Willie Brown (2005) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Willie Brown

Induction:
2005
Class:
1963

Willie Brown was USC’s original I-formation tailback in football. A 3-year letterman (1961-63) and 2-time All-Conference first teamer (1962-63), he was a member of Troy’s 1962 national championship team and captained the 1963 squad. He led USC in rushing (574 yards) and kickoff returns in 1962, when he was chosen the team’s Back of the Year, and in both receiving (34 catches) and scoring (44 points) in 1963, when he was its Most Inspirational Player. He also led USC in punt returns and interceptions in both 1962 and 1963. He rushed for 1,294 yards in his career. Known as a clutch performer, he made one of the greatest catches in USC history in a win over UCLA in 1962. He played in the Hula Bowl, East-West Shrine Game, College All-Star Game and Coaches All-America Game. He also lettered 3 years (1962-64) as a centerfielder and shortstop on the Trojan baseball team (the 1963 squad won the College World Series). He won 1963 All-Conference honors when he led Troy in batting average (.352) and runs (39). He spent 3 years in the NFL with the Rams (1964-65) and Eagles (1966) before returning to USC as an assistant football coach for 8 years (1968-75), including with the 1972 and 1974 national champs. He also served as a Trojan baseball assistant. He then was an assistant in the NFL before becoming a restaurant franchisee and was an academic monitor in USC’s Student-Athlete Academic Services from 1996 to 2016. His brothers, Oscar and Ollie, both played in the major leagues. He died on July 26, 2018, at age 76.