Defensive backs coach Greg Brown has decided to leave his post at Colorado and head for greener pastures at the University of Arizona. In an announcement that is soon to come, Arizona will give Greg Brown a promotion to co-defensive coordinator as well as defensive backs coach. Arizona was close to a PAC 10 championship this year, beat USC and ended up winning 8 games in a turn around year for the Wildcats. Arizona will play later this month against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.
This is clearly a situation of looking at two programs going in the opposite directions and the program who is on the upswing offering a coach a long term deal and a promotion.
Last year, Brown was courted by South Florida before turning down a coordinator position.
Statistically in 2009, the Colorado pass defense finished 35th in the nation and 4th in the Big 12 which was the best offensive or defensive ranking on the team. After a rough start to the year where the Buffs ranked 75th in pass defense, the last six weeks of the year the Colorado secondary only allowed two teams over 200 yards and held two opponents in Nebraska and Kansas State to under 100 yards.
Two years ago, Greg Brown's secondary was labeled in the preseason as the biggest weak spot on the team but overall, they turned in one of the more surprising performances and overachieved compared to expectations.
The secondary was considered one of the most talented units on the team, thanks in large part to Greg Brown. Next year, Colorado has to replace some exceptional players in CB Cha'pelle Brown and S Ben Burney. Also, one must wonder what this announcement will do to the decision of CB Jimmy Smith who is weighing the option of playing in the NFL.
Congratulations to Coach Brown who has strong roots in the state of Colorado with his father being radio personality Irv Brown.
As for the situation on the Colorado side, this is certainly not good news. You could make a strong argument that Greg Brown is the best coach on the staff. The Buffs face a major rebuilding project in the secondary and not having Brown to lead the charge is a little troubling. The obvious replacement for Greg Brown is current wide receiver coach and former NFL defensive back Ashley Ambrose, someone Brown was instrumental in bringing to the program as a coach.