Anthony Brinson

Tony Brinson is currently the Defensive Coordinator for Nichols College. Brinson comes to Nichols after serving 2 years at FBS level UMASS under legendary coach Don Brown as the Senior Defensive Analyst working with the linebackers.

Before his time in Amherst, Brinson completed a 2nd tour of duty at FCS Wagner College where he served as the Assistant Head Coach and coached the linebackers. That time at Wagner, Brinson produced a 2-time NEC Defensive Player of the Year, a Buck Buchanan Nominee and an FCS All-American. He coached Eagles Linebacker/Rush Titus Leo who played under Brinson in 2018 and in 2021/2022 before he was drafted in the 6th round to the Indianapolis Colts.

Prior to his 2nd stint at Wagner, Brinson served as the Defensive Coordinator at Morehead State University in 2019. At Morehead State, he produced the leading player in the PFL for sacks, TFLs and forced fumbles. His team ranked 29th in FCS for passing yardage allowed and ranked 25th in the country for fumble recoveries. Brinson produced 4 All-Conference PFL Players and 2 All-Academic PFL selections. Brinson helped the Eagles to their best record since 2015.

Before Morehead, Brinson served as the Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator and Special Teams Coordinator during his 1st stint at Wagner College. In 8 years, Brinson produced 14 NFL/CFL players, 34 All-Conference honorees, 2 FCS All-Americans, a pair of 2-time NEC and ECAC Defensive Players of the Year, 2 Buck Buchanan Finalists, 2 Team MVPs and Defensive MVPS, and 2 Senior Bowl recipients.

Brinson developed Vikings linebacker Cam Gill who emerged as the NEC’s All-Time sack leader and won Super Bowl LV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Under Brinson, Gill was one of 3 All-NEC performers, along with linebacker Santoni Graham and defensive lineman Chris Williams, on a 2018 defensive unit that led the NCAA in sacks and ranked in the top 25 nationally in takeaways. Gill was also a 2018 AP 3rd-Team All-American and a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award. Another Brinson protege, is Atkanta Flacon Chris Williams who signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020.

In 2017, Brinson's defense ranked No. 1 in the NEC in both sacks and TFLs, while ranking No. 2 in rushing defense. His 2016 season saw the Seahawks rank in the top 25 nationally in sacks, TFLs, rushing defense, and scoring defense, while ranking 26th in total defense.

Under Brinson’s guidance the 2016 Seahawks produced 3 All-NEC Performers as Defensive End Jordan Baskerville and Safety Tim Hayes earned First Team All-League honors while Linebacker Quinton Hampton earned Second Team All-League honors. Together, the trio helped Wagner rank No. 1 in Red Zone Defense, No. 3 in Total Defense (327.8 yd avg) and Rushing Defense (99.3 yd avg) in the NEC.

One of Brinson's former pupils is veteran NFL linebacker Julian Stanford who was a 2011 First-Team All-NEC performer. A retired member of the Carolina Panthers, Stanford previously played for the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, and Buffalo Bills. Two of Stanford's teammates, also coached by Brinson, inked NFL free agent deals following the 2011 season in safety Jeremiah Brown with the Jaguars and DE Quintin Anderson with the Buccaneers. In 2017, linebacker Najee Harris was a free agent signee with the Oakland Raiders.

Brinson also developed several players who have gone on to compete in the CFL. C.O. Prime, a 2013 free agent signee of the NFL Indianapolis Colts, went on to enjoy long career in his native Canada as a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Additionally, in 2018, linebacker Mathieu Loiselle and DL Charbel Dabire both inked CFL contracts.

In 2014, the Seahawk defensive unit, spearheaded by its linebacker play, led the NEC in a host of categories while also ranking in the NCAA Top 10 in 3 major categories – Rushing Defense, No. 2 (83.1), Total Defense, No. 6 (281.3) and Scoring Defense, No. 10 (18.0). Thanks in large part to the relentless brand of defense displayed by the Green & White, the 2014 Seahawks went 7-4 overall and 5-1 in league, sharing the NEC title. This marked Wagner's 2nd NEC title in 3 years as the Seahawks won the 2012 championship en route to an appearance in the Division I NCAA Playoffs. Brinson helped develop senior Max Wassel into a First-Team All-NEC performer whose 81 tackles, ranked No. 6 in the NEC. In addition, his 21 TFLs ranked No. 2 in the NEC.

Much of the groundwork that led to the 2012 NEC title was laid in 2011 under Brinson’s direction as defensive coordinator. That season, Wagner ranked No. 1 in the NEC in three different categories: rushing defense (141.1 yards per game), red zone defense (71.8%) and takeaways (29).

Brinson spent time at Columbia University, where he produced a First Team All-Ivy, a Second Team All-Ivy, a Walter Camp All-American, an ECAC FCS All-Star, an Associated Press Second Team selection, and a Collegeperformance.com Tight End of the Year. The leader in FCS S