Not many saw this one coming…Commerce Tigers head football coach Michael Brown announced on Wednesday to players that he was stepping down as head coach of the football program. He doesn’t have another football coaching gig lined up at this time.

While he will surely move on somewhere, Brown indicated that he may take a step back to be an assistant coach when he moves on.

Sources indicate that Brown, a Commerce alumnus (1992), felt the decision was personal and professional. Brown has been head coach of the Tigers since 2013, leading the program to a 43-17 mark and back-to-back 1A State Semifinals runs in 2014-15 and a region title in 2014.

With the job now open at Commerce, there are sure to many coaches putting their name in the hat for one of Georgia’s most historic programs, which surpassed 600 total wins just last year.

Commerce hasn’t changed the head of the program often. In fact, only four coaches — including Brown — have been at the helm in the past 50 years. This is in large part due to legendary coaches Ray Lamb (’67-88) and Steve Savage (’89-2010). Marvin Justice had a brief stay from 2011-12 before Brown took over.

The Tigers have two state championships in their history (1981 & 2000). In 2017, the Tigers went 8-3 overall and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs. The playoff streak of 21 straight seasons remains intact.