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Wayne State University Athletics

Gabe Brown, Football Coach, 2026 head shot

Gabe Brown

  • Title
    Defensive Line Coach
UPDATED March 3, 2026

Gabe Brown joined coach Terrence Isaac's staff as Defensive Line Coach in March of 2026.

Brown, who played offensive tackle and tight end at Hamline University (1994-97), comes to Detroit after spending the 2025 season at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minn.  He served as run-game coordinator and offensive line coach before transitioning to defensive line coach and finished the season as acting defensive coordinator.  He helped tutor defensive lineman Keyuandre Watkins who was named the NJCAA Division 3 Region 13 Defensive Player-of-the-Year.  In addition, offensive lineman Marquavious Thornton was selected All-Region 13.

He was the head coach at Stevensville High School (Montana) for the 2024 campaign, after spending two years as the defensive line coach at Carroll College, an NAIA school in Helena, Montana.  The Fighting Saints compiled an 8-3 mark in 2022, including three wins over top-20 teams.  The next year, CC went 7-3 posting two wins over top 20-programs with all three setbacks to top-25 squads.  His first year, CC allowed 2.5 yards per carry and 78.9 rushing yards per game, while allowing just 13.6 points per contest.  The following year the Fighting Saints allowed 2.9 yards per rushing attempt and 86.1 rushing yards per game.

Brown served as the defensive coordinator at Rifle (Colo.) High School in 2021, following three seasons as head coach at Eagle Valley High School in Gypsum, Colo.  The Devils improved by two wins from his first season to his second year, with Brown earning a nomination to coach in the Colorado All-State Game.

The associate head coach/defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Corvallis (Mont.) High School (2015-2017), Brown previously spent two years (2008-10) coaching the offensive line at Sentinel High School in Missoula, Mont. followed by two years (2013-14) as defensive line coach at Frenchtown (Mont.) High School.

Before beginning his coaching career, Brown served seven years (1997-2004) in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, as part of 36th Medical Evacuation battalion.

He earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Washington Bothell.  Brown has spent the last three summers with the Nike Next Athletes.

A native of Minneapolis, Brown has two sons, Dre and Marcus.