CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – For the second time in Fighting Tiger history, Hunter Brown is at the helm of Campbellsville University Football. Director of Athletics Adam Preston announced today the hiring of alumnus and former All-American quarterback Hunter Brown as the program's new Head Football Coach.

Campbellsville University will formally introduce Brown to the community and members of the media during a press conference on Monday, February 16. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. ET inside the Heilman Welcome Center on the university campus.

"I am truly honored and excited to accept the Head Football Coach position at my alma mater," Brown said. "Coming home to the place that helped shape me is a blessing, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to lead a Christ-centered program built on servant leadership, character, and excellence. I can't wait to get to work serving our players, school, and community."

Brown, a 2018 graduate, steps into the role following Jake Russell's resignation to pursue a new professional opportunity. The transition marks a poetic succession for the program; Brown previously took over as the starting quarterback in 2016, immediately following Russell's tenure under center (2014-2015).

"We are proud to announce Hunter Brown as the next leader of our football program," said Adam Preston, Director of Athletics. "Coach Brown's distinguished experience as an All-American student-athlete, coupled with his years of dedicated service developing our players and recruiting exceptional young men to this university, has uniquely prepared him for this opportunity. Coach Brown understands the responsibility and tradition that come with being a Tiger. He embodies the values of our program and is deeply committed to developing leaders who excel both on the field and in the classroom. I am confident that he will lead with integrity, model Christ-centered character in both word and action, and continue to build a culture rooted in excellence, accountability, and faith. We are excited for the future of our program and, most importantly, for the young men who will grow and mature under Coach Brown's leadership. I look forward to seeing the continued impact he will make on our student-athletes and our university community."

Brown is no stranger to the demands of excellence at Campbellsville. A native of Hendersonville, Tennessee, he etched his name into the Tiger history books during a prolific playing career from 2015 to 2017. He currently holds the program career records for total offense yards (7,505), passing completions (573), passing yards (7,649), passing yards per game (332.7), and total touchdowns (78).

His ability to command an offense was evident during his two years as a starter, where he led the NAIA in passing yards per game in both 2016 (377.6) and 2017 (370.5). Brown's career was capped by a stellar 2017 campaign where he set the single-season record for passing yards (3,776) and was named the NCCAA Player of the Year and a First Team All-American. Additionally, that season, he orchestrated the offense that won the NCCAA Victory Bowl Championship, scoring 28 unanswered points in the second half to seal the program's second NCCAA national title.

Brown takes over a program that has seen a resurgence in national prominence. The Tigers finished the 2025 season ranked #11 in the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Postseason Poll, featuring an explosive offense and a disciplined defense that produced 15 All-Mid-South Conference selections.

"Our first goal is to build servant leaders who put others first and reflect Christ in how they lead, compete, and live," Brown noted regarding his vision for the team culture. "Second, we are committed to developing young men of high character and having academic success—disciplined, accountable, and committed to doing what's right on and off the field. Third, we will compete relentlessly to become a consistent championship program, pursuing excellence in everything we do."

"Hunter Brown embodies the mission and heart of Campbellsville University," said Dr. Joseph Hopkins, President of Campbellsville University.  "Coach Brown has consistently demonstrated a commitment to developing young men of character and faith. His leadership reflects our dedication to preparing servant leaders for success not only in competition, but for lives of meaning and impact. I am also grateful that every member of this year's successful coaching staff has committed to continuing with the program in the coming season. Coach Brown came to us as a player, was mentored in character and leadership, and delivered record performance and a championship. As he steps into the head coaching role, we are committed to working alongside him and what we believe is the finest football coaching staff in the nation to produce a deepening legacy of integrity, new records, and championships."

Brown's connection to the program extends beyond the stat sheet. Following his playing career, he joined the Campbellsville coaching staff in January 2019 as the quarterbacks coach, where he was tasked with developing the next generation of Tiger signal-callers. Since his hire, Brown has served as the program's Recruiting Coordinator, Passing Game Coordinator, and Wide Receivers coach. His familiarity with the Mid-South Conference and the Campbellsville mission is expected to smooth the transition as the team prepares for spring ball.

"I am incredibly excited to continue serving this university, our players, and our staff, and I'm passionate about building relationships that will be impactful beyond just the game of football," Brown said. "I am committed to leading with a servant-heart, helping our young men grow in character and life, not just in football. I'm also eager to work toward consistent championship-level success on the field as we pursue excellence together."

Brown's tenure begins immediately as the Fighting Tigers look to defend their reputation as one of the premier programs in the Commonwealth.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed, Kentucky-based Christian university that enrolls nearly 10,000 students and offers over 100 programs of study, including certificates, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. CU is committed to academic excellence, solidly grounded in the liberal arts, that fosters personal growth, integrity, and professional preparation within a caring environment.