Cha'pelle Brown, who earned All-Big 12 Conference honors as a defensive back for then-head coach Dan Hawkins, reunites with his former Colorado mentor as an assistant on the UC Davis football staff. He joined the Aggies in 2017 to lead the program's defensive backs, and enters his third season as a member of the program's coaching staff.Â
Brown arrived to UC Davis after spending two seasons at fellow Big Sky Conference member Northern Arizona, where he served as the cornerbacks coach in 2015, then was elevated to defensive secondary coach.Among his Lumberjack proteges was All-American Marcus Alford, who helped the NAU corners total three interceptions and 26 passes defended.
Before his arrival at NAU, Brown enjoyed four seasons at the Division I FBS level. He served as a defensive graduate assistant for his alma mater for the 2011 and 2012 seasons, then held a similar post at Oregon in 2013 and 2014. Working primarily with defensive backs on the field, Brown helped the Ducks to the 2014 Pac-12 Conference title and wins at the 2013 Alamo Bowl and 2016 Rose Bowl.
He also contributed in aspects of both the Colorado and Oregon programs in the areas of film breakdown, scouting reports and scout teams.
Originally from Hacienda Heights, Brown played four years and started three for CU from 2006 to 2009. He captured the team's Dave Jones Award as outstanding defensive player as a junior, adding All-Big 12 honorable mention from the Associated Press and the conference's coaches, plus first-team All-Big 12 distinction from Phil Steele's College Football. A year later, Brown led the Buffs with 96 tackles en route to all-league honors from both the Big 12 coaches (second team) and from AP (honorable mention). At career's end, Brown ranked seventh among all-time Colorado defensive backs with 257 career tackles.
Brown began his coaching career at Diamond Bar High School in Southern California before entering the collegiate coaching ranks in 2011.
