NORFOLK, Va. –Old Dominion University football head coach Bobby Wilder has hired Grady Brown as co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, Wilder announced on Thursday.
Brown replaces Galen Scott who left to coach the linebackers at North Texas.
David Blackwell, who was hired in January as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, will install and call the defense on gameday.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Brown to the Old Dominion football family. He has extensive knowledge of defensive back play. He has also been a defensive coordinator,” Wilder said. “I know he will work well with Coach Blackwell and our defensive staff. Our defense will benefit greatly from his football knowledge and experience.”
Brown comes to ODU after spending the 2018 season as the cornerbacks coach at Louisville. Brown helped the Cardinals rank No. 40 in the country in pass defense.
“I’m excited to be here and be a part of this program and have an opportunity to align with the university and with Coach Wilder to develop our young men and put them in a position to succeed in society and help then reach their full potential in football,” Brown said. “I’m looking forward to serving the Hampton Roads community and be a part of the rich tradition of this area and put ourselves in the position to where we are developing our players on and off the field.”
Prior to joining Louisville, Brown coached the secondary at Alabama State, his second stop at ASU, for one season.
He was the defensive coordinator at Birmingham Southern for one year and prior to that was at South Carolina for four years coaching the defensive backs. Under Brown’s tutelage, USC ranked No. 12 in FBS in pass defense in 2013 and No. 13 in interceptions with 18. At South Carolina he recruited Skai Moore, who finished his career tied for first in school history in interceptions.
Before joining the Gamecocks, Brown helped lead Southern Miss to a Conference USA Championship in 2011, setting an NCAA record for interceptions returned for a touchdown. Southern Miss finished No. 4 in interceptions and No. 10 in passing yards allowed per attempt.
He was the defensive quality control coach for one year at LSU and prior to that spent a year coaching the safeties at Texas Southern. He was a finalist for the Football Scoop Defensive Backs Coach of the Year while at LSU.
Prior to that, Brown spent six seasons coaching the secondary at Alabama State. During that time linebacker Michael Coe was drafted in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts.
Brown started his collegiate coaching career as the outside linebackers coach at Alabama A&M. Following that stint he held two NFL minority coaching internships, starting with the Seattle Seahawks, and later with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brown was a four-year letterman at Alabama A&M and graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1998.