Don Brown, who over nearly five decades as a college football coach has earned a reputation as a defensive mastermind, is serving as a consultant to the Syracuse program, I'm told.
Syracuse.com first reported on this news regarding Brown. A source confirmed the hiring to me on Wednesday. Brown, I'm told, joined the Orange in a consulting role within the past week, and it's unclear for how long he will work with the program.
Additionally, it's important to note that Brown wasn't brought on board to make any drastic changes, nor is his consultancy an indication that the defense is tremendously struggling. Yes, the Syracuse football defense has had its ups and downs throughout the 2025 campaign, but in its last game against Pittsburgh, the 'Cuse defense played at a high level.
He does give the team a fresh set of eyes, though. It's also not uncommon for programs such as the 'Cuse and others at the power-four conference level to bring on consultants for short periods of time.
Brown, 70, has served as a college coach since the late 1970s. According to his former bio on the Arizona athletics department Web site, Brown is "long known for his aggressive and blitz-heavy attacks," earning the nickname of "Dr. Blitz."
Defensive wizard Don Brown is serving as a consultant to Syracuse football.
Over his career, Brown has served as the head coach of Plymouth State, Northeastern and UMass, compiling a 101–73 overall record. In 2006, he led UMass to a 13-2 overall record and the No. 2 national ranking at the FCS level.
Brown has also served as the defensive coordinator at numerous programs, including Maryland, UConn, Boston College, Michigan and Arizona. While with the Wolverines, Michigan's defense was in the top three nationally on three occasions and held the No. 1 spot in 2016, according to the Arizona athletics department Web site.
Elijah Robinson, the Orange's assistant head coach/defensive coordinator, said in part to Syracuse.com, "We’re always gonna make sure we reach out to people and get help, not from an X's and O’s standpoint, it’s too late to try to change anything we do, but if there’s someone who has experience with the little things, we’ll talk and listen to them."
Syracuse football sits at 3-4 overall and 1-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play as the team prepares to play at No. 7 Georgia Tech. Currently, the Orange is second-to-last in the league in points allowed per game, at 29.9. It is in the same spot in total yards allowed per contest, at 421.1.
However, when the squad lost to Pittsburgh at home last Saturday, Syracuse football only allowed 255 yards of total offense. The 'Cuse also tallied seven sacks, including three by ACC player of the week Kevin Jobity Jr., a senior defensive lineman, along with an impressive 13 tackles for a loss.