Veteran college assistant Ron Brown re-joined the Nebraska coaching staff in 2008 and enters his second season as the Huskers’ tight ends coach. The 2009 campaign will be Brown’s 19th overall season as a Nebraska assistant after serving as an assistant for 17 seasons from 1987 to 2003 under Tom Osborne and Frank Solich.

In his first season back in the collegiate game, Brown assisted with an NU offense that finished 12th nationally in total offense. Sophomore tight end Mike McNeill set a Nebraska tight end season record with 32 receptions, including six touchdown grabs. Fellow sophomore Dreu Young averaged a team-leading 15.6 yards per catch while sharing time with McNeill.

Brown served as receivers coach for his entire first tenure with the Huskers and also tutored the tight ends during his first 16 seasons on the NU staff. During his first stint, the blocking of Brown’s receivers played a key role in nine NU NCAA rushing titles. Brown was the most veteran member of Solich’s final Nebraska coaching staff in 2003.

Brown and former Husker Stan Parker are co-founders and co-directors of a statewide Christian ministry called Mission Nebraska. This ministry stewards numerous Christian radio stations and translators across Nebraska, along with facilitating a host of other endeavors that are near to Brown’s heart. One such passion was the several I CAN CAMPS that minister to low income children throughout Nebraska.

The 52-year-old Brown spent the four years prior to his return to coaching serving as the Nebraska State Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. While he relinquished that duty to return to the Cornhuskers, he continues as a regular columnist for FCA’s National Magazine “Sharing the Victory.” Brown also hosts a national weekly one-minute sports feature called, “I Got Jesus, Who You Got.”

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. 

Through Mission Nebraska, Brown hosts a weekly statewide cable TV show called “Truth Vision.” He has authored several books on Christian character and growth.

Brown has a heart for Christian men and boys to courageously lead in the public square. 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.
Although Brown enjoys wide respect for his work away from football, he is also nationally respected for his ability as an intense teacher on the gridiron. The Husker receivers under Brown 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. The receiving corps led the Big 12 in touchdown receptions three times during Brown’s tenure.

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, the two-time Pro Bowl selection with the New Orleans Saints; and tight end Sheldon Jackson, a second-team All-America selection and 1999 draft pick of the Buffalo Bills. 
Brown has coached 35 academic all-conference players and two CoSIDA Academic All-Americans during his two tenures with the Huskers.

Brown originally joined Osborne’s staff after four years of coaching at Brown University in Providence, R.I., from 1983 to 1986. Brown’s first season was as the school’s head freshman coach, while his last three seasons were spent as the defensive backfield coach. Brown also served as the assistant to the athletic director in 1986.

Brown was a two-time first-team All-Ivy League performer as a defensive back. He was selected to Brown University’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.

Brown received his bachelor’s degree from Brown in 1979, then earned his master’s degree in health administration from Columbia University in 1982. He began his coaching career as a defensive coordinator for the semipro New Jersey Rams in 1982, before moving to his alma mater in 1983.

Brown is married to Molvina Carter and they have two daughters, Sojourner Elaine and Bronwyn Pearl.

The Brown File
Date and Place of Birth: Nov. 28, 1956, New York City