It’s something he wants to share and has long since been passionate about sharing as a head coach.

“I’m just not playing around. I know what it is to go without. I know what it is to be really, really hurting. To want to go play in the NFL so freaking bad and don’t get the opportunity to do that, but I didn’t focus on my academics the way that I should have. I got degrees, but I didn’t get educated. I just got an education but I wasn’t an educated man from it. So, I didn’t understand all those things to do. So, I have so many programs set up just to help my young men and help the players. Then, I’m with them every day. Everyone talks about he’s a players’ coach. No, I’m a locker room coach. I’m in there with them. The same things that they’re doing, I do,” Brown said.

“I just love it. I don’t take this opportunity that I got to be the head coach for granted because I prayed for it, I cried for it. I got turned down for the Temple job, and I was crying. It’s right across from Camden, New Jersey. That shit hurt, not getting that job. The second time they didn’t give it to me, I went to Georgia and God put me in that position to learn more from them. I learned a lot from Kirby Smart and Will Muschamp, and all that staff there. So, when this opened up, I’m just thankful and happy to have this opportunity to do it.”

Immediately prior to Syracuse, Fran Brown was at Georgia and known for his recruiting abilities. He also had multiple stops at Temple and on staff with Matt Rhule. From those places, he took lessons that he now uses when he’s recruiting to Syracuse.

“So, I’m not gonna take it for granted… I’m locked in with our players. I’m around them, like, I’m in it with them. So, do you want to go play for the coach that you’re going to see the whole year, and be with you all year, or do you want the guy that you really don’t even know? I meet with my players six times a year. Throughout the season, there’s a different guy that I meet with and I take five guys from eight o’clock to nine o’clock, they all come in to meet with them. So, every month, you’re gonna meet with me for at least 10 minutes and we ain’t even talking about football,” Brown said

“I just want to come talk to you about life. Like, what’s up at the crib, how’re your people doing? Because I get to know them. So, you’re not gonna ever say I’m going in the portal because I don’t know the coach. You’re going in the portal because you don’t want to compete. Still going to have to compete… but here you’re going to get a lot more than that. You’re going to be a good football player. We’re probably going to have five to seven guys drafted. We’ll get about 10 to sign. They ain’t have that here in a long time.”

In his first season, Fran Brown led Syracuse to a 10-3 record and a win in the Holiday Bowl. That was four wins better than the Orange had been the year before. Now, he’s looking to see just how far he can take Syracuse in the ACC.

“I love to compete. I’m competing right now… I just want to win at everything,” Brown said. “I want to win. I’m excited about winning. I love football… That’s why you should really play for me because I’m genuine.”