The Liberty football team finished the 2012 season on a high note, winning three of its last four games.

Coach Dave Brown won't be around to see if the Hurricanes can build on their strong ending.

Brown confirmed in an email late Monday evening that he will not return at Liberty after a three-year run in which he went 18-16. The Hurricanes finished 3-7 overall and 3-6 in the Lehigh Valley Conference this season, losing their first six games before beating Emmaus, Northampton and archrival Freedom over the final month.

Brown became Liberty's coach in April 2010 following the March 2010 resignation of Tim Moncman, who led Liberty to three PIAA Class 4A finals and the 2008 4A state title. The Hurricanes never reached the District 11 playoffs in Brown's three seasons but did twice qualify for the Eastern Conference 4A playoffs, winning the title in 2011. They graduated 10 offensive and nine defensive starters from that 2011 team, contributing to their struggles this season.

"I would like to thank my family, players, parents, teachers, administrators, assistant coaches, support staff and fans who supported our football program during my three seasons as the Head Football Coach at Liberty High School," Brown's email said. "Our young men were held accountable on and off the field and hopefully, I was a positive role model in their lives.

"Unfortunately, the expectations are higher on the field than what we achieved over the last three seasons and as the head coach, I am ultimately responsible for that. There are many returning players coming back next season and I expect to see them doing great things and wish them nothing but the best."

In a text message to The Morning Call, Brown indicated that he did not step down voluntarily. He said that he did not resign.

Liberty will return one of the top prospects in the state next season in junior wide receiver K.J. Williams, who caught 59 passes for 986 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. The Hurricanes also will bring back two quarterbacks who played this season, junior Derek Byrd and freshman Doug Erney.

Byrd was the starter at the beginning of the year and threw for 1,000 yards. Erney started Liberty's last two games, beating Northampton and Freedom. He finished the season with 615 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions on 68 attempts.

samiller@mcall.com, 610-820-6750

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Dave Brown out as Liberty football coach