Getting to Know Coach Ron Brown
9/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Ron Brown joined Head Coach Turner Gill's coaching staff on May 1, 2015, when he was named Liberty's associate head coach and wide receivers coach.
Since joining the Flames' coaching staff, the Liberty Flames Sports Network has spent time with the coaching staff's newest member to provide some insight into Brown's background.
Gill and Brown spent 13 seasons coaching together at Nebraska under legendary head football coach Tom Osborne (1990, 1992-2003).During the 13-year span, Nebraska won three national championships (1994, 1995 and 1997) and five conference championships (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997).
Brown spent a total of 24 seasons as an assistant coach at Nebraska, working under Osborne (1987-97), Frank Solich (1998-2003) and Bo Pelini (2008-2014). Brown followed Pelini to Youngstown State in 2015 where he served as the Penguins' running backs coach during spring workouts before his hire at Liberty.
Brown is nationally respected for his ability as an intense teacher on the field. Under Brown, Nebraska's were long known for their tenacity and downfield blocking. Despite featuring a run-based attack from 1987 to 2003, Brown's receivers and tight ends also made their mark in the passing game, leading the Big 12 in touchdown receptions three times.
Twenty-seven of Brown's former pupils have gone on to professional careers, including tight end Johnny Mitchell, the New York Jets' first-round pick in 1992; Tyrone Hughes, a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the New Orleans Saints; tight end Sheldon Jackson, a 1999 draft pick of the Buffalo Bills and Ameer Abdullah, the Detroit Lion's second round selection in 2015.
Brown has coached 39 academic all-conference players and three CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, including Burkhead in 2011.
Brown received his bachelor's degree from Brown in 1979, and earned his master's degree in public health from Columbia in 1982.
Brown was a two-time first-team All-Ivy League performer as a defensive back. He was selected to Brown's All-Century team and the school's Sports Hall of Fame. Brown signed with three NFL teams as a free agent from 1979 to 1981.
Off the field, Brown and former Husker Stan Parker are co-founders and co-directors of a statewide Christian ministry called Mission Nebraska.
The ministry stewards MY BRIDGE RADIO, which consists of numerous Christian radio stations and translators across Nebraska. Brown spends much of his time challenging and inspiring men and boys to take a strong courageous Christian stand in the public square across America.
Brown spent the four years prior to his return to coaching serving as the Nebraska State Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (2004-07). After returning to coaching, Brown has continued as a regular columnist for FCA's National Magazine "Sharing the Victory."
During his time away from coaching, Brown also worked as an internet, television and radio college and high school analyst for ESPN and Sports Spectrum.
He has authored several books on Christian character and growth. He is an outspoken advocate on many issues, including adoption, abstinence and drug and alcohol education, race relations and anti-pornography, to name a few.
Brown is married to Molvina Carter and they have two daughters, Sojourner Elaine and Bronwyn Pearl.
