Corwin Brown

Position: Special Teams Coach Birthdate: 04/25/1970

Corwin Brown is in his third season as Virginia’s special teams coach after retiring from the NFL following the 2000 season.

After working with All-ACC punter Mike Abrams and veteran place-kicker David Greene in 2001, Brown oversaw a kicking game that featured two true freshmen, including a walk-on place-kicker, by the end of the 2002 regular season. Virginia had many special teams highlights during the 2002 regular season. Among them were a school-record 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Marquis Weeks that ignited a second-half rally over North Carolina, a recovered fumble return for a touchdown by Jermaine Hardy on a kickoff against No. 22 South Carolina, and a 69-yard punt return for a score by Marques Hagans against No. 14 West Virginia in the Continental Tire Bowl.

UVa’s punt return unit allowed less than 10 yards per return for the first time since 1997, while the kickoff coverage team ranked second in the ACC in average return yards allowed per game against conference foes.

During his eight-year NFL career, Brown was a standout special teams player and safety with the New England Patriots (1993-96), New York Jets (1997-98) and Detroit Lions (1999-2000). He was in on 32 tackles with the Lions last season, including 10 special teams stops. He recorded at least 10 special teams tackles every season of his pro career except as a rookie in 1993. He played in Super Bowl XXXI with the Patriots in 1996 and was chosen as the first-alternate for the 1998 Pro Bowl as a member of the Jets.

Brown first became associated with UVa head coach Al Groh at the Senior Bowl, following the completion of his standout college career at Michigan. The relationship continued as Brown played for the Groh-coached New England defense for four seasons, from 1993-96. Brown was reunited with Groh—who had moved from the Patriots to the Jets—in 1997, before finishing his professional playing career with the Lions.

In preparation for a future coaching career, Brown served as a volunteer coach at Boston University in 1996 and worked with the Jets’ coaches and scouts at the 1997 and 1998 NFL scouting combines.

Brown received his bachelor’s degree in English from Michigan in 1993. While going to school in Arbor, Mich., he played in three Rose Bowls for the Wolverines and was an All-Big Ten safety as a senior in 1992. Brown was the team’s second-leading tackler that season with 82 stops. He was a fourth-round pick by the Patriots in the 1993 NFL draft.

Before enjoying a successful college and pro football career, Brown was an All-State prep football player and lettered in track & field at Julian High School in Chicago, Ill.