UMass hires Arizona DC Don Brown as new head coach

Don Brown is heading back to UMass.

The Minutemen have hired the Arizona defensive coordinator as their next head coach, the team announced Monday.

Brown, 66, will coach his final game with Arizona on Saturday against Arizona State, sources told Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports.

The Massachusetts native coached UMass from 2004-08, posting a 43-19 record. He joined Arizona this year after serving as Jim Harbaugh's defensive coordinator at Michigan from 2016-20.

Brown was also head coach at Plymouth State (1993-95) and Northeastern (2000-03). He owns a career record of 95-45.

UMass fired head coach Walt Bell and defensive coordinator Tommy Restivo on Nov. 7 after starting the season 1-8. The Minutemen, who will close their 2021 campaign versus New Mexico State on Saturday, have lost two games with Alex Miller as their interim coach since firing Bell.