The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football’s Colin Simmons, former head coach Mack Brown honored at Maxwell Awards
03.14.2025 | Football
Simmons was named the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year while Brown was the recipient of the Francis “Reds” Bagnell Award.
ATLANTA – Texas Football's Colin Simmons and former head coach Mack Brown were honored at the 88th Maxwell Awards on Friday at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Simmons was named the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year on Dec. 26 while Brown is the Maxwell Football Club's Francis "Reds" Bagnell Award for Contributions to Football recipient, which was announced on Dec. 18.
Simmons became the first Longhorn to garner the Alexander Award in its seven-year history. A Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-American, Simmons was also selected to the All-SEC Freshman Team in December.
The Dallas native had a breakout year in his first season on the Forty Acres, emerging as a standout on an elite Texas defense. Simmons appeared in all 16 games this season, leading the team with 9.0 sacks for a loss of 64 yards and ranking second on the squad in tackles for loss (14.0-73), quarterback hurries (nine) and forced fumbles (three). Simmons also compiled 48 total tackles (31 solo), an interception and two pass break-ups. Simmons led all FBS freshmen in total sacks, while his nine sacks are the third-most by a freshman in program single-season history. During the postseason, Simmons carded 15 quarterback pressures, the third-most among all FBS defenders.
With Simmons' help, the UT defense ranked No. 1 in the FBS in passes intercepted with 22. Texas also ranked second nationally in turnovers gained (30) and team passing efficiency defense (104.56), third in total defense (283.4 ypg) and red zone defense (0.692), fourth in scoring defense (15.3 ppg), seventh in passing yards allowed (173.8 ypg), ninth in third-down conversion percentage defense (0.314), 13th in rushing defense (109.6 ypg), 15th in team sacks (2.88) and 22nd in team tackles for loss (7.0). UT shut out opponents in the first half in three of the last four games to cap the regular season – all conference opponents. The Horns finished the regular season giving up just four passing touchdowns – which tied with Ohio State for the fewest in the FBS.
A 47-year veteran of collegiate coaching, Brown served as a head coach for 36 seasons with stops at Texas (1998-2013), North Carolina (1988-97, 2019-24), Tulane (1985-87), and Appalachian State (1983). Over his 36 seasons, Brown posted a record of 288-155-1 (.650). Those 288 career victories rank seventh on the FBS all-time list. The 2005 Paul W. "Bear" Bryant National Coach of the Year and the 2008 Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year, Brown is one of a handful of coaches in college football history to lead two separate programs to top-five national finishes, and he's the only coach to win 100 games at two FBS schools.
At the completion of his Texas tenure in 2013, Brown was one of just four active coaches to reach the 200-victory plateau and had guided the Longhorns to the 2005 National Championship. He was also one of only two coaches nationally to lead his teams to 21 bowls in 22 seasons, and the only one to have 23 winning seasons in the previous 24 years. His 225 wins from 1990 to 2013, which combined the last eight years of his first stint at UNC and his entire Texas tenure, were the most of any coach in the country.
Brown was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in December of 2018, and is also a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Longhorn Hall of Honor, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame and the Holiday Bowl Hall of Fame. He joins an elite fraternity of coaches including Bobby Bowden, Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, Darrell Royal, Vince Dooley, Joe Paterno and William Manlove who have won the Bagnell Award.
One of the most respected coaches in the game, Brown has served on numerous national committees, including president of the American Football Coaches Association. He has also served on the AFCA Ethics Committee and the AFCA Public Relations Committee. Brown has been a member of the NCAA Football Rules Committee and the NCAA Football Issues Committee. He has been chairman of the Football Coaches' Committee and a member of the Board of Directors of the College Football Association. Brown has been invited to coach in five postseason all-star games, including the Japan Bowl, Hula Bowl (twice) and East-West Shrine Game (twice). In March 2013, Brown was named the 2013 recipient of the Neyland Trophy, awarded annually by the Knoxville Quarterback Club for contributions to collegiate athletics.
"When you think about impactful leadership on the football field, Mack Brown would have to be right at the top of that list," said Maxwell Football Club Executive Director Mark Wolpert. "His resume is dotted with impressive stops as a head coach over a career spanning almost five decades. Coach Brown has set a standard that few others in the profession can match and his contributions have helped shape the game that we all love."
