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Eddie Brown enters his fifth year on the coaching staff and will be coaching the running backs for the second straight year. Brown is known for his ability to adapt, evidenced by his coaching on both sides of the ball during his time at Grand Valley State. Brown joined the GVSU staff in 2007 after two seasons as an assistant coach at Mansfield University.
Brown's running back unit ranked 14th nationally, averaging 216.31 yards per game in 2010. He tutored First-Team All-GLIAC performer Justin Sherrod in 2010 and will have possibly the deepest stable of running backs in the country in 2011. Norman Shuford, Hersey Jackson, Jake Aberg, Michael Ratay, Billy Seiler, Chris Robinson and Kirk Spencer will tote the ball.
Brown coached the defensive backs in 2009 and his unit helped th Laker defense rank 15th nationally in scoring defense (17.7 ppg), 17th in rushing defense (95.6 ypg), and 13th in QB sacks (48). In addition, the Laker secondary picked off 21 passes and tallied 30 pass deflections. The Laker defense led the GLIAC in five categories and ranked among the top 10 in every listing. Eddie coach All-GLIAC performers Matt Bakker and Jake McGuckin.
The Lakers' defensive line dominated action in the trenches in 2008, led by GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Dan Skuta.
The 2008 Lakers led the GLIAC in six different categories and ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense (4th/12.6), QB sacks (2nd/4.17) and tackles for loss (6th/9.17). GVSU also ranked 17th in total defense (278.9), tallied two shutouts and limited seven opponents to 10 points or less on the year. In addition to Skuta earning postseason honors, Danny Richard garnered all-america plaudits and Alex Gilde was and All-GLIAC selection.
Brown tutored a record-setting running back unit in 2007 when senior Preston Garris, sophomore Blake Smolen and freshman James Berezik earned GLIAC postseason honors. Berezik was named the 2007 GLIAC Freshman of the Year and set a GVSU freshman rushing record with 1,021 yards on 137 carries. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry. Smolen added 869 yards rusing yards and averaged 7.4 yards per carry, while Garries toted the ball 514 yards. GVSU ranked second in the GLIAC in rushing yards per game (241.2) and third in scoring (38.2) in 2007. The Laker offense, which ranked among the top three in six seperate GLIAC categories, broke the 40-point mark eight times.
Prior to his two-year stint at Mansfield, Brown had a sterling 13-year career in the Arena Football League as a defensive back/wide receiver. Brown was a key performer for the Tampa Bay Storm as they captured Arena Bowl Championship titles in 1991, 1993 and 1995. In addition, Brown played for the New York City Hawks and the Buffalo Destroyers during his professional playing career in the Arena Football League. Eddie was named the team MVP at each of the professional teams in which he played for and the Buffalo Destroyers changed the Big Hit Award to the Eddie Brown Award.
Brown prepped at Muskegon High School and was a key performer on the Big Reds' Class A State Championship team in 1985. Eddie spent two years at Grand Rapids Community College, rushing for 1,088 yards and 10 touchdowns in 1988. Brown then took his talents to Michigan State where he was a standout for the Spartans on the gridiron. Brown started as a wide receiver for the Aloha Bowl Champions in 1989, then as a defensive back for the Big 10 and John Hancock Bowl Champions in 1990. Brown was named the Most Improved Player for the Spartans his senior year (1990).
Brown and his wife, Meisha (Mee-Sha) are the proud parents of NaTasha (22) and Autmn (3).
