May 7, 2007

AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts Director of Athletics John McCutcheon announced that the university and football head coach Don Brown have agreed to a five-year contract extension that will run through the 2011 season. Brown will begin his fourth season as the head coach at UMass this fall after leading the Minutemen to the Division I FCS National Championship game in 2006. Brown was hired to run the UMass program in February of 2004.

"We are very pleased that Don Brown will continue to direct the UMass football program," said McCutcheon. "This past season was one to remember for all UMass fans and with this agreement I know we will be in very good hands for many seasons to come."

Brown comes off a decorated season in 2006 after guiding UMass to a 13-2 overall record including an undefeated mark in the Atlantic 10 to claim the conference title. He was named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year in addition to the American Football Coaches Association Region I Coach of the Year. Brown led UMass to the A-10 title with a mark of 8-0 in league play, the first undefeated season in conference play since Villanova in 1997. UMass won a school-record 12 games in a row on the way to the title game in 2006. The Minutemen finished ranked No. 2 in the nation.

"I am happy to agree to the extension to remain the head coach at UMass for the next five years," said the 51-year-old Brown. "Being a Massachusetts native (Spencer, Mass.) UMass has always been a special place for me and my family. We will continue to work hard to maintain the high level of competition which has been established at UMass."

Brown is 26-11 in his three seasons at UMass and 78-37 in his 10 years as a head coach at Plymouth State (1993-95), Northeastern (2000-03) and UMass. Named the 2002 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year while at Northeastern, Brown joined Jim Reid as the only coaches in league history to lead two different teams to Conference titles and earn Coach of the Year honors at two different schools. Brown guided the Huskies to the 2002 league crown.

The architect of the defense that led UMass to the 1998 national championship, Brown was named the 27th head coach in the 122-year history of the UMass football program on February 9, 2004. Brown returned to UMass after four seasons as the head coach at Northeastern. Recognized as one of the top defensive minds in Division I-AA football, he previously served as defensive coordinator for the Minutemen during the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

TRANSACTION Massachusetts: Football Head Coach Don Brown agreed to a five-year extension through 2011 season.