Youngstown State University

Jahmal Brown is in his third season as the Defensive Coordinator for the Penguins. He also works with the Penguins' safeties.

The Guins had a great amount of success in 2023 winning eight games and advancing to the FCS Playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.

The defense held nine opponents to 111-or-fewer yards rushing in a game throughout the year and four times YSU held an opponent to under 155 yards passing in a game. Overall, the unit allowed just 102.2 yards rushing per game. The lowest per game total since 2012 and the second lowest since 1998 and ranked 10th in the FCS in rushing defense (102.2 ypg). 

On seven occasions, the Guins held opponents to three-or-less third-down conversions and held Indiana State to no conversions on 10 tries. The Guins held Southern Illinois and Duquesne to under 100 yards passing.

Senior Marcus Hooker led the safeties and was third on the team with 51 tackles while Tyjon Jones was fourth on the team with 44 stops. Veteran Quincy Lenton registered 28 tackles on the year.

In 2022, the YSU defense ranked third in the MVFC and 22nd nationally against the run allowing just 120 yards per game. On six occasions, the Guins surrendered less than 103 yards rushing in a game. The Guins defense ranked No. 1 in the MVFC in tackles for loss with 79 while also finishing top five in the MVFC in sacks (29), takeaways (19) and total defense (354 YPG).

The safeties had impressive performances during the year. Lenton tied for the team lead with 51 total tackles. Lenton and newcomer Hooker tied for the team lead in interceptions. YSU's top four safeties, Lenton, Caleb Burr, Jones and Hooker combined for 140 tackles on the campaign.

He served as a defensive coordinator at the Division II level for the previous four seasons before coming to YSU in February 2022.

In Brown's final two campaigns at Lenor-Rhyne he served as their Defensive Coordinator and linebackers coach. He joined the program in December 2019 and coached the Bears during the four-game spring of 2021 and in the fall. In 2021, Lenoir-Rhyne was 8-3 and qualified for the Division II Playoffs.

In 2021, the Bears's defense allowed just 16.3 points per game, 110.7 yards rushing per contest, 317.9 yards per game while limiting opponent to just 27.9 percent on third downs (43-of-154) and 30 percent on fourth-down conversions (5-of-25). In five of 11 games, LR held opponents to seven points or fewer. Defensive Tackle Amari Houston was named the SAC Defensive Player of the Year, while earning D2CCA All-Region accolades.

Brown was the Defensive Coordinator and linebackers coach at Notre Dame (Ohio) in 2018 and 2019. He helped the Falcons to two of the most successful seasons in the nation. In 2018, NDC made a run to the NCAA Semifinals and claimed a Region 1 Championship and appeared in the NCAA Quarterfinals the following season. 

In 2019, Brown's defense held opponents to just 2.6 yards per carry and had 23 takeaways. Under Brown's guidance, defensive linemen Sha'haun Williams was a back-to-back All-American and finished 2019 with 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Junior LB Guam Lee was an All-Region performer, finishing with 110 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. Teamed with LB Nathan Moore, the duo became the first set of teammates in program history to each top 100 tackles in the same season. In a first round playoff win against West Chester, Brown's unit stuffed the Golden Rams at the one-yard line on two consecutive plays to come away with the victory. Brown coached Bryce Sheppert to MEC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and seven defensive players were selected to the All-Conference squad. 

The 2018 season was the most successful in Notre Dame history, and Brown's defense was a big part of the team's run to the NCAA DII Semifinals. In his first season as NDC's Defensive Coordinator, his team ranked first in the country in red-zone defense (.513) and fumble recoveries (20). The unit also ranked third in turnovers gained (34), third in sacks (50), fifth in rushing defense (82.9 yards allowed per game), and 15th in third-down defense (.296). 

Brown was named the College Assistant Coach of the Year by the North East Ohio chapter of the National Football Foundation. 

Brown's players also saw a great deal of individual success as Williams led the NCAA DII in sacks (20.0) while Jeffrey Thomas led the country in broken-up passes (27) in 2018; both of those marks also rank in the top three in NCAA DII Single-Season history. 

Before going to NDC, Brown spent two seasons as the defensive backs coach at Saginaw Valley State University. 

Prior to coaching at Saginaw Valley State, Brown was a Defensive Graduate Assistant at Bowling Green. While with the Falcons, Brown coached in the 2012 Northrup and Gruman Military Bowl, the 2013 Little Cesars Pizza Bowl and was part of the coaching staff that led the Falcons to a 2013 Mid-American Conference Championship. 

Brown played four years at Bowling Green. He was a four year starter for the Falcons as a safety, playing in 48 consecutive games from 2006-09. He was a team captain his senior year, where he was named the team's most valuable defensive back, and was selected to participate in the Detroit Lions Rookie Mini-camp. 

In high school, Brown was a two-time All-State selection at Benedictine, and was a member of two state championship teams.

He and his wife Janelle have two children, Ayanna and Amara.