GOLDEN EAGLE FOOTBALL 14-10 victory over Alabama in 1969. Brown was named the Sports Illustrated National Back of the Week for his efforts. In his stint as TTU head coach, Brown has worked hard in his effort toward rebuilding the Golden Eagles into Ohio Valley Conference champions and has had the support of the community and the Upper Cumberland Region. A popular speaker, Brown has addressed numerous clubs and organizations throughout the region during his time at Tech. Raising the talent level at Tech is a key step in taking the Golden Eagles to a conference championship. It’s a step that Brown is familiar with — after all, working to rebuild struggling programs has been a calling card for Watson Brown. The remarkable growth of the UAB program under Brown’s guidance was a major factor in UAB’s entry into Conference USA play in 1999. That year for their C-USA debut, the Blazers recorded a 5-6 overall record against a brutal all FBS schedule, finishing in a four-way tie for second place with a 4-2 league record. Under Brown, UAB was bowl-eligible three times in seven seasons and in 2004 attained its previously elusive first bowl invitation with a trip to Honolulu to play in the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl. A proven veteran in the coaching profession, Brown is known as one of the best offensive minds in football. He made his head coaching debut in 1979 in the Ohio Valley Conference directing the Austin Peay Governors, and at age 29, he was one of the youngest head coaches in the nation. He posted 7-4 records in both 1979 and 1980, twice being runner-up for Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors. Brown began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Vanderbilt in 1973 and was a full-time assistant coach for the first time in 1974 as Pat Dye’s quarterbacks and receivers coach at East Carolina. The Pirates were 7-4 in 1974 and 8-3 in 1975, posting victories over several Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. Brown was the offensive coordinator at Jacksonville State University in 1976 and 1977 (at the time JSU was a Division II program, and currently is a member of the OVC). During those two seasons, the Gamecocks
“Watson Brown is a man of high character, a focused recruiter, and an exceptional football coach...He is focused on both the academic and athletic success of our student-athletes, which is the perfect fit for Tennessee Tech.” — Mark Wilson
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