Conway, Ark.- The Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 68th class on Friday, April 10, at the Oaklawn Event Center Ballroom in Hot Springs. The class features 10 standout athletes and coaches, including Central Arkansas football great and Central Arkansas Head Football Coach, Nathan Brown.
Coach Nathan Brown, "My story's unique, I've been here at UCA my entire adult life. My playing career is probably the bulk of the reason that I'm getting the opportunity to get this honor and get into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and then to have the opportunity to still be a part of the program that I played at and be a part of a lot of wins and championships as an assistant coach, and a head coach it's definitely an honor. I mean, this school and, community and town and Conway and the people that have been involved in this place over these years has given me this opportunity. And so, yeah, it's Nathan Brown getting in the Hall of Fame, but it's so much more than that, and people that know me know that I think of it as an honor for UCA as well." Coach Brown went on to reminisce about some of the people that brought him along in his playing and coaching career. "Well, the first two that come to mind is my High School coach, Jeff Holt at Russellville High School. He's the one that really, developed my love for football. He was advanced beyond his years as far as being a football coach, the offenses he ran and some of the things we did, taught me a ton. But the love started with him. And then it quickly got transitioned and passed once I got to UCA. I have to give a lot of credit to Coach Clint Conque. He saw something in me to give me an opportunity to play here and obviously invested a lot of time and energy and effort into my playing career. And then on the coaching side of things. He saw something in me as a young coach to give me an opportunity to be an assistant coach on his staff after I played. Then after I transition fully into my coaching career, I think of Dr. Brad Teague. I mean, look, that guy watched me grow up. I mean, he gets here in the middle of my playing career, he's ushering UCA through this Division I transition, and I'm a player here, a student athlete, during that time and then him just being on board with me becoming an assistant coach and an offensive coordinator, and then to promote me to head coach. So, to think about our relationship over the years and the trust that he had in me and then just growing close not only as my boss, but also as someone that's always supported me throughout the years. So yeah, I've been blessed with many people, outside of my family, supporting me in my life and career."
A Russellville native, Brown has left a lasting mark on the Bears program as both a player and coach. He has been part of four of the top six total offense seasons in school history—two as quarterback and two as head coach—and has contributed to seven of the program's top 10 passing seasons.
Brown played a key role in three Southland Conference championships, helping win the 2008 title as a player and adding championships in 2012 and 2017 as an assistant coach. He has also been involved in all four of UCA's NCAA playoff victories, both as a player and coach.
As a player, Brown was a three-time All-American who set Arkansas collegiate records with 10,558 passing yards and 100 touchdowns, leading UCA to a 30-10 record as a starting quarterback. He was named Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 and Player of the Year in 2008, when he was also a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. He still holds school records for touchdown passes in a game (7) and total offense in a game (490 yards).
Brown earned Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2005 and later became UCA's first Division I-era invitee to the Senior Bowl, where he led all passers in 2009. He also participated in the East-West Shrine Game.
After college, Brown signed as a free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints. He was inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
