Fran Brown Tells All: Turning Syracuse From Overlooked To Unstoppable
“I’m trying to build a culture,” Brown said. “And, once I knew I was going to go with D.A.R.T., being detailed, accountable, relentless, and tough, it was, ‘OK, what men fit that?'"
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Hey friends,
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown recently joined my “Next Up” Podcast for a raw, unfiltered conversation about how he transformed the Orange program in just one year.
From being counted out in the hiring process to creating a culture built on D.A.R.T. — detailed, accountable, relentless, tough — Brown shared what it takes to create a program that lasts.
He opened up about his roots in Camden, New Jersey, his journey through adversity, the lessons he learned at Georgia under Kirby Smart, and why he believes Syracuse is just getting started.
This episode is packed with real stories, not coachspeak. Brown dove into NIL, leadership, recruiting, player development, and his why — driven by family, community, and a deep belief that football can change lives.
Let’s dive into my three favorite takeaways from the interview:
1️⃣ Be Unbeatable
In November 2023, the Syracuse head coaching position became vacant after the program elected to move on from Dino Babers.
Over the next week and a half, athletic director John Wildhack reportedly reached out to a plethora of names with extensive head coaching experience, including Toledo’s Jason Candle, former Miami head coach Al Golden, and former Holy Cross head coach Bob Chesney.
As a Camden native, Brown wanted to enter the mix after compiling an impressive two-year stint as a recruiting ace, coaching defensive backs at Georgia.
From there, his agent, Jimmy Sexton, put him in contact with Wildhack. Brown asked for a quick introduction, but it suddenly turned into a much more meaningful interaction.
“‘I know you’re hearing a lot about me, but the best way to find out about me is through me… Let me tell you who I am,’” Brown told me, recounting his interaction with Wildhack. “And, I said I just need 10 minutes… and that 10 minutes went for like a half hour.”
A few days later, Wildhack asked Brown to speak with him on the night of Thanksgiving. The conversation exceeded two hours, and the two nearly reached full alignment.
Shortly thereafter, Brown was granted an official interview, leading to his first-ever offer to become a Power Four head coach in his home region.
“None of them could beat me,” Brown said about other head coaching candidates. “And, that’s my mindset. They’re not going to outwork me. So, I’m not worrying about who else is going for the job. I’m going to prove myself right. That was my mindset, my main thing I wanted to be able to do.”
A year later, Brown led the Orange to a late-season upset over No. 13 Miami, helping his rebuilt squad finish the campaign at No. 21 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
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2️⃣ Align Cross-Functionally
At Camden High School, Brown set the school record with 47 touchdown passes while playing on both sides of the ball.
In college, he became a first-team All-SoCon selection at cornerback for Western Carolina as a team captain.
But, when Brown began his head coaching duties at Syracuse, the first-year head man was lost.
His roster wasn’t used to how he first ran the show, which included hitting and full pads in practice from the get-go.
Then, he was finally able to let go of his nervous energy and fall back on his experience as a former player, coupled with his 11-year run as an assistant at Temple, Baylor, Rutgers, and Georgia.
“The first time when I got the whole team together, our first spring practice was sloppy,” Brown said. “… Then, it just got better and better, and I knew what it was supposed to look like.”
Brown’s players quickly bought into his newfound sense of culture. But, he didn’t stop there. He wanted his team to become a focal point of the local community.
Following the first practice, Brown invited every professor who worked with his players to practice to generate university-wide alignment from the top down. The unique experience fostered accountability.
“As that [new routine] started to go, we had a practice where all of the professors got to come,” Brown said. “Our players were fighting the whole practice, so we started crabbing [and] bear crawling. Y’all want to fight? Bear crawling… Get on the line. I was just telling them, I’m from Camden. If I wanted to see fights, I’d just go to the crib… So, let’s just stop all this.”
From that point forward, there weren’t any fights throughout the remainder of the season. The football program wasn’t just a reflection of Brown’s discipline, but a product of the Syracuse faculty, alumni, region, and fans.
With a 10-3 finish, including a 6-1 home record, it’s safe to say that Brown’s squad ultimately lived up to the community’s expectations, both on and off the field.
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3️⃣ Adopt D.A.R.T. Mentality
After an illustrious high school playing career, Brown still didn’t receive any high-caliber offers at the next level, forcing him to enroll at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York.
During our discussion, Brown described it as feeling “left back,” which proved to be a turning point for him as a young adult.
“I got left back as a senior in high school,” Brown told me. “So, to get left back and to watch teachers, coaches, friends, [and] half of of the city rooting for you to be successful… then, when they see you get left back, [they] don’t really want to talk to you… That was probably one of the hardest times of my life.”
Although his road to Western Carolina through the JUCO route proved to be a long, challenging, and winding journey, he adopted a mentality of resilience that his Syracuse program now lives by today.
As an assistant at Georgia, Brown was able to put that feeling into acronym form, now known as D.A.R.T. — detailed, accountable, relentless, and tough.
In Athens, Brown wanted to coin a mindset that constantly pushed discipline upon his players, while also relating it to his personal leadership approach.
“I’m trying to build a culture,” Brown said. “And, once I knew I was going to go with D.A.R.T., being detailed, accountable, relentless, and tough, it was, ‘OK, what men fit that, and what men will be committed? What men are going to care, and what men can I trust?’”
D.A.R.T. is wholeheartedly reflected in the Orange’s staffing room, highlighted by the hiring of defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson and play-caller Jeff Nixon.
To watch my complete interview with Brown, click here.
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me by email at adam@brenemanmedia.com.
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Shoutout to Connor Krause for helping to write this newsletter and putting it together!
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