Syracuse hires Georgia DBs coach, top recruiter Brown as HC

Syracuse hired former Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown as its new head coach, the school announced on Tuesday.

"I am incredibly proud to be leading Syracuse football at a university with a rich and storied tradition of academic and athletic excellence," Brown said in a statement, adding, "My immediate area of focus is building relationships with my current players and putting together an elite staff while also having fun on the recruiting trail. I'm ready to get to work and look forward to building something special for our fans."

A New Jersey native, Brown has spent the last two seasons with the Bulldogs. The 40-year-old was previously an assistant at Temple (2011-16, 2019), Baylor (2017-18), and Rutgers (2020-21). He also served as co-defensive coordinator for the Owls in 2019.

Brown joined Georgia's top-ranked defense during the 2022 offseason and has helped the unit remain one of the nation's premier groups. The Bulldogs have allowed only 176.5 passing yards per game while giving up 15.8 points per contest this season.

Brown also stands out for bringing in talent and ranks first on 247Sports' 2024 football recruiter rankings.

Syracuse recently fired head coach Dino Babers after eight seasons amid a 5-6 start to the 2023 campaign. The Orange edged Wake Forest to gain bowl eligibility on Saturday in their first game since parting ways with Babers.