Per GoBearcats:
University of Cincinnati football assistant coaches Mike Brown, Colin Hitschler and Darren Paige were named “rising-star assistants you need to know” by On3 earlier this month.
The trio is among the 65-person list by the national college sports web site. The complete list can be viewed HERE.
Cincinnati and Ole Miss were the only two programs with three assistants on the list.
Brown joined the Bearcats as wide receivers coach in 2019 and added passing game coordinator duties this offseason. Brown’s impact was a major part of UC’s record-breaking offense in 2021. UC set school records for points (516) and touchdowns (70), while senior wide receiver Alec Pierce garnered second-team all-conference honors before being drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Brown was a two-time All-America selection at Liberty as a wide receiver and quarterback and played three years in the NFL before starting a coaching career.
Hitschler enters his first season as the co-defensive coordinator at Cincinnati in 2022 and his fifth season overall with the program. He started at UC in 2018 and became the safeties coach in 2020. As UC’s safeties coach, he led the development of three NFL draft picks at the position over the last two years, including Bryan Cook, who was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round in 2022. Hitschler has helped guide one of the nation’s top pass defenses during his time in Clifton. In 2021, the Bearcats finished No. 1 in the nation in pass efficiency defense (103.37) and No. 2 in passing yards allowed (169.2). UC also ranked No. 5 in the nation in scoring defense (16.5) and No. 10 in total defense (318.4).
Paige enters his second season as Cincinnati’s running backs coach after he helped Jerome Ford to one of the greatest rushing seasons in school history in 2021. Ford rushed for 1,319 yards and a school-record-tying 19 touchdowns last fall. Ford collected AAC Championship Game MVP honors after rushing for 187 yards and two scores against Houston. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Paige’s rushing attack averaged 5.2 yards per carry, which ranked second in the American and No. 18 in the nation.
