Denver Tabs Longtime Assistant Matt Brown as Tierney's Successor

Denver didn’t look far for its successor to Bill Tierney.

The Pioneers named Matt Brown as head coach, effective the end of this season, promoting their offensive architect and ensuring continuity in Division I’s most successful western outpost.

Brown will be introduced at a press conference Thursday afternoon in Denver.

“This day is a dream come true,” Brown said in a statement. “I’m so thankful for this opportunity to lead a program that has meant the world to my life and my family’s life. I would first like to thank Bill Tierney and his son Trevor Tierney for having faith in me to add to their staff in 2009. My time with Coach T has no doubt made me a better coach to prepare me for this position, but it has equally made me a better man.”

It is Brown’s first collegiate head coaching position. He will also be one of two head coaches of the Canadian national team in this summer’s World Lacrosse Men’s Championship in San Diego.

Tierney, who took over at Denver before the 2010 season, is retiring after 14 seasons at the school. He led the Pioneers to five NCAA semifinal appearances and the 2015 national title. Brown was a vital part of the Pioneers’ success, as both a recruiting force and the mastermind of an offense steeped in box lacrosse principles that quickly caused fits for opponents.

A Denver grad and a four-year starter on attack, Brown initially joined the Pioneers’ coaching staff as a volunteer assistant in 2007 under Jamie Munro. When Tierney agreed to depart Princeton (where he won six national titles) for Denver in June 2009, his son Trevor urged him not only to move west, but also to elevate Brown to a full-time role.

“Trevor said, ‘We have to hire Matt to be our offensive coordinator, because between the two of us, we don’t know anything about offensive lacrosse,’” Tierney recalled earlier this month during a Bill Tierney Day banquet in Denver.

Brown did, and he helped harness the skills of Mark Matthews, Connor Cannizzaro, Wesley Berg, Ethan Walker and others to turn Denver into a postseason regular.

Now, he’ll be tasked with building on that success.

Tierney made no secret when he announced his retirement in January that he hoped Brown would succeed him. Tierney said in a statement Wednesday that Brown has created a brand of offensive lacrosse that combines the skills of the Canadian box game and modern field lacrosse tactics that have been emulated by much of the college game.

“He has led our offense from day one and without his ability to teach, mentor and motivate our players, there wouldn’t be 10 conference championships, five final fours or an NCAA championship,” Tierney said in the statement.

The announcement comes just two days before Denver (7-4) meets Providence in what is likely to be its final home game under Tierney. The Pioneers close the regular season April 28 at Marquette before potentially returning to Milwaukee for the May 4-6 Big East tournament. Denver remains in contention for an at-large NCAA tournament berth and could land a first-round home game with a strong finish.