In November, the Syracuse Orange appointed Fran Brown as their new head football coach. Although previously recognized for his talent in recruiting while serving as an assistant for the Georgia Bulldogs, Brown wasn’t widely known. Some questioned how he, a native of Camden, New Jersey, surpassed more prominent coaching contenders for the role.
As it turns out, Brown took matters into his own hands by reaching out directly to the Syracuse Athletic Director and securing the opportunity himself.
“I wasn’t initially considered for the position, which bothered me a bit,” Brown shared with Tim Green on the Nothing Left Unsaid podcast. “So, I asked my agent to provide me with the AD’s contact information. I didn’t even know it was John Wildhack.
I reached out, and although he didn’t answer my initial call, I followed up with a text introducing myself and requesting just five to ten minutes of his time. I emphasized that the best way to understand Fran Brown was through Fran Brown.”
“To my surprise, that ten-minute conversation extended to a half-hour. Then, on Thanksgiving, he wanted to talk again for another 25 minutes. It ended up stretching to an hour and 45 minutes. From there, things progressed, and I went in for the interview. I made sure to address every question thoroughly because I believe in doing things the right way.”
“Ultimately, I believe it was meant to be. I took the initiative, handling everything myself. Even my agent and associates only found out about the interview and my job offer after I had already secured the position. Then, I reached out to them to review the contract details. I wanted to ensure everything was in order and didn’t want any outside interference. Only my wife and I were aware of the situation, keeping it confidential until everything was finalized.”
