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Brent Brennan

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Brent Brennan
Brennan in 2024
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamArizona
ConferenceBig 12
Record3–5
Annual salary$2,200,000[1]
Biographical details
Born (1973-03-20) March 20, 1973 (age 51)
Redwood City, California, U.S.
Playing career
1993–1994UCLA
Position(s)Wide receiver
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1996Woodside HS (CA) (assistant)
1998Hawaii (GA/WR)
1999Washington (GA/TE)
2000Arizona (GA)
2001–2004Cal Poly (WR/RC)
2005–2006San Jose State (WR/RC)
2007–2008San Jose State (TE/RC)
2009San Jose State (co-OC/OL/TE/ST)
2010San Jose State (WR)
2011–2016Oregon State (WR/OWR)
2017–2023San Jose State
2024–presentArizona
Head coaching record
Overall37–53
Bowls0–3
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards
Mountain West Coach of the Year (2020)

Brent Munger Brennan (born March 20, 1973) is an American college football coach who is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Brennan was the head football coach at San Jose State University from 2017 to 2023.

Prior to his head coaching positions, Brennan served as an assistant coach at Oregon State University, San Jose State University, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, the University of Arizona, University of Washington and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Early life and education

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Brennan was born and raised in Redwood City, California, and attended Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, graduating in 1991.[2][3][4] Brennan later went to UCLA. He lettered in football in 1993 (jersey number 14) and 1994 (jersey number 86) as a wide receiver and graduated in 1996.[2][5]

Coaching career

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Assistant coaching

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Brennan began his coaching career at Woodside High School in Woodside, California, as an assistant in 1996. After two seasons at Woodside, Brennan enrolled in graduate school at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and served as a graduate assistant on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team in 1998.[6] Brennan also had stints as a graduate assistant at Washington under Rick Neuheisel in 1999 and Arizona in 2000 under Dick Tomey.[2]

From 2001 to 2004, Brennan was wide receivers coach at Cal Poly under Rich Ellerson.[2] Brennan also became recruiting coordinator in 2004.[6] Cal Poly moved from independence to the Great West Football Conference in 2004 and won the conference championship in its inaugural season there.

Reuniting with Tomey, Brennan became an assistant coach at San Jose State in 2005 and would coach in various capacities for six seasons, encompassing Tomey's entire tenure and Mike MacIntyre's first season. Also a recruiting coordinator, Brennan coached wide receivers in 2005 and 2006, during which he coached future NFL draft picks James Jones and John Broussard and helped San Jose State win its first bowl since 1990 in the 2006 New Mexico Bowl.[2] Brennan coached tight ends while still being recruiting coordinator in the 2007 and 2008 seasons. In 2009, Brennan became co-offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator, while coaching offensive tackles and tight ends as well. When MacIntyre became head coach in 2010, Brennan only coached wide receivers.[2]

From 2011 to 2016, Brennan coached wide receivers at Oregon State, more specifically outside receivers in his final season.[7] Among the players that Brennan coached at Oregon State were the school's all-time leading receiver James Rodgers, and All-American receivers Brandin Cooks and Markus Wheaton;[8] Cooks also won the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2013.[9]

San Jose State

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Brennan was hired as San Jose State's head coach on December 7, 2016.[10] His first two seasons ended with a combined 3–22 record, including a 1–11 season in 2018 that tied the 2010 team for the fewest in program history. Despite the poor record, five of the 2018 team's losses were by fewer than nine points, with three being determined by a field goal.[11]

In 2019, the Spartans began 2–1, and a victory over Arkansas marked the team's first win against a Southeastern Conference opponent.[12] San Jose State also defeated Army, becoming the 20th program all time to beat all three FBS United States service academies (Army, Air Force, and Navy), and rival Fresno State in a comeback.[13] The Spartans finished 5–7, falling one win short of bowl eligibility.[12] Brennan received a three-year contract extension at the end of the season.[13]

The 2020 Spartans went 6–0 in the regular season despite having two games canceled and their final two home games relocated due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the pandemic had also forced the team to conduct preseason practices at Humboldt State University due to Santa Clara County restrictions.[14] San Jose State's undefeated record qualified them for the Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game, where they defeated Boise State for the first time 34–20; it was the Spartans' first undisputed conference championship since 1990 and their first 7–0 record since 1939.[15] Brennan was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year for his team's successes, which included being ranked in the AP Poll for the first time since 2012 and a debut appearance in the College Football Playoff rankings,[16][17] and also finished fifth in the Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award voting with three first-place votes.[18] He signed a contract extension on December 23.[19]

San Jose State regressed to 5–7 during an injury-marred 2021 season.[20] Over the next two years, the team recorded back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since 1986 and 1987, including rebounding from a 1–5 start to 2023.[21] The 2023 regular season saw the Spartans defeat 25th-ranked Fresno State for their first win over a ranked opponent since 2013, before missing the Mountain West Championship Game via tiebreaker.[22][21]

Brennan finished his career at San Jose State with an overall record of 34–48, with three bowl appearances and one conference title game appearance. He was the first head coach in program history to qualify for three bowl games.[23]

Arizona

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On January 16, 2024, Brennan was hired as the head coach at Arizona,[24] signing a five-year contract worth $17.5 million.[1]

Personal life

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Brennan's father Steve played for San Jose State in 1967 while his mother Beth was a cheerleader at the university.[25] He is a first cousin of former Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan.[26]

Brennan has been married since 2000; they have three children.[27]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
San Jose State Spartans (Mountain West Conference) (2017–2023)
2017 San Jose State 2–11 1–7 T–5th (West)
2018 San Jose State 1–11 1–7 6th (West)
2019 San Jose State 5–7 2–6 T–4th (West)
2020 San Jose State 7–1 7–0 1st L Arizona 24 24
2021 San Jose State 5–7 3–5 5th (West)
2022 San Jose State 7–5 5–3 T–2nd (West) L Famous Idaho Potato
2023 San Jose State 7–6 6–2 T–1st L Hawaii
San Jose State: 34–48 25–30
Arizona Wildcats (Big 12 Conference) (2024–present)
2024 Arizona 3–6 1–5
Arizona: 3–6 1–5
Total: 37–54
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ a b "University releases details of Coach Brent Brennan's contract". KOLD.com. January 17, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Brent Brennan". San Jose State Athletics. 2010. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  3. ^ Mazeika, Vytas (December 9, 2016). "Life comes full circle for San Jose State football coach Brent Brennan". The Mercury News. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  4. ^ "Brent Brennan". San Jose State Athletics. 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  5. ^ UCLA football lettermen
  6. ^ a b "Brent Brennan". Cal Poly Mustangs. Archived from the original on October 31, 2004. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  7. ^ "Brent Brennan". Oregon State Athletics. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  8. ^ Scheer, Jason (December 20, 2020). "Coaching Profile: Brent Brennan". 247Sports.com. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  9. ^ Dalgleish, McKenzie. "San Jose State names Oregon State's Brent Brennan as HC". theScore. Score Media and Gaming Inc. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  10. ^ "Brent Brennan named San Jose State University head football coach". San Jose State Athletics. December 7, 2016. Archived from the original on December 10, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  11. ^ Pashelka, Curtis (November 10, 2020). "Trust the process: How San Jose State's Brent Brennan is turning doubters into believers". The Mercury News. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  12. ^ a b Peterson, C. J. (December 13, 2019). "San Jose State football coach: "I want to be here the next 15 years"". The Mercury News. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Spartans Sign Brennan to Contract Extension". San Jose State Spartans. December 13, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  14. ^ Kroner, Steve (December 12, 2020). "'Let's win 'em all': Unbeaten San Jose State earns spot in Mountain West title game". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  15. ^ Kroner, Steve (December 19, 2020). "Unbeaten San Jose State dusts Boise State in Mountain West title game". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  16. ^ "Hall, Brennan Take Top Mountain West Football Honors". San Jose State University Athletics. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  17. ^ Sabedra, Darren (December 15, 2020). "Brent Brennan named Mountain West coach of the year as San Jose State moves into CFP Top 25". Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  18. ^ Russo, Ralph D. (December 30, 2020). "Coastal Carolina's Jamey Chadwell is AP coach of the year". Associated Press. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  19. ^ "Brent Brennan & SJSU Agree To Contract Extension". San Jose State Spartans. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  20. ^ Mazeika, Vytas (November 25, 2021). "San Jose State football season ends with a dud". The Mercury News. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Kelly, Danny (December 16, 2023). "Coastal Carolina preparing to battle San Jose State in EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl". The Post and Courier. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  22. ^ "Spartans rout No. 25 Fresno State, 42–18". San Jose State Spartans. November 11, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  23. ^ Marshall, John (January 17, 2024). "Arizona's Brent Brennan thrilled to have the job he missed out on 3 years ago". Associated Press. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  24. ^ Reynoldson, Matt (January 17, 2024). "Arizona hires San Jose State's Brent Brennan as head football coach". KVOA. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  25. ^ Kroner, Steve (December 8, 2016). "Brent Brennan's San Jose State roots run deep". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  26. ^ Bumbaca, Chris (May 11, 2021). "Former University of Hawaii QB, Heisman candidate Colt Brennan dead at 37". USA Today. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  27. ^ Lefkow, Mike (December 8, 2016). "San Jose State hires Oregon State assistant Brent Brennan as football coach". The Mercury News. Bay Area News Group. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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