"You're hitting the bullseye": Syracuse HC Fran Brown reveals genesis of DART mentality from Kirby Smart during his Georgia stint

Fran Brown worked as a defensive backs coach for two years under Kirby Smart at Georgia before Syracuse hired him in November 2023. After posting a 10-3 record in his first year as the Orange's coach, Brown will be aiming to lead the team into the College Football Playoff in the 2025 season.

Ahead of his second year at Syracuse, Brown revealed the origins of his D.A.R.T. (Detailed, Accountable, Relentless and Tough) philosophy after working under Smart.

"Just from being at Georgia," Brown said on the "Next Up with Adam Breneman" show on Thursday (15:52). "Ours was a little bit different when it came to composure, resiliency and things of that nature. But I was just seeing and understanding and knowing I couldn't do what Coach Smart was doing because I had to be myself.

"I said, like, in life, as I was going through stuff, because it was gonna be discipline, and I was like, 'But if you could be detailed, if I'm accountable, you're relentless and you're tough,' And it was a little bit the other way.

"And as I looked at the word, and I kept seeing it, you know, because I was saying, 'Be tough, being accountable, detailed and relentless.' And then as you look at it, he's like, 'What word did he give you? DART. And I'm like, 'Wow, like, thank you, God. Like, DART. Dart is what? You hitting the bull's eye."

Brown was part of Georgia's staff when the Bulldogs defeated TCU in the 2022 national championship game. Brown was also named the No.1 national recruiter by 247Sports in 2023.

Fran Brown confirmed Rickie Collins Jr. will be Syracuse's QB1 for 2025 season

NCAA Football: Syracuse HC Fran Brown - Source: Imagn

In April, Fran Brown confirmed that Rickie Collins Jr. will lead Syracuse's offense in the 2025 season. The quarterback spent two seasons at LSU before transferring to Syracuse this offseason.

Collins will replace Kyle McCord as Syracuse's QB1. McCord declared for the NFL draft this year, where the Philadelphia Eagles took him with the No. 181 pick.

Although Brown did a fine job with the Orange in his first season at the helm, it will be interesting to see if he can lead the team to the playoffs in his second year in charge of the program.