Aberdeen, SD (NSUWolves.com) – Northern State University head coach Mike Schmidt announced today the addition of Brayle Brown as the program’s offensive coordinator heading into the 2025 season. Brown joins the Wolves following a 3-year stint as the offensive coordinator at Colorado State University – Pueblo.
“Coach Brown is a young rising star in the coaching profession,” said Schmit. “He’s a proven winner. The offensive production speaks for itself. Coach Brown can coach ball and lead men. I couldn’t be happier to add him to our staff at NSU.”
“Extremely excited to Join Coach Schmidt and the NSU program!” noted Brown “Coach and I have stayed connected throughout the years and finally the stars aligned. This program is on the verge of doing really special things in the NSIC. The vision and plan for success fit right into what I am looking for.”
In December of 2024, Brown was announced as a participant for the AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. The program is aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession. In his five seasons as an offensive coordinator, Brown’s offenses have finished in the top-15 nationally in scoring offense, with back-to-back top-10 finishes. In addition, he has led the top-ranked offense in three separate conferences.
Brown added, “The opportunity to join a program with the amount of support from alumni and the community is something that’s very special. Northern has one of, if not the best facilities in D2, and a community who’s ready to take this thing to the next level! Buckle up Aberdeen and let’s make 2025 one to remember.”
“We talk about building great team culture all of the time but in order to do that, you must have a great coaching staff culture,” noted Schmidt. “When hiring a staff, we need guys who align with our mission, vision, and values. The players feed off the way the coaching staff interacts and aligns. Coach Brown totally aligns with our program culture and will enhance our staff culture.”
In the fall of 2024, CSUP went 10-2 overall winning the RMAC and ultimately falling to Minnesota State in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Thunderwolves ranked top-10 in the nation in three categories sitting ninth in total offense (462.3 yds/g), sixth in passing offense (308.5 yds/g), and seventh in scoring offense (40.2 pts/g). Two players earned multiple All-America honors, including Reggie Retzlaff who finished seventh in the Harlon Hill voting. Retzlaff was the Super Region 4 Offensive Player of the Year announced by the D2CCA, as well as the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, ten offensive players earned All-RMAC awards and three were named CSC Academic All-District®.
Brown’s first two seasons at CSU Pueblo saw the Thunderwolves advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2022 and sit top-10 in the country in numerous categories. In the fall of 2023, they finished seventh in passing offense (289.7 yds/g) and ninth in scoring offense (42.0 pts/g). That same season, graduate quarterback Chance Fuller ranked top-10 in the nation in completions per game, passing touchdowns, and passing yards per game. In his first season leading the CSUP offense, Brown’s offense finished the year seventh in passing efficiency (159.68) and seventh in red zone offense (91.3%). Senior quarterback Hunter Raquet sat second in passing efficiency, third in passing yards per completion, and 14th in passing touchdowns.
Brown spent the 2021 season as the offensive coordinator at Colorado Mesa. The Mavericks led the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in total offense, averaging 453.7 yards per game, 6.6 yards per play, and 194.8 rushing yards per game that season. In addition, the quarterback core threw only four interceptions in 314 attempts. Quarterback Hunter Karst (Miller, S.D.) set the single season passing yardage record at CMU throwing for 2,481 yards in just ten games during the season, earning him RMAC Offensive Freshman of the Year. In addition, seven other Mavericks were named to the league All-Conference teams.
Brown spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons as the quarterbacks coach, passing game coordinator and co-offensive coordinator at Oklahoma Baptist University. In the fall of 2019, the Bison led the Great American Conference in total offense, scoring offense, passing offense and was second in the conference in first downs per game. The Bison finished the year top-10 in the country in both total offense and completions per game, while quarterback Preston Haire was named the GAC Offensive Player of the Year.
He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant running backs coach at Midwestern State University in the fall of 2018 and went on to serve one season as a graduate assistant at Avila University.
Brown played college football at NCAA Division I, the University of Louisiana Monroe. He earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from ULM in 2014. Brown, his father, and brother are all members of the Shawnee High School Hall of Fame.