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Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior Writer
UMass has fired coach Don Brown, ending his second stint leading the program and the third overall, with two games to play this season.
Brown went 6-28 at UMass over the past two-plus seasons. He went 43-19 there from 2004 to 2008, reaching an FCS national championship game and a national quarterfinal. Brown, who grew up in the state, also served as UMass’ defensive coordinator in 1998 and 1999.
“I am extremely grateful to Coach Brown for returning to UMass three years ago to help us build back a program he once coached to a national title game,” athletic director Ryan Bamford said in a statement. “Don should have immense pride in the outstanding contributions he has made to advance Massachusetts football during his three stops in Amherst.”
Offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery will serve as UMass’ interim coach for the final two games, this week at No. 12 Georgia and then at home against UConn. Montgomery is the former head coach at Miami (Ohio).
Brown, 69, came to UMass after spending the 2021 season as defensive coordinator at Arizona. He also held coordinator roles at Michigan, Boston College, UConn, Maryland and other stops, spending much of his career in New England.
Bamford credited Brown for helping UMass, an FBS independent, earn conference membership again, as the school will begin play in the MAC in 2025.
Brown also was head coach at Northeastern (27-20) and Plymouth State (25-6).