BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lees-McRae College Director of Athletics & Club Sports Marty Favret has announced Mike Brown as the Head Flag Football Coach for the Bobcat program. Brown comes to Banner Elk from Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Florida.
"We have hit a home run with the hiring of Mike Brown," said Favret. "He's the right person to blaze the trail for the Women's Flag Football program at Lees-McRae. His passion and experience really stood out amongst the other candidates we interviewed."
Conference Carolinas is the first NCAA Division I or II conference to sponsor women's flag football, and second NCAA conference, joining Division III's Atlantic East.
Women's flag football is expected to be considered by the NCAA as an emerging sport in the next year.
The average roster size is around 25 players that will play 7-on-7. A contest will consist of four 12-minute quarters on a field that is 80x40 yards. The offense has four downs to cross each 20-yard line for a first down with an option to punt at third down. If unsuccessful, teams surrender possession to their opponent.
Brown's coaching experience spans 14 years, with the last four years spent in Flag Football. He has been involved with high school 7v7 and 5v5 flag football with USA Football and NFL Flag football with the Duval Divas and Prime GP 14 and 17uG teams.
"My family and I are thrilled to become part of the Banner Elk community and the Lees-McRae family," said Brown. "From the moment I arrived, I felt an overwhelming sense of belonging that has reinforced our belief that this place will truly be home for us."
As a high school flag football coach, Brown has achieved a record of 36-22 with a .611 win percentage since taking over the Mandarin Mustangs in 2021. He has led the Mustangs to playoff competition each season after transforming a 5-11 team into a competitive force.
In addition to his record, Brown was named the Jacksonville Jaguars Prep Coach of the Week for rivalry victories over St. Augustine in 2023 and Atlantic Coast in 2024.
In 2022, Brown was selected to represent Northeast Florida and the Panhandle on the FHSAA Flag Football Advisory Committee Board. He was selected to coach the North Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) game in 2024.
Brown was one of 18 national coaches selected for the USA Select Bowl in Los Angeles, a key platform for evaluating and developing talent for the US Junior and National Teams. Brown's responsibilities included designing training schedules, conducting performance evaluations, and making strategic roster decisions during training camps.
In July 2024, Brown coached the Boys 14U Select Bowl South team to a Silver Medal and was invited back for 2025. Brown has earned bids to compete in the NFL Flag Championships at the NFL Pro Bowl and NFL Flag Championships with the Duval Divas and Prime GP 14 and 17uG teams over the last three years. His teams have achieved a .716 winning percentage over 127 games, participating in various national tournaments from 2021-2024.
Brown founded the Girl Power 7v7 Flag Football League where he successfully drove engagement and competition within the Jacksonville community. He also founded the Queen Bee Sport Academy in January 2022 and developed a specialized training program for female athletes. He successfully mentored over 500 participants through combines, QB Challenges, and camps.
Before moving to flag football coaching, Brown served as the Varsity Offensive Line and QB Coach at Mandarin from 2020-2021. He served as a collegiate trainer at QB Impact from 2017 to 2020 and the Varsity QB/Passing Game Coordinator at Prescott High School from 2015 to 2019.
Brown is a Navy Veteran and served as a Naval Air Crewman at NAS Jacksonville from 2002-2011.
Brown lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife, Brandi, and children, Michael, Grace, and Avaya. His sister, Stephanie, and niece and nephews, Makinzie and James reside with them also
"As we prepare for the exciting season ahead, I am eager to begin #BuildingTheDen in 2025," said Brown. "Together we will create an identity that embodies Bobcat pride and a commitment to being INEXPRO!"
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
