Robert Brown knows about Fort Wayne high school football, especially what is played in the SAC. That could have been a big reason why he beat out more experienced coaches in landing the head coaching job at Wayne.

"I am a Fort Wayne guy," Brown, 30, said Wednesday. "I think half of the guys who did apply were from other cities. But I was born and raised in Fort Wayne, and all my brothers and sisters are from Fort Wayne.

"They wanted to make sure whoever they hired could handle the job. I don't think they considered age as much as I did myself. They were looking for someone who could build relationships with these kids."

Brown has coached at Harding and Snider and played his high school football with the Hawks. He has familiarity with the conference, but also knows a little about the Wayne kids, having taught at Miami Middle School.

"I am familiar with the atmosphere and tone of the team," he said of the program, which is on probation because of a sectional outburst last year. "It seemed like a good opportunity for me. I talked with (Snider) Coach (Kurt) Tippmann for awhile to get his thoughts on it, and he encouraged me to go for it."

See more about Brown and Wayne in Thursday's Journal Gazette.