UNCP Athletics

A seasoned coaching veteran with a previous collegiate stop at Chowan, Brian Frierson begins his third season at UNC Pembroke in 2025-26, as well as his fifth alongside head coach Mark Hall, while serving as the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Braves.

Frierson treks to Pembroke after a two-year (2021-22) stay as the linebackers coach at Chowan. He also has a previous stint on the coaching staff at Jack Britt High School in nearby Fayetteville.

Frierson made an instant impact in his first season for the UNCP defense, taking a unit that finished the 2022 season 94th, nationally, in passing yards allowed (213.6 ypg) to 36th, nationally, in 2023 (179.6 ypg). The Braves also finished 13th in team passing efficiency defense. Frierson also played an integral role in cutting the scoring defense by 10 points per game (28.9 ppg to 18.9 ppg), as well as helping lead a unit that led Division II in tackles for loss per game (10.9).
 
While in Murfreesboro, Frierson was instrumental in helping to transform a defense that surrendered nearly 450 yards per game in 2019 into an intimidating presence. Chowan showcased a pair of nationally-ranked defensive units, including the nation’s 21st-ranked total defense (284.2 yards/game allowed), amid a 7-win season in 2021 – the most victories for the program in 39 years. The Hawks also concluded that campaign boasting NCAA Division II’s second-best sacks per game total (3.9), while also amassing 8.9 tackles for loss per game (5th NCAA) as well.
 
Chowan’s defense picked up where it left off to fuel another 7-win campaign and CIAA North Division title in 2022, ranking as the nation’s 37th-best total defense, while also pocketing 9.2 tackles for loss (3rd NCAA) and 3.6 sacks (6th NCAA) an outing. The Hawks also carried NCAA Division II’s 10th-best red zone defense and amassed 23 takeaways across 11 games.
 
Individual accolades were plentiful under Frierson’s watch with the Hawks. Eleven student-athletes raked in all-conference recognition, while Chowan’s linebacker corps was lauded with six CIAA Linebacker of the Week crowns. Montre Moore captured both 1^st Team All-CIAA accolades, as well as an all-region nod from the Division 2 Conference Commissioner’s Association, as a senior in 2022 after amassing a CIAA-best 103 tackles (53 solo), including 13-1/2 tackles for loss and six sacks.
 
Frierson dove into the coaching world in 2015 when he joined the staff at Jack Britt High School – a place he would call home for six seasons (2015-20). After serving as the wide receivers and defensive backs coach for two years, he took over as the defensive coordinator for the Buccaneers prior to the 2017 campaign and assembled one of the area’s top defensive units. Jack Britt forced 61 turnovers from 2017-20, while also registering 5.2 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks per game across his stint as the defensive skipper as well.
 
The Buccaneers logged 38 wins with Frierson on staff, while also making five playoff appearances. The enthusiastic mentor also saw 13 of his student-athletes garner all-conference recognition across his time in Fayetteville as well.
 
A regular in the defensive back rotation at North Carolina Central from 2008-11, Frierson logged time in 39 games (12 starts) and logged 78 career tackles (49 solo) to go along with a trio of interceptions and four pass break-ups. He also tallied a block on a punt attempt against Savannah State as a sophomore. He started in 10 games as a senior, and closed out his collegiate career by logging 45 tackles (4^th on team), as well as a pair of interceptions and four pass break-ups.
 
Frierson earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from North Carolina Central in 2011, and completed his graduate work in sport management at Western Carolina in 2021. Frierson and Vanessa are the proud parents of two children, Braxton and Mayah.