University of Central Arkansas Men's Football

    The most prolific quarterback in University of Central Arkansas history became the 20th head coach of the program in December 2017 when Nathan Brown was hired to replace Steve Campbell.     Brown, a 2016 inductee in the UCA Sports Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, spent the previous four years (2014-17) as the Bears’ offensive coordinator on teams that went 33-15 (.688), including 20-5 (.800) in 2016-17 and had the most efficient passing offense in the FCS in 2017.     Brown, a native of Russellville, Ark., led the Bears to a 6-5 mark in his first season as head coach in 2018. Of the five losses by the Bears, two were by three or less points, including one in overtime. UCA finished 5-4 in Southland Conference play.     The Bears had the No. 4 scoring offense in the league, the No. 2 rushing defense and the No. 3 scoring defense.     In Year 2, the Bears finished 9-4 overall and went 7-2 in conference play (co-champions), earning a No. 8 national seeding in the FCS Playoffs and a bye in the first round before hosting Illinois State at First Security Field at Estes Stadium. The playoff appearance was the fifth overall and third in the previous four years.     UCA not only survived but thrived during the pandemic season of 2020, playing a full fall schedule when many programs sat out the season. UCA, which played the first college football game in the nation (FCS Kickoff Classic), finished 5-4 against one of the toughest schedules in school history, with a pair of FBS opponents and the eight-time FCS champion North Dakota State, all on the road.     The Bears came back with another tough schedule in 2021, playing FBS Arkansas State, along with a slate of games in the new ASUN/WAC Challenge in UCA’s first year in the ASUN.     The Bears won a share of the first-ever ASUN championship in 2022, going 3-2 in league play. UCA also took on another formidable schedule, playing at #22 Ole Miss, at Idaho State and at Southeast Missouri, which won the Ohio Valley Conference title.       Since arriving on the UCA campus as a student-athlete in 2004, Brown has immersed himself in the football program here as not only a player, but as a coach. While playing at UCA, he was a record breaking starting quarterback and a 3-time All American player who was UCA’s first player to participate in the prestigious Senior Bowl.      As a coach, Brown’s offenses totaled 20,969 yards and averaged 437 yards per game during his years as offensive coordinator, while having three different quarterbacks being named first-team All-Southland Conference (Hayden Hildebrand 2017, Wynrick Smothers 2012, Nathan Dick 2011). Hildebrand was the SLC Player of the Year while Smothers was the SLC Offensive Player of the Year.     During his years as quarterbacks coach at UCA, the Bears’ quarterbacks averaged 3,211 passing yards per season, eclipsing the 3,000-yard yard plateau six times, for a total of 25,691 yards. With Brown as the Bears’ offensive coordinator, UCA had 17 All-SLC offensive first or second team selections, including a Freshman, Player and two Offensive Linemen of the Year selections. The Bears ranked in the Top 10 in  FCS scoring three times in four years, and ranked seventh in the country in total offense in 2017.     Brown coached four of the top six total offense seasons in school history, and he was the starting quarterback for the other two seasons. He also played or coached in seven of the top 10 passing offensive seasons in program history. Brown has been a part of three Southland Conference Championships, one as a player in 2008 and two as an assistant coach in 2012 and 2017.  Brown has been a part of all four of UCA’s NCAA postseason playoff victories, two as a player (Division II) and two as a coach (FCS).  Equally as impressive as his coaching credentials are his numbers from his playing days at UCA. Brown was a three-time All-American who threw for 10,558 yards and 100 touchdowns in his career, both records for a collegiate quarterback in the state of Arkansas. The Bears went 30-10 with Brown as the starting quarterback.        Brown was the SLC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 and the SLC Player of the Year in 2008, when he was also a Walter Payton Award finalist. Brown also owns school records for touchdown passes in a game (7) and most yards of total offense (490).     Before UCA moved to Division I in 2006, Brown was named the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the year in 2005.     Brown was UCA’s first player to receive an invitation to the Senior Bowl All-Star game in the NCAA Division I era and was the leading passer in the 2009 game. He was also selected for the East-West Shrine Game that same year. He was a free-agent signee of both the Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints.     Brown received his bachelor’s degree in business education from the University of Central Arkansas in 2009 after graduating from Russellville High School in 2004.      He and his  wife, Jessica (also a UCA graduate) have two children, daughter Rylee and son Luke.     

Gunnar Boykin was hired as a coach at the University of Central Arkansas back in June 2015. He went to Ridgeland High School in Mississippi. He went to college at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC where he got his Associates Degree before going to the University of Southern Mississippi and getting his Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology.  Boykin played at Ridgeland HS, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, Mississippi State University and UT Martin.  Boykin has coached at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (2007-2008), Richland HS (2011), Brandon HS (2012-2014) and now UCA (2015-present) where he is the Run Game Coordinator and the offensive line coach.  (his playing highlights should be good on the website) During his time at UCA he has been a part of 3 conference championships, 3 NCAA playoff appearances, he has coached 18 players who have earned All Conference honors, 2 Conference Player of the Year, and 8 All-Americans.  POSITION: Run Game Coordinator Offensive Line Coach DATE HIRED AT UCA: June 2015 EDUCATION: Ridgeland High School, MS Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Associates Degree University of Southern Mississippi Bachelor of Science in Psychology PLAYING HISTORY: Ridgeland High School Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Mississippi State University University of Tennessee at Martin COACHING HISTORY: St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (2007-2008) Richland High School (2011) Brandon High School (2012-2014) PLAYING/COACHING HIGHLIGHTS: All MACJC Selection Played in MACJC All Star Game 2006 FAMILY: Wife: Meagan Boykin Children: Julie Scott, Max Boykin, Shea Boykin, Libby Boykin

EDUCATION: graduated from Little Rock Parkview High School... earned his bachelor’s degree in education (English/physical education) from UCA  in 1981 and his master’s of science in education from UCA in 1982 YEARS ON STAFF: 22nd year (combined) PLAYING HISTORY:  played for the Bears beginning in 1976... was All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference and honorable mention NAIA All-American as an offensive lineman on teams that went a combined 32-8-2 from 1977-80 and won two AIC championships.... was inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame in 2011  COACHING HISTORY: in his fifth stint at UCA... was an assistant at Arkansas Tech (1982-89) and later was head coach of the Wonder Boys (1993-97) and won the final AIC championship in 1994 before the conference dissolved and earned AIC Coach of the Year honor... coached at his alma mater in 1990 as offensive backfield coach and passing game coordinator for three years, including 1991 NAIA national championship season... returned to UCA after ATU as offensive line coach (1997-03)... was offensive coordinator at Minnesota State-Mankato in 2003-04... returned to UCA in June 2004 and coached tight ends, running backs and offensive line until May 2014... won two SLC titles and one Gulf South Conference title... coached offensive line at Conway (Ark.) High School from July 2014 to Dec. 2017    FAMILY: wife Cathy, son Carter

EDUCATION: graduated from Troy University with a degree in broadcast journalism... graduated from Perry (Ga.) High School   YEARS ON STAFF:  3rd year PLAYING HISTORY: was a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection for the Troy Trojans as a defensive lineman... led all Troy defensive linemen with 39 tackles as a senior, adding 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks... forced a pair of fumbles on a pair of sacks against Western Kentucky... had 34 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks as a junior... two-year starter and All-State player at Perry High COACHING HISTORY:  spent one season as defensive line coach at Coffeyville Community College... spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Troy University... spent last two seasons as assistant defensive line coach at UCA, coaching some of the best linemen in the SLC FAMILY:  single

Justin Witcher was hired by the University of Central Arkansas in August 2024. He went to Benton HS (2015). He attended USMC, where he obtained his Bachelor’s of Arts in History and a Masters in Sports Management. He was the assistant DB’s and special teams coach at UCA from 2023-2024 and is now the DFO/Recruiting/ Video Coordinator at UCA. Witcher was a part of the 2022 ASUN Championship Team.  POSITION: Director of Football Operations Recruiting Coach Video Coordinator DATE HIRED AT UCA: August 2024 EDUCATION: Benton High School 2015 Marine Corps University 2015-2017 Bachelor’s of Arts in History Master’s in Sports Management COACHING HISTORY: University of Central Arkansas Assistant Defensive Back Coach (2023-2024) Special Teams Coach (2023-2024) PLAYING/COACHING HIGHLIGHTS: 2022 ASUN Championship Team FAMILY: Wife: Marissa Witcher Children: Jaden Witcher