William & Mary Head Football Coach Mike London announced the hiring of Vincent Brown as the program’s associate head coach/defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, while Ras-I Dowling will join the staff as the cornerbacks coach.
Brown, a former All-Pro linebacker for the New England Patriots, takes over the Tribe’s defense after recent stints as a coordinator at Howard University and UConn.
“I am very excited to bring Vincent and Ras-I into our program,” London said. “I have a long history of working with Vincent and his NFL credentials and coaching experience speak for themselves. His character and values are perfectly aligned with what we demand from our program and I am confident he will be an outstanding leader of our defense.”
Most recently, Brown served as London’s assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Howard University the past two seasons. In addition to producing a pair of All-MEAC selections, Brown mentored a young Bison defense that helped the program secure a 7-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in league play in 2017. That year’s squad ranked second in the conference in fourth down conversion defense and third in red zone defense versus league opponents.
Prior to leading Howard’s defense, Brown spent three seasons at UConn (2014-16) as co-defensive coordinator where he coached four All-American Athletic Conference standouts.
Brown coached at the University of Virginia for four seasons, working with the linebackers (2010-12) and the defensive line (2013). Additionally, he served as the special teams coordinator in 2013. Highlighting those who benefited from Brown’s tutelage during his time in Charlottesville was linebacker Steve Greer who earned All-ACC honors after leading the team with 103 tackles. Greer’s 357 career tackles were the most of any active ACC player during the 2012 season.
After serving as a graduate assistant at UVA in 2007 and helping lead the Cavaliers to an appearance in the Gator Bowl, Brown coached linebackers for London at the University of Richmond for two seasons (2008-09). In addition to helping the Spiders win a national title in 2008, he mentored All-America linebacker Eric McBride and three All-CAA selections in 2009.
Prior to his start in collegiate coaching, Brown served as an inside linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2006. His previous coaching experience also includes a four-year stint as an assistant coach at Meadowcreek High School near Atlanta, while he was also the school’s assistant athletic director for one year.
A three-time All-Pro linebacker for the New England Patriots (1991, 1992, 1993), Brown was selected in the second round of the 1998 NFL draft. He went on to start 103 of 123 games for the Patriots before retiring in 1995.
A native of Atlanta, Brown played at Mississippi Valley State where he earned Kodak All-America honors as a senior in 1987. He was a second-team Associated Press All-American as a junior. A three-time all-conference pick, he set a school record for career tackles (570) and led the team in stops his final three seasons. He graduated with a degree in criminal justice.
Brown and his wife, Chandra, have four children: Dane, Vincent II, Raven and Jorian.
Dowling rejoins London after serving on his staff at Howard the last two seasons.
After working as a defensive quality control coach on HU’s 2017 squad that posted a 7-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in league play, Dowling was promoted to cornerbacks coach in 2018.
Drafted by Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots with the 33rd overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Dowling became the highest selected defensive back to ever play at the University of Virginia.
During his five years in the league, Dowling was a member of two Super Bowl teams – New England Patriots (2011) and Carolina Panthers (2015). He also spent time with the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders.
Dowling excelled as a standout player under London’s tutelage at UVA where he garnered All-America honors in 2010 and earned All-ACC accolades three times. Additionally, he served as a team captain and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
