'You have to go through the fire': How setbacks powered Halifax coach's path to NFL

Halifax resident Micah Brown was sitting in a team meeting for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently when he looked around at the assembled players and coaches.

The former Saint Mary's University Huskies quarterback-turned-football coach replayed his journey in his mind.

While he is currently experiencing a career high in Tampa, some of his past lows included a bout of homelessness when a playing opportunity in the CFL fell through, as well as an unexpected coaching departure from Saint Mary's that left him wondering how he would provide for his wife and two kids.

"It was a bit of that surreal, pinch-your-skin type of deal, right," said Brown, who is participating in the Buccaneers' training camp and pre-season as one of five coaches selected for a coveted NFL program offering opportunities to diverse candidates.

The Bill Walsh NFL Coaching Diversity Fellowship is a league-wide initiative that has launched the careers of prominent NFL head coaches, including Mike Tomlin and Lovie Smith.

Adding to the moment for Brown is that he was raised in Tampa. As a child, he received glasses and laser eye surgery through a foundation run by the family that owns the Buccaneers.

"This has been a really cool, sweet homecoming experience for me," said Brown.

Once the fellowship wraps up later this month, Brown will return to coaching at the Canadian university level. He's the defensive backs coach and assistant special teams co-ordinator for the football team at Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Que. He'll also teach a course there on coaching theory.

How Brown ended up in Halifax

Brown's path to Halifax was an unusual one. After playing U.S. college football, he tried out for CFL teams in 2009, spending brief stints with the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. When those opportunities ended, he temporarily lived in his truck.

"I was in a new country and didn't know anybody and I was trying to chase this dream … but it was a very obviously tough, difficult, challenging time in my life," Brown said. "I had to find a way to push through and work through that adversity and essentially find my way."

He found his way to Saint Mary's after emailing 26 Canadian universities to sell them on what he could bring to their football programs.

In the 2010-11 season, the Huskies reached the national semifinal with Brown at quarterback. A Saint Mary's bio notes that Brown was a multi-sport athlete, also suiting up for the basketball and track teams.

Brown said he had a great experience at Saint Mary's, noting the city, university and team all welcomed him with open arms. He graduated from the university with a bachelor of arts degree with a double major in psychology and sociology, but also has three other degrees from other institutions.

Playing professionally

After finishing his university eligibility, Brown played professionally in the U.S. and Europe for 11 seasons, including stints in Poland, Germany and Finland.

Although he never initially planned to coach, the opportunity to mentor young athletes drew him to the profession — especially since he grew up without a father, uncle or older brother to guide him.

"I wanted to be that coach for others that I wanted for myself," he said.

Brown's coaching career at the Canadian university level began at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., and then Saint Mary's.

Leaving Saint Mary's

But his time coaching at Saint Mary's came to an end after the 2023-24 season over differences in coaching philosophy, he said.

Brown said in the wake of the departure, he suffered from depression and anxiety, and said therapy helped him recover.

His selection for the Bill Walsh fellowship followed a weeklong coaching academy hosted by the Buccaneers in the spring. More than 3,000 people applied, with 25 chosen to attend during the team's rookie minicamp after an intense process involving four interviews and video submissions.

The five fellowship recipients were selected from that group of 25.

"To be called back, I was like, 'Wow. Like, they obviously see something, right?'" said Brown.

During the fellowship, Brown is working directly with the team's offence. He praised the coaching staff, including wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon, whom he considers a mentor.

"From the moment Micah arrived in Tampa for the National Coaching Academy, his willingness to learn and commitment to his craft was evident to our entire staff, so we were thrilled to welcome him back for training camp," McClendon said in a statement provided by the team.

"His experience from both his playing and coaching career are incredibly valuable to his coaching style, and it's been great having him here as part of our group."

For Brown, growth as a coach comes down to continuous learning and asking critical questions.

"What's the genesis of this? How did this come about? What made you think of this?" Brown said. "Having those critical thinking conversations and just being inquisitive helps you grow tremendously as a coach."

Looking back on the obstacles in his path, Brown said every setback served a purpose.

"If you want pure gold, you have to put it through the crucible ... to enjoy the sweet things in life, you have to have some bitterness," he said. "You have to go through the fire."

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