Neal Brown: A Journey of Triumph, Adversity, and Redemption

Neal Brown's journey as a football coach has been marked by both triumph and adversity. He rose to prominence as the head coach at Troy University, leading the Trojans to multiple bowl games and Sun Belt Conference titles. However, his tenure at West Virginia University was plagued by challenges, testing Brown's resilience and determination.

Born and raised in Kentucky, Brown developed a passion for football at a young age. He played quarterback at Boyle County High School and later at the University of Kentucky. After graduating, Brown embarked on a coaching career, starting as a graduate assistant at Kentucky before moving on to various assistant coaching roles at Troy, Kentucky, and Duke.

In 2015, Brown returned to Troy as head coach. He immediately made an impact, leading the Trojans to their first Sun Belt Conference championship in over a decade. Troy went on to win three more conference titles under Brown's leadership, establishing him as one of the top young coaches in college football.

Brown's success at Troy attracted the attention of West Virginia University, which hired him as head coach in 2019. However, the Mountaineers struggled under Brown's leadership, posting a record of 23-24 during his four seasons in charge.

In 2022, after a disappointing season that culminated in a 5-7 record, Brown was fired by West Virginia. The decision was met with mixed reactions, with some fans and media members questioning Brown's ability to succeed at a Power Five program.

Despite the setbacks, Brown remained optimistic about his future. He spent the 2023 season as an offensive analyst at Kentucky, learning from his former mentor, Mark Stoops. In 2024, Brown was named head coach at New Mexico State University, a program looking to rebuild after several years of struggles.

Brown's journey has been filled with both challenges and successes. Through it all, he has shown resilience, determination, and a relentless pursuit of improvement. As he embarks on his next chapter at New Mexico State, Brown is eager to prove that he is a coach capable of leading a program back to prominence.