TOWSON, Md. ? After spending the last three years as the Defensive Coordinator at Sacred Heart University, Brian Fleury has been named as a Defensive Assistant Coach at his alma mater, it has been announced by the Tigers' new Head Football Coach, Rob Ambrose.

“Brian is a Maryland native who has a lifetime of coaching experience,” says Coach Ambrose. “He comes from one of the most historically-successful high school programs at Seneca Valley. At Seneca Valley, he played for his stepfather, Terry Changuris. So, he has been around football for most of his life.

“He's also a Towson graduate and he did very well as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart,” adds Ambrose.  “Brian brings the intelligence and the passion to help us get this program turned around. For Brian, it's more than a goal to see Towson win. It's a moral imperative and I know he will devote all of his energy to help this football program succeed.”

A four-year performer at quarterback for the Tigers, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management from Towson in 2002. Fleury started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Maryland in 2003. During two seasons as a member of Coach Ralph Friedgen's staff, he worked with the defense and helped coach the secondary.

In his two seasons as a member of the Terrapins' staff, Maryland had a 15-9 record. In 2003, he worked with the Terps' defense which allowed only 15.8 points per game while helping Maryland compile a 10-3 record and a second place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Ranked 17th in the nation in the final poll, the Terps capped off the season with a Gator Bowl win over West Virginia University. In his second season at Maryland, the Terps posted a 5-6 record.

After his two-year stint at Maryland, Coach Fleury joined the football staff at Sacred Heart University, an NCAA Division FCS program in Connecticut. In four seasons as a member of Coach Paul Gorham's staff, Fleury helped the Pioneers show steady progress.

In 2005, his first season at Sacred Heart, he served as the Pioneers' secondary coach as they posted a 4-6 record. In 2006, he was promoted to Defensive Coordinator as the Pioneers had a 2-8 record. The Pioneers showed improvement in 2007, compiling a 3-8 record.

Last season, his third year as the Pioneers' Defensive Coordinator, produced a notable turnaround as Sacred Heart made a five-game improvement. The Pioneers compiled an 8-3 record last year, the third-highest win total in the history of the program. Under his guidance, Sacred Heart forced 24 turnovers and ranked among the top defenses in the Northeast Conference in several categories. Sacred Heart finished third in the NEC.

In 2008, two of Coach Fleury's defensive standouts, defensive end Bill O'Brien and cornerback Andre Isla, earned All-NEC honors. In addition, Isla was named to the All-New England FCS team.

Honored as a first team All-State quarterback as a senior at Seneca Valley High School, Fleury led the Screaming Eagles to a perfect 13-0 record and the state championship in 1997. As a senior, he completed 131 of 198 passes for 2,025 yards. He also threw 26 touchdown passes with only four interceptions. A two-time All-Montgomery selection, he set school records for pass completions and touchdown passes. In addition to leading Seneca Valley to back-to-back county championships, he was a member of four consecutive regional championship teams.

A widely-recruited quarterback out of high school, he chose to attend the University of Maryland. After spending one season in College Park, he transferred to Towson where he was a four-year member of the football team.

      Fleury is the fourth assistant coach to join Coach Ambrose's staff since he became the fourth head coach in Towson history a few weeks ago. He joins Offensive Line Coach John Donatelli, Wide Receivers Coach Guilian Gary and Quarterbacks Coach John Kaleo on the Tigers' coaching staff.

Coach Ambrose hopes to have his coaching staff within the next two weeks.