The firing of the UMass Football coach was one of the steps taken by the school’s athletic department in recent week to respond to a losing season.
Coach Dan Brown, who had been the Head Coach of the UMass Football program since 2021, was let go of on Nov. 20 after concerns arose over his ability to lead the team.
Brown amassed a 6–28 record at the FBS Independent program over the course of his nearly four-year tenure at UMass, including a 2–8 record this season. The team’s losses this season included a 45-20 defeat at the hands of Mississippi State on Nov. 2, as well as an earlier 45-3 loss to the University of Missouri on Oct. 12.
Soon after firing Coach Brown, the school began a search to fill the position. On Wednesday, December 4, the UMass Athletic Department announced that Joe Harasymiak, the defensive coordinator at Rutgers University, had been chosen to replace Brown.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joe, his wife, Brittany, and daughters, Sophie and Ellie, to the Massachusetts Athletics family,” Ryan Bamford, Umass Athletic Director, announced in a ceremony on Wednesday.
During the event, Bamford also emphasized Harasymiak’s connections to local football, which he believes will help him in his new role.
“With extensive ties to football in the northeast, which began in our back yard where he excelled at Springfield College, he is the perfect fit to lead us into a new era,” Bamford said. “A successful leader, recruiter and tactician, his feats have included a conference championship at Maine, and most recently helping Rutgers to back-to-back bowl seasons.”
Harasymiak was vocal about building a strong team culture from the outset of his tenure, which he believes is a crucial part of being successful.
“Our identity will be how we build a staff first and ultimately put our roster together,” Harasymiak said. “Belief, ownership, and sacrifice—that’ll be our identity. How we’re going to play is going to build off that.”
Harasymiak also recognized the importance of hiring a strong network of coaching staff, which he plans to do in his first weeks on the job.
“First and foremost, we gotta learn how to play the game together—and that starts with me,” he said. “We have to be complementary. We’re going to hire people that want to win together, that’s the most important thing.”
Since Harasymiak was hired, he has made several hires, including Tre Bell, who is UMass’ next defensive backs coach, replacing Michael Livingston. Bell was brought on to West Virginia’s staff as a defensive analyst back in February after two years coaching DBs at Akron.
Jade Morris, Williston Athletic Director who previously served as an Associate Athletic Director at Boston College, told The Willistonian that changes in coaching staff during a season can be difficult for teams, but there are ways of making these transitions easier.
“Mid-season coaching changes are not decisions made lightly by administrators, as they can significantly impact team dynamics and morale,” Morris said. “A smooth transition often depends on clear communication, stable interim leadership, and a focus on maintaining team cohesion during the shift.”
Morris also recognized that a coach’s responsibilities extend beyond their job on the field, and that a coach must also be able to serve as a public figure, something Harasymiak will have to be able to do.
“A college coach serves as both a team leader and a public figure, representing the school’s values,” Morris explained. “They are responsible for fostering a positive team culture, engaging with fans and alumni, and maintaining professionalism in public and media interactions.”
Another difficulty the UMass Football program could face, Morris says, is getting past a difficult period in order to rebuild for the coming season.
“Recovering from a tough season starts with building resilience among players and staff,” Morris told The Willistonian.”
This can be achieved in the time when the team is not competing, during which Harasymiak and other coaches and athletic administrators will be able to develop a plan for the coming season.
“The offseason plays a key role, providing time to reset, work on individual and team development, and implement strategies for the upcoming season,” Morris said. “Setting new goals, celebrating small successes, and fostering a positive team culture can help the group move forward and rebuild confidence.”
In a speech after being officially hired, Harasymiak observed that when an entire team is unified behind a common goal, “winning is the result.” It’s going to be about the process,” he said. “There’s people that put their head down and they work and that’s what we’re going to need to do.”
