Former LU quarterback and Jaguars wide receiver gives back to his sport
Alumnus Mike Brown (’11) originally had no intention of playing football at Liberty. But his success as a Flame led him to the NFL and then to a coaching career, including his current post as wide receiver coach for Notre Dame.
Growing up in Charlottesville, Va., Brown had dreams of one day playing for a state school like Virginia Tech or the University of Virginia. When a Liberty representative visited his high school, he remembers completely disregarding the school and throwing a brochure in the trash. But when he accepted an invitation to tour the school, his opinion changed.
“When I came up and visited, it really felt like home,” Brown said. “Everyone I met on campus just seemed like really great people to be around. The question I kept asking was: Why not Liberty? It was mainly about the people and the things the school represents (that drew me to LU). I knew I would be influenced in a positive way on and off the field.”
After spending four seasons on the Mountain, primarily as the starting quarterback, Brown was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars and given the opportunity to compete in training camp as a wide receiver. During the 2012 NFL preseason, he recorded a mere two catches for 16 yards and was convinced that he would be cut from the team following the last preseason game. He remembers calling his dad to inform him that he would likely be coming home the day of the cuts.
Mike Brown spent three seasons in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars. (Photos provided)
“I’ll never forget what my dad said: ‘It’s not up to those coaches whether you make that team or not. You don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s up to the Good Lord and what He has in store for you and His plan for you.’ Me being 21 years old and thinking I knew everything, I said, ‘Yeah Dad, all of that sounds great, but I’ll see you at 10 p.m. tonight.’ Low and behold, I got the opportunity to stay on the practice squad.”
Despite battling injuries, Brown remained with the Jaguars for three years before leaving the NFL for good. He was offered a GA position with the University of Michigan to serve as a coach for the wide receivers, but through a series of mishaps, he was asked to coach the running backs instead. Initially disappointed with the turn of events, he now considers that to be “the best thing to happen” in his coaching career; it opened doors for him later, when he reunited with former Flames Head Coach Danny Rocco to serve as his running backs coach at the University of Delaware in 2017. From there, he returned to Liberty briefly as running backs coach and had coaching stints at Cincinnati and Wisconsin before accepting his current position with Notre Dame in December.
Brown said he decided to become a coach in part because of the great coaches he had who recognized his potential. He said it sorrowed him to see athletes fail to make it in the NFL because they weren’t fully prepared by the same level of coaching he had.
“It was really heartbreaking to me watching all these guys with this much talent that went to waste,” he said. “That solidified (coaching) for me. I just said it isn’t right and (questioned), ‘Why me?’ Don’t get me wrong, I was talented, but I was just the product of really, really good coaching as well.”
Using the knowledge he has gained in professional ball and as a coach, Brown aims to mentor his players to edify not only their skillset but also their overall character.
“Everything begins with relationships and building relationships with players, whether that ends up being guys that you’re coaching or guys that you’re competing with as teammates,” he said. “When you build those relationships and those relationships are genuine, there’s a level of respect there.”
“I try to be real with them and share my experience and my struggles,” he added. “I try to be as transparent as possible with them, and I always give them perspective of how what they are doing might not be the best way to do something.”
Brown has remained connected with the Flames over the years and even attends games when possible. He traveled to Glendale, Ariz., to watch Liberty take on No. 8 Oregon in last season’s Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
“(Liberty) is a place that’s so important for me,” he said. “It’s important to stay connected, know what’s going on, and try to support where and when I can. … It’s always good to see familiar faces and support your alma mater.”
Throughout his coaching career, Brown said he has continued to place his trust
in God.
“I’ve learned my lesson to stop trying to play like I’m God and act like I know everything,” he said. “(I just) let God work and pray that He leads me in the right direction, and I pray that I continue to do things the way He wants me to do it. That doesn’t make me perfect. I’m far from perfect, but it’s been a fun journey to watch how God works and moves different situations that He’s brought my family and me through.”
