Former Merritt Island Coach Hurlie Brown Named Head Coach of Holy Trinity Episcopal Football Team

Brown was named Space Coast Daily–Friday Night Locker Room Coach of the Year in 2021

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – After an extensive selection process, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy named Hurlie Brown as its new Head Football Coach. Brown served as Merritt Island High School’s head coach for four years prior to his most recent stint as a defensive coordinator at Prairie View A&M in Texas.

After leading the Mustangs to their first 5A State Championship final in 34 years, Coach Brown was voted Florida Dairy Farmers Class 5A Coach of the Year for the 2021 football season. He brings a wealth of experience coaching both at the high school and college levels to Holy Trinity.

“To say we are ecstatic to be in the position of attracting someone of Hurlie Brown’s caliber and reputation speaks volumes for our football program,” said Holy Trinity Athletic Director James Phillips.

“Hurlie has spent years cultivating young athletes to help them reach their full potential both on and off the field. With him at the helm, our Tigers will have the opportunity to learn from a legend who understands the game and shares the larger vision for the future of HT football.”

Coach Brown is a 1987 Merritt Island graduate. He became the school’s eighth head football coach in March of 2018, after serving as an assistant with the program. He was 26-16 in four seasons as the Mustangs’ head coach.

Brown previously coached at college programs at Miami, Florida International and Louisiana-Lafayette, as well as Dillard High and the then-Oakland Raiders. He played on two Hurricanes national championship teams, spent time in the Canadian Football League and went to training camp with two NFL teams.

“I am so excited about the opportunity to return home to coach for such a prestigious school at such a pivotal time,” said Brown. “AD Phillips and Dr. Cobb shared their philosophy of HT football with me, and I was ‘All IN,’ mind, body, and spirit! Our Tigers will work hard, become a team, and enjoy success as part of a collective process that allows each student-athlete to grow and develop.”

Brown began his coaching career as a graduate assistant where he played college football at the University of Miami in 1992. He played and coached in eight College Bowls for UM from 1988-2015, winning two National Championships.

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COACH OF THE YEAR – Hurlie Brown, Merritt Island: Hurlie Brown led his Mustangs farther than any Mustangs team in recent memory. Brown is a player’s coach. He coaches hard but attributes all of the team’s success on the players and coaches. As Brown said after the state semifinal game against Sebring, “It’s not about me, it’s about these kids.” He wants people to know that the kids have done what he has asked and have done things the right way.

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