The Texas Longhorns are pursuing the former head coach of West Virginia.

The Texas Longhorns Are Pursuing the Former Head Coach of West Virginia: Neal Brown’s Potential Impact on Texas Football

As the Texas Longhorns football program continues to build upon the foundation laid by head coach Steve Sarkisian, one thing has become abundantly clear: success at the University of Texas requires more than just talent on the field. With high expectations every year and a program that has the resources to compete at the highest level, the Longhorns are constantly seeking ways to refine and enhance their coaching staff. The latest development in their pursuit of excellence is the potential addition of Neal Brown, the former head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, to Steve Sarkisian’s staff.

Neal Brown is a coach with a proven track record, having demonstrated his ability to lead programs and develop talent both as a head coach and an offensive mind. After his tenure at West Virginia ended in 2022, Brown found himself back in the coaching market, and now, Texas appears to be interested in bringing him aboard. This potential hiring could have a transformative impact on the Longhorns football program, particularly in areas that need refinement as Texas strives to become a perennial championship contender.

In this article, we’ll explore Neal Brown’s coaching career, why Texas is pursuing him, and what kind of impact he could have if he were to join Sarkisian’s staff. We’ll also examine how his expertise could complement the existing Texas program, particularly in the realms of recruiting, player development, and offensive strategy. Ultimately, the addition of a coach like Neal Brown could help solidify Texas’ position as one of the premier programs in college football.

Neal Brown: A Proven Leader with Big 12 Experience

Neal Brown’s coaching career has been defined by his expertise in building programs, particularly in the Big 12 Conference, where he spent a significant portion of his career. Brown began his coaching journey as a graduate assistant at the University of Connecticut, eventually making his way to Texas Tech as an offensive coordinator. There, he worked under the tutelage of Kliff Kingsbury and became known for his innovative offensive strategies. From there, Brown would make stops at various coaching positions, but it was his time as the head coach at Troy University that solidified his reputation as an up-and-coming coaching talent.

At Troy, Brown was tasked with revitalizing a program that had not seen much success in recent years. Over the course of four seasons (2015-2018), Brown helped guide the Trojans to a 35-16 record, with multiple bowl game appearances and a victory in the 2017 Dollar General Bowl. This success led to his hiring as the head coach of West Virginia in 2019, where he inherited a team that was in transition and facing challenges in the post-Dana Holgorsen era.

While his tenure at West Virginia (2019-2022) was ultimately cut short after a 5-7 finish in 2022, Brown’s time there was not without merit. Despite facing adversity, he helped stabilize the program, improving the Mountaineers’ offense and creating competitive teams in a difficult conference. His work with quarterbacks, his ability to adapt offensive systems, and his development of younger players garnered respect in the coaching community, even though he was unable to consistently produce the results West Virginia expected.

Brown’s experience in the Big 12 Conference is particularly valuable for Texas, as he has an intimate understanding of the league’s dynamics, its rivalries, and its most successful programs. For a program like Texas, which is always competing with the likes of Oklahoma, Baylor, and now the up-and-coming teams like Kansas State, having someone on staff who knows how to navigate the Big 12’s challenges could be invaluable.

Why Texas Is Pursuing Neal Brown

Texas, under head coach Steve Sarkisian, has made significant strides in recent years, but the program is still looking for that next step. Sarkisian has brought in top-tier recruiting classes, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and has shown flashes of brilliance with a high-powered offense. However, consistency remains elusive, especially on defense. With an eye toward long-term success, Sarkisian is constantly evaluating ways to strengthen his coaching staff. This is where Neal Brown comes into play.

There are several reasons why the Texas Longhorns would be interested in adding Brown to their coaching ranks:

1. Offensive Expertise

First and foremost, Neal Brown is known as an offensive-minded coach. While Texas’ offensive system under Sarkisian has been successful at times, Brown’s ability to design and implement versatile offensive schemes would complement Sarkisian’s already potent playbook. Brown’s experience in the Air Raid system, his ability to adjust to his players’ strengths, and his expertise in working with quarterbacks make him an ideal fit for a Texas team that will continue to focus on developing their quarterback room.

At West Virginia, Brown worked with quarterbacks like Jarret Doege, a steady but unremarkable performer, and helped him develop into a solid collegiate quarterback. He has a knack for improving quarterbacks’ decision-making, footwork, and overall play under center. Given the talent at quarterback in the Texas program, particularly with Quinn Ewers and the potential of incoming quarterback Arch Manning, Brown could bring a different dimension to their development.

Additionally, his ability to balance the pass and the run has been a hallmark of his offenses. Brown’s adaptability in how he approaches game planning and adjusting in real-time is something that Texas could use, particularly when they face off against high-level defenses. His knowledge of offensive line play will also be crucial as Texas aims to improve in that area, especially with talented but inexperienced linemen on the roster.

2. Recruiting and Player Development

Neal Brown has demonstrated a strong ability to recruit players, even when resources are limited. During his time at Troy, he successfully recruited players who fit his system, which resulted in consistent success on the field. This ability to evaluate talent and develop players will be essential for Texas, which, although it has access to abundant resources, needs coaches who can maximize the potential of the players coming into the program.

Brown’s experience in recruiting within the Southeast and Midwest regions could provide a key advantage for Texas as they continue to recruit nationally and shore up their position in the talent-rich state of Texas. His understanding of how to develop players at every level – whether they’re four-star recruits or diamonds in the rough – could be an asset to the Longhorns, who are constantly competing with other elite programs for top talent.

3. Program Building and Stability

Sarkisian’s tenure at Texas has been marked by ups and downs, but one of his goals has been to bring stability to a program that has been marred by inconsistent coaching changes and performance. Neal Brown, with his experience building programs from scratch, could help add another layer of stability to the coaching staff.

At Troy, Brown demonstrated a remarkable ability to turn a struggling program into one that consistently competed for conference championships. His leadership, his ability to motivate players, and his culture-building skills could serve as an important resource for Texas, especially as the program continues to re-establish its identity and work toward championship-level consistency.

How Neal Brown Can Impact the Longhorns’ Football Program

If Neal Brown were to join Steve Sarkisian’s staff at Texas, his impact could be felt in several key areas:

1. Quarterback Development

As mentioned earlier, one of Neal Brown’s strongest assets is his ability to develop quarterbacks. Texas has talented young quarterbacks on the roster, including Quinn Ewers and Maalik Murphy, with Arch Manning coming in as the future of the position. Brown’s experience working with quarterbacks in a variety of systems would make him an ideal mentor for this talented group. With Brown’s guidance, Texas could see significant improvement in their signal-callers’ performance, particularly in key game situations.

2. Offensive Creativity and Game Planning

Brown’s experience in implementing creative and adaptable offensive schemes would be beneficial to Sarkisian’s staff. His ability to devise game plans that adjust to the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent would help Texas gain an edge against teams with varying defensive schemes. Moreover, Brown’s approach to utilizing both the pass and the run could offer Sarkisian additional flexibility when facing tougher defenses.

3. Player Development and Coaching Depth

Neal Brown’s expertise in player development would bolster Texas’ already strong recruiting class. By adding him to the staff, Sarkisian would enhance the overall development of the team, ensuring that players progress throughout their careers and perform at their best when it matters most. Additionally, Brown’s experience in coaching in the Big 12 would make him a valuable asset in preparation for in-conference matchups.