Fran Brown Jr.’s First Year at Whitman Is a Testament to His Parents’ Commitment to Excellence On and Off the Football Field

When Fran Brown Jr. ’28, known as Frannie, decided to transfer to Syracuse University to attend the Whitman School, he knew his mother, Teara, and father, Fran Brown, head coach of the Syracuse University football team, would have great expectations for him not only on the field, but, more importantly, in the classroom.

“My parents say getting a C is not acceptable. They want A’s and B’s,’” says Brown, who is majoring in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises as well as maybe looking at finance.

Fran Brown Jr. during a game vs. Uconn in September 2025.

“My mom tells me to push past my limits, and that if you think you can do something, you can probably do even more. I’m trusting God, and he has a plan for my life. I have a responsibility to be a role model to my younger brother and sister. As long as I follow that, I will have success and set a good example.”

This is  Brown’s second semester at the Whitman School, having transferred in January 2025, which gave him some time to make friends outside of football and get to know his classmates, professors and the opportunities at his new school. While he’s had to balance sports and school most of his life, coming the Whitman School to earn a degree while playing football is a challenge. A long snapper and fullback, Brown is listed as a redshirt sophomore on this year’s roster.

But he knows the sacrifice will be worth it.

“I came here because I know it’s going to give me the most opportunities. I’d like to play in the NFL and also coach like my dad one day, but you never know what 40-year-old me might want to do—maybe start a business or something like that,” he says. “Watching my dad build his own dynasty motivates me, and as I get older, I know I’ll have a good blueprint to follow.”

Fran Brown Jr., Ivy Ann Brown, Teara Brown, Fran Brown Sr.and Brayden Brown.

Fran and Teara Brown have always emphasized the importance of education. “From when I was a young girl, I wanted to be a nurse and knew I had to be educated,” says Teara, who earned a bachelor’s degree as a registered nurse as well as a master’s degree to become a nurse, anesthetist.

“From the moment we had Frannie, he was ‘our why and our reason,’ and he motivated us. Everything we do is about our kids and their future, not about us,” she adds. “Yes, we are a football family, but we are also a family that values spending time together and focusing on education and a successful future.”

“I want my kids to be happy in whatever they want to be, so they can make a good living,” says Coach Brown, noting that both he and his wife were the first in their respective families to earn college degrees.

“My own experience growing up deeply impacted me in making sure I got a degree. Teara set the bar pretty high through our relationship, which began when we were just 16 years old.

“And it’s true that we don’t accept C’s from our children because we’ve taught them that it’s important that you overachieve and maximize. My kids have so much potential, and I don’t want to see them fall short of that. I expect them to all get master’s degrees. Teara and I broke the cycle, and I don’t intend for my children to go backwards. I want them to super exceed.”

The Browns’ other children know the drill, too. Brayden, a seventh-grader at nearby Christian Brothers Academy, plays football and basketball but also knows that he is expected to earn those A’s and Bs. And, Ivy Ann, who is only 4, is already showing signs of being the next CEO in the family.

Both parents are extremely proud of all three children and happy that Frannie has the opportunity to both play football for his father and pursue a business education.

“I’m very excited for him to be here,” says Teara. “It will be good for his life, and he’ll be able to have a career that provides for his own family one day. The Whitman School f its him well.” “I’m very excited for him.

Adds Coach Brown, “It’s meaningful to me to be able to coach my son, but also having degrees in finance and entrepreneurship from the Whitman School, well, Frannie doesn’t know yet just how it’s going to open so many doors for him. I’m happy and thankful that the Whitman School accepted him. He’s going to succeed, my other two children are going to succeed, and we all, as a family, are going to continue to climb.”