Former Bears QB Nathan Brown named new UCA coach.

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas promoted Nathan Brown on Saturday from his former position as offensive coordinator to head coach of the school’s football team, which competes in the NCAA FCS Southland Conference.

Brown will replace Steve Campbell, who resigned Thursday after four seasons as UCA’s head coach to take the same position at South Alabama of the FBS Sun Belt Conference.

Brown, 31, and his wife Jessica have two children.

“UCA means the world to us,” Brown said. “This is a dream job for me, and our goal is not to win the Southland Conference or to make it to the second round of the FCS playoffs. Our goal is to be national champions.”

Brown, a Russellville native, has been an assistant coach at UCA since 2011. He was quarterbacks coach under former head coach Clint Conque. Campbell promoted him to offensive coordinator when he replaced Conque in 2014. He played four seasons as UCA’s starting quarterback and was named the Southland Conference player of the year after the 2008 season. He holds UCA career records for passing yards with 10,558, and touchdowns, with 100.

Campbell coached UCA to a 33-15 record. UCA was 20-3 in Campbell’s final two seasons, including 10-2 in 2017, when UCA won its first outright Southland championship with a 9-0 conference record.

“To be able to work under Coach Campbell has meant the world to me,” Brown said. “He is the ultimate ball coach, and he has always been there for me. He has been on my side throughout these last two days, and I will always be grateful for what I’ve learned from him.”

Brown will be formally announced at a noon news conference Monday in the Wingo Hall board room on the UCA campus.