SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University Athletics has officially announced that head football coach James Perry has stepped down to accept the head coaching position at Brown University.

Perry has served as the Bulldogs' head coach for the past two seasons, posting back-to-back winning seasons and a 12-10 overall record.

"We'd like to thank James for his commitment and dedication to Bryant Football over the past two seasons," said Director of Athletics Bill Smith. "James did a great job of continuing and growing the tradition of Bryant Football both on the playing field and in the classroom. We are happy to have given James his head coaching start and we wish him the best of luck at his alma mater."

Over the last two seasons, Perry led the Black and Gold to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2010-11. The Bulldogs thrived offensively, averaging more than 30 points and more than 400 yards of total offense per game in each of the last two seasons.

Perry coached 11 All-Northeast Conference selections, two All-Americans and the two NEC major award winners in his two seasons at Bryant.

"I would like to thank all the people at Bryant University for their support during my time as head football coach," Perry said. "I will be forever grateful to Athletic Director Bill Smith and President Machtley for giving me this opportunity. Their commitment to football at Bryant is unparalleled."

A 2000 graduate of Brown, Perry was named the Ivy League Player of the Year and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as a senior in 1999. He threw for 3,255 yards and 27 touchdowns to lead the Bears to an Ivy League title in 1999. Perry also spent three years as a quarterbacks coach at Brown from 2007-09, helping the Bears win an Ivy League title in 2008.

A national search for the next head coach of the Bryant Football program will begin immediately.