Syracuse Football: Fran Brown named national first-year coach of the year - beautiful

On Wednesday, not once but twice, Fran Brown was named the national first-year head coach of the year after leading Syracuse football to a 10-3 overall record in his debut stint on the Hill.

These honors are so well-deserved, and Orange Nation offers a huge congratulations to Coach Brown, an ace recruiter who most recently served as defensive backs coach at Southeastern Conference powerhouse Georgia.

When Brown was officially introduced by SU Athletics in early December of 2023 as the new head coach of the 'Cuse, there was certainly excitement over his hiring. But there was also uncertainty over how he would fare as a head coach in college football.

Brown's recruiting prowess is second to none. And early on after joining the Orange, he assembled a top-flight staff, retained key players and built a strong 2024 class at both the high school level and via the transfer portal.

Syracuse football head coach Fran Brown just scored two major awards for his tremendous debut.

Still, even with a manageable 2024 schedule (at least on paper), we would all have to wait and see how the 'Cuse would perform on the field in actual games, and how Brown would do as a first-year, and a first-time, head coach.

All Brown did was lead Syracuse football to a 10-3 mark, including a Holiday Bowl win. The Orange attained 10 victories in a season for the first time since 2018, had three top-25 triumphs, one top-10 success, and will likely end up in the top 20 overall of the final College Football Playoff top-25 rankings.

In the Atlantic Coast Conference's preseason media poll, Syracuse football was projected at No. 12 in the league race. In the 2024 regular season, the Orange went 5-3 in ACC play, finishing in a tie for fourth place in the conference standings.

The team's 2025 docket looks challenging, and record-setting senior quarterback Kyle McCord is off to the NFL Draft, along with other 'Cuse standouts. However, even if the Orange doesn't reach 10 wins in 2025, I adamantly believe that Fran Brown has set this program up to thrive for years to come, based on the culture he's building, and his recruiting efforts.

On Wednesday, per separate press releases, the American Heart Association named Fran Brown as the 2024 Paul “Bear” Bryant newcomer coach of the year. According to an announcement, he will be recognized with this award on January 22.

Additionally, the Football Writers Association of America has presented Brown with the Steve Spurrier first-year coach award.

I could go on and on about the stellar job that Brown, his assistants and their roster did in 2024, but candidly, what matters the most to me about the Syracuse football head coach is his high character.

Brown is a family man. He wants - and demands - that his players excel in the classroom. And undeniably, Fran Brown is laser-focused on doing wonderful things in the Syracuse and greater Central New York communities.

It's simply beautiful what Coach Brown accomplished on and off the field in year one. I can't wait to see what's in store for 2025 and beyond.