The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1178918
58 THE WOLVERINE NOVEMBER 2019 BY EJ HOLLAND D on Brown runs New England. There really isn't a debate. The 64-year-old Michigan defensive coor- dinator is a household name around Massachusetts and has been pull- ing elite-level kids from the area for years. Brown was born in Spencer, Mass., coached small-time college football in New Hampshire, was the defen- sive coordinator at Brown, Boston College and UConn, and had head coaching stints at Northeastern in Boston and UMass. Anyone that's anyone in New Eng- land knows Brown. "When Don Brown was recruit- ing [Boston College running back] AJ Dillon, he was in the end zone, and we were watching St. Sebastian's to figure out if that's where Louie was going to high school," said Mi- chael Hansen, father of four-star 2021 tight end target Louis Hansen, who is ranked as the No. 3 player at his position and No. 114 overall in the ju- nior class by Rivals. "I said to Louie, 'You know who that is?' and he goes 'Yeah, Dad, that's Don Brown!' Louie is only 14 and just 6-feet tall. I told him to go shake his hand. "Don says he remembers it, but he might be being nice. Anyway, Louie walks up to Don and says 'Lou Han- sen, see you in three years.' Imagine that." A bit of a mythical legend around New England, Brown commands respect from coaches, parents and recruits. His roots, especially in Mas- sachusetts, run deep. And that's al- lowed him to excel on the recruiting trail. Brown is a Massachusetts guy through and through. He brings a blue-collar attitude to coaching and his no-nonsense approach coupled with his respect for everyone he meets perfectly embodies what New England is all about. "Don Brown is someone I could see leaving my son with for four years," the elder Hansen said. "That's not just for football. I want to make sure he has another dad on the team. As a New England guy, he has grit. And I love that." The scrawny 14-year-old Louie Hansen has turned into one of the nation's premier tight ends in 2021. Thanks to Brown, the Wolverines are a top school early on for Hansen as well as guys like 2021 standout line- man Drew Kendall and elite 2022 linebacker Tyler Martin. Brown wowed in New England this cycle, notching three commits from Massachusetts — four-star linebacker Kalel Mullings, four-star offensive lineman Zak Zinter and three-star wide receiver Eamonn Dennis. Perhaps his best recruiting job came with Mullings, who might be the best of his eye-popping line- backer haul in 2020. The No. 10 outside linebacker and No. 108 overall player in the coun- try according to Rivals was basically groomed to go to Stanford and many expected him to pick the Cardinal. But Brown that ultimately got him to side with the Wolverines. "I just mesh so well with Coach Brown, especially with him being a Mass guy," Mullings said. "He's down to earth. I've met so many peo- ple that know him, and nobody says a bad word about him. Everybody loves him. That carries a lot of weight. "It helps a lot that he's a Mass guy. He knows little things like our schedule and the teams we play. He knows who's good and who's not. He knows how to relate to me and FOOTBALL RECRUITING Defensive Coordinator Don Brown Is A New England Legend Brown was born in Spencer, Mass., coached small-time college football in New Hampshire, was the defensive coordinator at Brown, Boston College and UConn, and had head coaching stints at Northeastern in Boston and UMass. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN