AMHERST, Mass. — The University of Massachusetts has parted ways with head coach Don Brown, with offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery taking over as the interim coach starting this week as the Minutemen prepare to face Georgia. Athletic director Ryan Bamford made this announcement on Monday.

Currently, UMass holds a record of 2-8, with both victories coming against lower-level non-Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Over the past three seasons under Brown’s leadership, the team has struggled, posting an overall record of 6-28.

This marked Brown’s third tenure with UMass. He initially served as the defensive coordinator from 1998 to 1999, and during his previous head coaching role from 2004 to 2008, he led the Minutemen to an impressive 43-19 record and a trip to the Football Championship Subdivision championship game in 2006.

“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Coach Brown for agreeing to return to UMass three years ago to help us rebuild the program he once led to a national title game,” Bamford stated. “Don has displayed exceptional dedication and has made significant contributions to advancing Massachusetts Football throughout his time here in Amherst.”

This season marks UMass’ last as an independent team, as they will transition to the Mid-American Conference in July.

Bamford reflected on Brown’s impact, noting that his strong coaching reputation helped legitimize the team’s Football Bowl Subdivision status. “Thanks to his leadership, we have made notable progress. We are strategically poised to meet our competitive aspirations as we transition into a new conference and adapt to the evolving landscape of college athletics in 2025,” he remarked.

Following their game against the eighth-ranked Georgia team on Saturday, the Minutemen will conclude their season with a home match against Connecticut.