Deion Branch is new Louisville football WR coach. What to know about Jeff Brohm's staff

Deion Branch is new Louisville football WR coach. What to know about Jeff Brohm’s staff

Posted by author February 4, 2025 Football

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Branch’s 2,204 yards at U of L rank 11th all time, which included 11 career 100-yard receiving games — second in program history. He was inducted into the Louisville Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.
Branch has been serving as U of L’s director of player development and alumni relations for the last three years.
Prior to Brohm’s arrival, Branch filled in as the Cardinals’ interim head coach, leading the program to a 2022 Fenway Bowl victory over Cincinnati.

Deion Branch, former Louisville football standout and two-time Super Bowl champion, has been hired as the Cardinals‘ wide receivers coach, a source with direct knowledge of the hiring confirmed to The Courier Journal. He replaces Garrick McGee, who came with head coach Jeff Brohm to Louisville in 2022. McGee made the move to North Carolina on Friday to join Bill Belichick, who coached Branch in the NFL.

Branch has been serving as U of L’s director of player development and alumni relations for the last three years. Prior to Brohm’s arrival, he filled in as the Cardinals’ interim head coach, leading the program to a 2022 Fenway Bowl victory over Cincinnati.

As a player, Branch came to Louisville as a JUCO prospect in 2000. He made his program debut by totaling 1,016 receiving yards. He followed that up with 1,188 yards to help U of L record its first 11-win season and repeat as Conference USA champion. His 2,204 yards rank 11th all time, which included 11 career 100-yard receiving games — second in program history.

The New England Patriots selected Branch with the 65th pick of the 2002 NFL Draft. He made his professional debut with 489 yards and two touchdowns on 43 receptions. The next year, he became a starter for the Patriots and had 143 yards and a TD on 10 receptions in New England’s 32-29 Super Bowl victory over the Carolina Panthers. The Patriots returned to the Super Bowl in 2005 and repeated as champions, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-21. Branch won the MVP Award after tying a Super Bowl record with 11 catches for 133 yards.

Branch played 140 games over 11 years, accumulating 6,644 yards and 39 TDs on 518 receptions. The Georgia native was later inducted into the Louisville Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015. He got his coaching start as an assistant coach at Carmel High School, a northern suburb of Indianapolis, in 2021.

Branch’s immediate benefit is already having relationships with U of L players. Prior to his hiring, former receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce advocated for him. Huggins-Bruce, who has graduated, got his wish. Branch, who has also previously coached at the high school level, is set to lead a wide receivers room that includes Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy as well as recent portal additions Bobby Golden and T.J. McWilliams.

Reach Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.