Kentucky Names Allen Brown Cornerbacks Coach

The University of Kentucky has hired Allen Brown as the new cornerbacks coach, head coach Will Stein announced Friday.

“Allen Brown is a great addition to our staff,” Stein said. “His reputation as a developer and relationship-builder stood out immediately, and I’m excited to welcome him to Kentucky.”

In his five coaching stops, Brown has coached nine all-conference defensive backs, two freshman All-Americans and two more All-America honorees.

Brown comes to the Bluegrass after two seasons on the West Coast, coaching at California in 2025 as the defensive backs coach and 2024 as the cornerbacks coach at Washington State.

In 2025, his defensive backs unit helped the Bears rank tied for 16th nationally in fewest touchdown passes allowed (14).

Senior defensive back Hezekiah Masses was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team after tying for the national lead in passes defended with 18 (13 pass breakups and five interceptions). His five interceptions tied for seventh nationally and fourth in the ACC. Senior defensive back Brent “Paco” Austin ranked third in the conference in passes defended with 13. He was named All-ACC Third Team.

Austin and Masses both finished with 13 pass breakups, which tied for fifth on Cal’s single-season PBUs list.

“I believe Coach Stein is building something special at Kentucky, a place where elite talent can develop, compete, and win at the highest level,” Allen said. “I’m also excited to be back and compete in the best conference in the country.”

At Washington State in 2024, he tutored Ethan O’Connor who totaled 32 tackles, four interceptions and broke up eight passes as a redshirt freshman.

Prior to Washington State, he spent the 2023 season as a quality control coach for defense at Florida, under Kentucky’s new defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. In his lone season at UF, Brown worked with Jordan Castell, who was recognized with Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-America honors. He also tutored Jason Marshall, a fifth-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins.

In 2022 at Cal in the same position, he worked with three All-Pac 12 defensive backs, including safety Daniel Scott, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts and Freshman All-American cornerback Jeremiah Earby. He also mentored safety Craig Woodson, who went on to be a fourth-round draft pick by the New England Patriots.

From 2019-21, he was the cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game coordinator at his alma mater, Eastern Washington. During his three seasons, the program had five all-conference defensive backs and a freshman All-American. EWU concluded the 2021 season ranked No. 7 in the country after making it to the second round of the FCS playoffs.

His coaching career began at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo where he spent four seasons (2015-18) as the cornerbacks coach.

Brown’s background as a corner at Eastern Washington gives him valuable firsthand insight. He played in 51 career games and totaled 237 tackles, 15 pass breakups, and four interceptions. He was a three-time all-conference selection and was part of the 2010 FCS national championship team as well as FCS Playoff semifinal appearances in 2012 and 2013. In his four years on the field as an Eagle, Brown helped EWU compile a 42-13 record overall and 27-5 mark in the Big Sky Conference.

The Tacoma, Washington, native, graduated from Eastern Washington in 2014 with a degree in business administration.

Allen Brown’s Coaching Career

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