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BROWN TO COACH PACKERS' RUNNING BACKS, SHERMAN TO HANDLE RECEIVERS
posted 02/04/00
 | | Ray Sherman |
 | | Kippy Brown |
Kippy Brown and Ray Sherman, both of whom served as offensive coordinator for NFL teams last season, have been named to coach running backs and wide receivers, respectively, for the Green Bay Packers, Head Coach Mike Sherman (no relation) announced today. The two become the fifth and sixth members of the new Green Bay coaching staff.
"I am very excited to announce that Kippy Brown will be our running backs coach here at the Green Bay Packers," said Mike Sherman. "He brings with him a wealth of expertise coaching that position, but also, because of his experience in the league as a coordinator, will be able to offer solid ideas into the offensive scheme as well.
"Ray Sherman is a 13-year, seasoned veteran and he will be our receivers coach. I am enthused about his experience with the NFC Central division, both as a coordinator and as a position coach. He is a very detail-oriented man who has the ability to communicate well with his players."
Brown, 44, served as offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins each of the past two seasons and is a 21-year coaching veteran. He has been an NFL assistant for eight seasons, including the last four with Miami. After coaching the Dolphins' running backs for two years (1996-97), he was promoted to offensive coordinator on February 11, 1998, by then-head coach Jimmy Johnson. Miami advanced to the second round of the playoffs in each of his two seasons heading up the offense.
As running backs coach for the Dolphins, Brown was instrumental in the development of Karim Abdul-Jabbar. Abdul-Jabbar ran for a club rookie record 1,116 yards in 1996 to become Miami's first 1,000-yard rusher since 1978. The following season, he tied for the NFL lead with a franchise-record 15 rushing touchdowns.
Earlier, Brown had gotten his start in the NFL in 1990, coaching the New York Jets' running backs. During Brown's three-year stint in New York, the Jets ranked fifth in the league in rushing in 1991 as Brad Baxter led all AFC runners in touchdowns.
Brown later was the running backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for one season (1995) before joining the Dolphins.
"Kippy has a reputation as an excellent teacher and motivator," continued the Packers' head coach. "He and his wife, Deon, are quality people who will fit into the Green Bay community well."
A strong-armed quarterback at Memphis State from 1975-77, Brown got his coaching start at his alma mater in 1978, tutoring the Tigers' running backs. He subsequently coached the school's wide receivers for two years.
Following a season at the University of Louisville (1982), where his pupils included future Dolphins wideout Mark Clayton, Brown moved to the University of Tennessee for the first of two highly-successful stints coaching the Volunteers' receivers. From 1983-89, future NFL pass catchers Anthony Miller, Tim McGee, Alvin Harper and Carl Pickens were schooled by Brown at Tennessee. He later returned to Knoxville for two seasons (1993-94) as assistant head coach/wide receivers coach between his stops with the Jets and Bucs.
Married with two grown children, Jerome and Jennifer, Brown was born March 6, 1955, in Sweetwater, Tenn.
COACHING BACKGROUND:
| Year | College/Pro Team | Position Coached |
| 1978 | Memphis State | Running Backs |
| 1979-80 | Memphis State | Wide Receivers |
| 1982 | Univ. of Louisville | Wide Receivers |
| 1983-89 | Univ. of Tennessee | Wide Receivers |
| 1990-92 | New York Jets | Running Backs |
| 1993-94 | Univ. of Tennessee | Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers |
| 1995 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Running Backs |
| 1996-97 | Miami Dolphins | Running Backs |
| 1998-99 | Miami Dolphins | Offensive Coordinator |
| 2000 | Green Bay Packers | Running Backs |
Ray Sherman, 48, has been an NFL coach since 1988 and has served as offensive coordinator for three league teams. During his 12 seasons in the pros, he has coached wide receivers, quarterbacks and running backs, in addition to serving as a coordinator. Most recently, he spent four years with the Minnesota Vikings, coaching their quarterbacks from 1995-97 and serving as offensive coordinator last season.
The Vikings had the league's third-ranked offense in 1999 under Sherman's direction, including the No. 5 passing attack. In addition, Minnesota placed four of its offensive starters on the NFC Pro Bowl squad; among the four were both of the Vikings' starting wide receivers - Randy Moss and Cris Carter - the position with which he will be working in Green Bay.
During his 12 NFL seasons, Sherman has been a part of offenses which have finished among the league's top 10 in points eight times and in total yardage on eight occasions.
In 1998, Sherman had coordinated the Pittsburgh offensive attack, when the Steelers' rushing game was No. 7 in the league.
As coach of the Minnesota quarterbacks, he guided Warren Moon to a personal high 33 touchdown passes in 1995, then, with Moon injured for much of the '96 campaign, assisted in the development of inexperienced Brad Johnson, now a Pro Bowl signal caller for the Washington Redskins. Johnson was the NFL's third-ranking passer in 1996 with an 89.4 rating.
Sherman had gotten his NFL start in 1988 with the then-Houston Oilers, tutoring the running backs for one year before becoming as the team's wide receivers coach the next season. He then worked alongside new Green Bay offensive coordinator Tom Rossley as a member of the Atlanta coaching staff in 1990, serving as assistant head coach-offense for the Falcons, whose offense jumped to 10th in the league after placing 24th the previous year.
A three-year stay with the San Francisco 49ers followed. He coached the Niners' backs in 1991, increasing the team's rushing average by nearly 40 yards per game over the previous season, then enjoyed a stint as the receivers coach during the 1992 and '93 campaigns. San Francisco led the NFL in both scoring and total offense each of his two seasons in charge of the wide receivers, and Jerry Rice was named Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press in 1993.
A promotion to offensive coordinator for the Jets took Sherman to New York in 1994.
"I like the fact that throughout his career in the NFL, Ray has maintained a steady course as both a coach and as a person," continued Sherman, the 13th head coach in Packers history. "He and his wife, Yvette, are excited about coming to Green Bay along with their three children."
Nearly a decade-and-a-half of coaching at the major college level had readied Sherman for his foray into the pro ranks. After one season (1974) as a graduate assistant at San Jose State, he coached defensive backs at the University of California - in his hometown of Berkeley - for a year. Stops at Michigan State (1976-77) and Wake Forest (1978-80), where he tutored the tight ends and running backs, respectively, followed before he returned to Cal in 1981 to oversee the Bears' running backs.
Sherman went to Purdue as running backs coach in 1982, his prize pupil being eventual NFL Pro Bowl pick Mel Gray, then moved to the University of Georgia in 1986 as wide receivers coach. The Bulldogs' passing game showed marked improvement, rising from 10th in the Southeastern Conference to second.
Born November 27, 1951, Sherman was a one-time star at Oakland High, and played collegiately at Laney (Calif.) Junior College (1969-70) and Fresno State (1971-72). He later earned his degree in education from San Jose State in 1975.
The Ray Sherman family includes children Ray II, Erica and Alana.
COACHING BACKGROUND:
| Year | College/Pro Team | Position Coached |
| 1974 | San Jose State | Graduate Assistant |
| 1975 | Univ. of California | Defensive Backs |
| 1976-77 | Michigan State | Tight Ends |
| 1978-80 | Wake Forest | Running Backs |
| 1981 | Univ. of California | Running Backs/Slot Backs |
| 1982-85 | Purdue | Running Backs |
| 1986-87 | Univ. of Georgia | Wide Receivers |
| 1988 | Houston Oilers | Running Backs |
| 1989 | Houston Oilers | Wide Receivers |
| 1990 | Atlanta Falcons | Assistant Head Coach-Offense |
| 1991 | San Francisco 49ers | Running Backs |
| 1992-93 | San Francisco 49ers | Wide Receivers |
| 1994 | New York Jets | Offensive Coordinator |
| 1995-97 | Minnesota Vikings | Quarterbacks |
| 1998 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Offensive Coordinator |
| 1999 | Minnesota Vikings | Offensive Coordinator |
| 2000 | Green Bay Packers | Wide Receivers |
Brown and Ray Sherman join offensive coordinator Tom Rossley, defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, strength and conditioning coach Barry Rubin and offensive assistant/quality control Trent Miles on the Packers' coaching staff.
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