Brown returns to Vols staff

Sweetwater, Tenn.-native Kippy Brown has returned to the Volunteer coaching staff as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

 

"This is a great day for Tennessee football. When hiring assistant coaches you sometimes feel like you hit a homerun.  By bringing Kippy back to the Tennessee family, I feel like we hit a grand slam," said Head Football Coach Lane Kiffin. "Having known Kippy since 1990, I never imagined being able to add him to our staff, but we always start our searches at the top.  Six of our nine coaches have now come here from NFL teams.  Not only is he one of the best wide receiver coaches in the college or NFL ranks, he has a great connection to the Tennessee family and was an unbelievable recruiter in his two previous coaching stints here under Coach Majors and Coach Fulmer.

 

"Kippy will be coaching with us tomorrow as we begin preparations for the Chick-fil-A Bowl.  I'd like to thank Dr. Jan Simek and Mike Hamilton for their support in this hiring."

 

Brown, who most recently served as assistant head coach and passing game coordinator for the Detroit Lions, brings an extensive amount of experience to the Vols -  including 13 years in the college ranks and 13 years in the NFL. 

 

Brown began his coaching career at Memphis State University (now University of Memphis), where he served as running backs coach and wide receivers coach.  He has also served as wide receivers coach at the University of Louisville.  He joined the Vols under head coach Johnny Majors in 1982 as wide receivers coach.  During his first stint with the Vols, Brown helped Tennessee acquire the nickname "Wide Receiver U," coaching numerous pass catchers to greatness, including Anthony Miller, Tim McGee, Alvin Harper and Carl Pickens.  He left the Vols in 1990 to serve as running backs coach for the New York Jets from 1990-1992, before returning to Rocky Top in 1993 as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach for Phillip Fulmer. During his second stint with the Vols ('93-'94), UT compiled an 18-6 record and outscored their opponents 847-383 over the course of those two years. Peyton Manning also benefited from Brown's guidance during his freshman campaign as the Vols' signal caller.

 

"Kippy will be a great asset to the team.  He has a lot of ties in Tennessee, and he's a great coach," said former Vol and NFL star Alvin Harper.  "He was like a father to me.  He showed me a lot and helped me grow as a man.  I learned more at UT than I learned in the pros, and a lot of that is because of Kippy and the invaluable experience he brings."

 

In 1995, Brown returned to the NFL as running backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  From 1996-1997, he served as running backs coach for the Miami Dolphins before being named the offensive coordinator from 1998-99.  He spent the 2000 season with the Green Bay Packers before becoming head coach of the XFL's Memphis Maniax in 2001. After the demise of the XFL, he spent four seasons as the Houston Texans wide receivers coach before joining the Detroit Lions in 2006