Elton Brown joins the Norfolk State coaching staff ahead of the 2025 season as the Spartans’ offensive line coach, bringing a wealth of coaching and playing experience at a high level.
Brown comes to NSU from the Apprentice School, where he spent seven years including four seasons as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. Under his leadership, the Builders’ enjoyed historic success on the offensive side of the ball.
Apprentice School’s offense consistently ranked in the top tier of its conference in most offensive categories during Brown’s time at the institution. During the 2022 season, the Builders’ averaged a school-record 37.8 points per game.
Apprentice School went 9-1 during that 2022 campaign, defeating Bridgewater 38-28 to win the Neptune Bowl. Builder’s quarterback Mason Tatum set the school’s single-season passing record in the process, throwing for 2,114 yards and 18 touchdowns to earn Peninsula Sports Club Athlete of the Year honors.
Brown elevated the program’s retention rate from 26 percent to 87 percent in his first year, as the team achieved record-breaking academic benchmarks as well. The Builders logged year-long grade point averages (GPAs) of 3.66 (2019), 3.55 (2020), 3.67 (2021), 3.62 (2022), and 3.56 (2023).
Brown began his coaching career locally at the high school level, serving as the offensive line coach for Phoebus High School from 2013-14 and Assistant Head Coach at Warwick High School from 2015-16. While at Warwick, Brown navigated a winless team to four victories in his first season.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Brown spent four years with the organization. Starting games both at right guard and right tackle, he played in Super Bowl XLIII against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
One of the greatest offensive linemen in the University of Virginia’s program history, Brown earned consensus All-America honors while landing on the All-ACC First Team. He received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 2003 and 2004 as the conference’s top blocker.
An active member in the community, Brown started the 1st & G.O.A.L. (Giving Opportunities at Life) Foundation in 2005 to bring awareness to the importance of education, mentorship, community outreach, and fitness. The organization has organized Thanksgiving and Christmas Day feedings, toy and coat drives, back to school events, speaking engagements, and more.
Brown also co-founded Shutdown 757, a youth organization aimed at empowering youth to reach their full potential through the core values of integrity, honor, and respect.
Brown earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Virginia and received his master’s degree in business administration and a second master’s degree in criminal justice from Saint Leo University.
